Thought I’d hare a little kitchen/life hack with you today – Large Batch Homemade Taco Seasoning.
Since the majority of store-bought taco seasoning mixes include thickeners, which often contain gluten, I’ve been making my own single-serving homemade taco seasoning for the last several years. Recently, though, I realized I could save a ton of time if I didn’t have to take out 8 spice jars every time we have taco night and thus, Large Batch Homemade Taco Seasoning was born!
I mixed and multiplied until the flavors were just right, and now have a HIUGE jar of pre-made homemade taco seasoning mix that’s not only gluten free, but free of artificial colors, flavors, and anti-caking agents, too. Plus it’s preservative-free. You know what we call that? An UPGRADE!
Use Homemade Taco Seasoning in These Recipes:
- Cheesy Chicken Burrito Skillet >
- Taco Chili >
- Mini Taco Meatloaf >
- Beef Taco Bowls >
- Homemade Crunchy Taco Hamburger Helper >
- Cheesy Taco Soup >
- Restaurant-Style Chicken Tortilla Soup >
This taco seasoning blend is medium in heat. If you prefer a spicier taco seasoning mix, use spicy chili powder and/or add up to 2 teaspoons red chili pepper flakes. If you want a mild mix, use mild chili powder (Tone’s has a mild chili powder which is what I use.)
How to Make This Recipe:
All you have to do is add spice cupboard staples to a jar, then shake it up. I love using mason jars, but a Tupperware container would work just fine too.
Chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and dried oregano – then shake. That’s it!
How to Use It:
To use the seasoning mix, brown 1lb ground meat then add 2 – 2-1/2 Tablespoons seasoning with 1/3 cup broth or water, then simmer until the liquid has thickened and reduced, 1-2 minutes. Easy. As. That. Enjoy this little way to make life a lot easier!
Similar Recipes:
- Homemade Seasoned Salt >
- Homemade Italian Sausage >
- Homemade Chewy Granola Bars >
- Homemade Ranch Dressing >
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Large Batch Homemade Taco Seasoning
Description
Large Batch Homemade Taco Seasoning is a cinch to prepare and ready when you are for taco night! Free from gluten, dairy, artificial flavors and colors, and preservatives.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup + 2 Tablespoons chili powder
- 3 Tablespoons cumin
- 1 Tablespoon salt
- 1 Tablespoon finely ground pepper
- 1 Tablespoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
Directions
- Mix all ingredients together then store in an airtight container or jar with a tight fitting lid.
- To use: brown 1lb ground meat then add 2 - 2-1/2 Tablespoons taco seasoning mix plus 1/3 cup broth or water and simmer until liquid has thickened, 1-2 minutes.
Notes
- This taco seasoning blend is medium in heat as written. Add up to 2 teaspoons red chili pepper flakes and/or use spicy chili powder for a spicier blend. For a mild blend, use mild chili powder.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
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Thank you!!!! Your Crunchy Taco Hamburger Helper is my 4 year olds favorite food and I make it almost weekly. Literally have to google the seasoning recipe every time. This is so helpful!!
I do too, every taco night!! ? So glad you’ll find this recipe helpful!
Have you ever made it with water instead of broth?
I haven’t just because I always have broth open in the fridge, but water will work just fine! Might need to sprinkle in a little extra seasoning to make sure the flavor isn’t diluted.
I use water all the the time with an almost identical recipe. Still great!
We do this and just recently made a huge batch so we weren’t pulling all those ingredients out as well! However, I always struggle with figuring out exactly how much seasoning and water to use to make it taste like it does when you use a packet!
I definitely relate! Most taco seasoning packets are 1oz, which is about 2 Tablespoons, so that’s how I got to that number (plus we make tacos so often that I’ve just kind of figured out what the best meat/seasoning/liquid ratio is!)
This is exciting! I’m going to make it today. Do you have other big batch spice mixes in mind?
I would love to bake large batch Ranch dressing mix but it would most likely go to waste since my son can’t have dairy, and powdered milk is a main ingredient. That said, if you have something in mind let me know – I’m always up for a challenge! :)
if you have a dehydrator or access to one, you can dehydrate almond milk (or coconut or soy) for the milk powder. Ive seen a couple of variations of Milk Powders online.
I love taco nights, so this recipe will for sure come in handy! Also, I LOVE your measuring spoon in the picture. Would you mind divulging where it’s from?!
You bet – they’re from Anthropologie!
Yes to simplifying life! Moving everything online and utilizing subscriptions (we love our blue bottle coffee and honest company among others) has been life changing! I would also recommend a grocery service (like door to door organics- not sure what you have in your area) for when you don’t have time/don’t want to take two kids to the grocery store and doing a small load of laundry every day so you aren’t constantly buried in laundry. Making this today since my boys always want tacos and I never having seasoning on hand.
LOVE this. Approximately how long will it last stored in a pantry?
Oh I’d say 8-12 months!
Amazing. We coincidentally went GF at around the same time, and I cannot tell you how invaluable your recipes have been!
I just made a larger batch of your taco seasoning recipe last night, and I was thinking, “It’d be awesome if she had a recipe that was already multiplied for me!” Ha! Great idea, and thanks!
Too funny!!!
Thank you for this! I literally make your taco recipe every Monday night, and I always think, “I should just make a large batch of seasoning,” but never took the time to figure out the exact ratios. I am going to put this together tonight, so that I’m all ready for next week!
Yes!!!! Thank you Kristen!! I have been using your homemade seasoning for YEARS, so much so that I have a screenshot of the recipe saved in my favorite pictures on my phone…..i love my tacos! This will make my life much easier :)
It’s like you read my mind. I always use your recipe for taco seasoning but every time I make I think, I should really just make a big batch of this to save time. Thank you!
Love your life hacks! Those babies are life changing and having little tips to make things easier is so nice. I love to hear what other people are doing.
Perfect! I’ve recently started cutting out a lot of added sugars, weird fillers, etc., and it’s almost taco night (as soon as we fix the A/C and it’s not too hot to stand over the stove…). This is my new seasoning! :)
I love making my own taco seasoning…I just like the fact that I know what is going into my food (and not having to worry about some of the preservatives).
Awesome! I was just thinking the other day that I should dig out your taco seasoning recipe and make a bigger batch so that I always have some on hand when I need it. You just saved me a bunch of time trying to figure it all out :)
I really want to make this, just not sure which type of paprika to use? Smoked, sweet etc?
I had never thought about making my own taco seasoning and I love tacos:-)
I have added the ingredients that I don’t have to my shopping list as I will try it later this week. I’m having the family over!
Thanks for sharing this recipe. I’ll be using it for chicken tortilla soup. Would you mind also sharing the brand name of the chili powder that you use? I’ve had 60+ years in the kitchen and still love learning new things from young women. Also wondering if you have a recipe for homemade sausage.
I usually use Tone’s brand, but also like Simply Organic’s chili powder. I hope you love it, Belva!
This is super helpful! Does it taste the same as the seasoning for your homemade burrito bowls? I make those several times a month (so easy and I love the flavors of that seasoning!), and it would be great to not have to mix up the seasoning each time.
You could definitely use this seasoning for the burrito bowls! (This recipe, right? http://iowagirleats.com/2014/08/29/easy-homemade-burrito-bowls/) The taco seasoning is a little heavier on chili powder, but you’ll get roughly the same flavor. :)
Thank You for posting this!
We’ve been buying OTC Gluten Free Taco seasoning packets for Taco night. We recently found out my son cannot have Gluten, Eggs, Dairy, Peanuts, and Soy! Tacos have been the easy meal since corn tortillas are more affordable than GF & EF bread is ;)
I appreciate you sharing this ♥
Will definitely made this!
It states to add 2 – 2 1/2 Tablespoons per 1 pound hamburger. 5 TBS total per 1 pound hamburger?
Hi Jacque! I’m not sure I understand your question. You should use 2 to 2-1/2 Tablespoons of the final taco seasoning mix to season 1lb of ground meat. Let me know if I’m missing anything!
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This looks AMAZING! I will definitely give this a try next time I’m having mexican food.
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I would like the food value please per tablespoon calories carbs fat protein I am doing keto diet
Spices typically have no carbs, fats, or calories. So this spice blend has none as well. Watch out for spice blends (especially store bought) that contain sugar, since sugar is a carb & has calories, otherwise most spices & blends are fat, carb, and calorie free.
This is great – thank you for this. It’s a toss up now if I will make your taco seasoning mix or your seasoning salt mix as my homemade gift this year. Thinking I can mix up batches of one or the other, put into cute spice jars from Ikea, add a cute hang tag, and presto! I’ve got a great gift to give :). Appreciate you and your site!
Hi, is it possible to get the “small batch” recipe so we can try it before making the large batch? Thank you so much, appreciate you.
You know what? I found it! Just went to your home page and searched “taco” :p duh, thank you!
How many tablespoons is the entire batch? Looking to make tacos for 200 people (grad party), wondering about making my own seasoning and trying to do a cost analysis.
Hi Ruth! The recipe makes ~1 cup, which is enough for 8lbs of meat.
Love this recipe. Great flavor and no sugar. Thanks for sharing.
[…] Generally speaking you are looking at the proportions of a tablespoon of cumin and one tablespoon of paprika, a teaspoon or less of cayenne depending on how much heat you like, a heaping teaspoon of onion and garlic powder, then about a quarter teaspoon of salt and pepper. This is a good recipe for gluten-free large batch taco seasoning. […]
What size jar do you store it in?? I love this recipe!!
We re-make this again and again. Used weekly in our house!
This is my go to taco seasoning! I have made it countless times and always have it on hand. So much better than store bought, and way less sodium!
I live alone. The ingredients for Taco Seasoning would be quite expensive for me to buy. I also wonder how long the shelve life would be. ??
Here’s a single serving recipe for you, Diane! https://iowagirleats.com/low-carb-taco-boats/
Great recipe for Taco Seasoning. Saves a ton of money, limits sodium intake and i am able to tweak the spiciness. Winner.