Homemade Taco Seasoning

5 from 2 votes

This easy homemade taco seasoning blend makes the best ground beef tacos!

Course Dinner

Cuisine Mexican

Keyword ground beef tacos, homemade taco seasoning, homemade tacos, taco seasoning for ground beef, taco seasoning recipe

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 15

Total Time 20

Servings people

Calories 268kcal

Author Blair Lonergan

1 lb. ground beef
½ cup tomato sauce
Taco shells or tortillas of choice
Toppings of choice, such as: shredded cheese, chopped lettuce, pico de gallo, salsa, sour cream, guacamole, sliced black olives, lime wedges, sliced jalapenos, fresh cilantro, pickled red onions

Combine all of the seasoning ingredients in a small bowl or jar. This is enough seasoning for 1 lb. of ground beef. Use immediately, or store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

Cook the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat until no longer pink, using a wooden spoon to break up the meat as it cooks. Drain excess grease from the skillet.
Return the meat to the skillet and reduce the heat to low. Stir in the seasoning blend and the tomato sauce.
Cook for about 5 more minutes, stirring occasionally and adding water, if necessary, to keep the mixture moist and "saucy." Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if desired.

- Use the cooked homemade taco meat in traditional ground beef tacos with crunchy shells or soft flour tortillas, on taco salad, in taquitos, in enchiladas, on Mexican pizza, in burritos, stuffed in potatoes, in quesadillas, in stuffed pasta shells, on nachos, or in a casserole.

- Add extra liquid to the skillet, if needed, as the meat simmers with the seasoning to reach your desired consistency. Good options include water, chicken broth, and beef broth.

- Make a much larger batch of homemade taco seasoning and keep it in your pantry for up to 6 months. Measure out 3 tablespoons of seasoning to use for every 1 pound of ground beef that you prepare.

- Drain excess grease from the skillet before stirring in the taco seasoning.

- A squeeze of fresh lime juice or chopped cilantro added at the end gives the dish a fresh, flavorful finishing touch.
- If you're in a pinch and you don't have any tomato sauce on hand, you can sub with a thick salsa. Add extra liquid to the skillet (such as water or broth), as needed, to reach the desired consistency.
- Adjust the amounts of each seasoning to suit your personal taste preferences. For instance, use more or less salt, use smoked paprika instead of sweet paprika, or make it spicy with extra cayenne.
- Swap out the ground beef and use the homemade taco seasoning with chicken, ground turkey, ground chicken, ground pork, shrimp, or other seafood.
- Use red pepper flakes for extra heat, or as a sub for the cayenne.