Homemade Taco Seasoning

Never buy another package of taco seasoning with this spicy taco seasoning in your pantry. This is SO MUCH BETTER. Now you can have a tasty tacos in about 15 minutes.

I love my usual taco recipe (and my wife told me not to change it) but it takes 25 minutes and I get out a lot of spices. It is time to simplify my life. The second issue I have ( the real one to me) is that a lot of recipes I want to try call for a package of taco seasoning. I refused to do that and substituting would mean adding 7 or 8 more ingredients. This is much better. 

As a pediatrician, I'm always look at ingredients on everything. Taco seasoning mix always puzzled me. Whoever though of putting most of that junk in there must be a genius since I had no idea that wheat, flour and maltodextrin were needed. And the salt... so much salt. And I though it was suppose to be spices. Silly silly me.

Rating

Tasty like my other taco meat.

Notes: there are hundred of recipes for taco seasoning out there. I didn't bother since I knew what I wanted.

By making your own, you get to control everything.  I want to always use fresh onion so I did not put the onion powder in. I find the garlic a bit of a pain at times so the garlic powder is in. This is 3/10 spicy. Adjust the cumin and cayenne accordingly. You are the boss.

 Lots of good things plus an air tight container.

Here I'm making a "large" from the chart. Enough for 4 pounds and will store some. The chart gives other options for size and the recipe below is for 1 pound.

Combine 1/2 cup chile powder, 2 tsp each of oregano, Kosher salt, 1 tsp each of cayenne pepper, black pepper and 4 tsp cumin. Options are 2 tsp each of granular garlic powder and onion powder. Add these if you are not adding onion or garlic during your cooking. I always do fresh onion so I omitted the onion powder.

 Seal in a air tight container. It should be good for months.

To make 1 pound of taco meat. If you did not add the garlic and onion to the mix then start with one small onion and 2-3 cloves of garlic and dice the onion and crush the garlic.

Over medium high heat add 1 t oil to a nonstick pan. Add the onion and cook for a couple of minutes until clearing. If adding fresh garlic, put it in now and "bloom" for 30 seconds.

Add 1 pound of ground beef and continue over medium high heat, breaking the meat apart and cook until browned. About 4-5 minutes.

 Drain the fat.

 Add 3 tablespoons of taco seasoning and 1/4 cup of water. I usually will add 1/2 cup of tomato sauce or salsa here. Simmer for a few minutes until liquid is reduced.

Homemade Taco Seasoning

by Dan Mikesell April-20-2013

Never buy another package of taco seasoning with this spicy taco seasoning in your pantry. This is SO MUCH BETTER. Now you can have a tasty tacos in about 15 minutes.

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef

Taco Mix

• 2 T chili powder
• 1/2 t Garlic powder- granulated preferred- optional
• 1/2 t onion powder-optional
• 1 t cumin
• 1/2 t oregano
• 1/4 t cayenne pepper
• 1/2 t kosher salt
• 1/4 t black pepper

Instructions

1) Combine ingredients in medium bowl. Omit the garlic powder and/or onion powder if adding them fresh.2) The heat on this is 3/10. Adjust cumin and cayenne for taste. See post to vary amounts.3) To make 1 pound taco meat. If you did not add the garlic and/or onion to the mix. Start with one small onion and/or 2-3 cloves of garlic and dice the onion and crush the garlic.4) Over medium high heat add 1 t oil to a nonstick pan. Add the onion and cook for a couple of minutes until clearing. If adding fresh garlic, put it in now and "bloom" for 30 seconds.5) Add 1 pound of ground beef and continue over medium high heat, breaking the meat apart and cook until browned. About 4-5 minutes. Drain the fat.6) Add 3 tablespoons of taco seasoning and 1/4 cup of water. I usually will add 1/2 cup of tomato sauce or salsa here. Simmer for a few minutes until liquid is reduced.

Details

Prep time: 3 mins Cook time: 12 mins Total time: 15 mins Yield: 1 to 8 pounds taco meat

Updated

April 20 2013

Dan Mikesell