Tuesday 17 June 2014

Homemade Taco Seasoning




I never hear complaints about what we're having for dinner when it's taco night.  Simple, classic tacos are one of the few meals that all of my kids look forward to, so we have them often.  Some of the kids like the soft tortilla shells to hold all the ingredients together, some prefer the hard shells.  Some add hot sauce, some don't.  Some pile on the sour cream, others load up on shredded cheddar.  Regardless of how they dress them, they all insist that the ground beef, which is heart and soul of the taco, taste the way it's supposed to.  That means using the same seasoning packet in the ground beef that I've always used.  I once used a store brand seasoning packet when the name brand version happened to be sold out.  

It was not a happy taco night.  


After that, I made a point of buying a couple of packets whenever I grocery shopped, whether we needed them or not, and built a stash in my spice cupboard so as never to be caught without again.  Happy taco nights were guaranteed, until two weeks ago.  Lettuce was washed, cheese was shredded, and ground beef was frying.  And there wasn't a single taco seasoning packet to be found.  I felt the same kind of disbelief that I feel when we run out of toilet paper.  When you buy the 30 count package at Costco, you expect it to last forever.  You never think about toilet paper again, until you run out.  It was the same with the taco seasoning.  I didn't think I'd ever run out.  I tossed my spice cupboard in a panic but there wasn't a single packet left.  Then I contemplated running out to the store, but kids were hungry and the meat was close to over-cooking. 


After a quick search on Pinterest, I came up with a few different DIY recipes for taco seasoning.  I read through them, scribbled some notes, and came up with a combination of spices that would stand in for the taco seasoning packet.  It was good, really good.  It wasn't exactly the same, less salt and more heat, which was fine by me.   And the kids said it was good.  That was all I needed.  

I am never buying taco seasoning packets again.


Homemade Taco Seasoning

1 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp dried minced onion 
1 tsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/4 - 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

Combine all ingredients.  These quantities equal one taco seasoning packet.  Brown 500 g of ground beef and drain off all but a couple tablespoons of fat.  Sprinkle seasoning evenly over meat.  Add 1/4 cup of water, stir and simmer for 10 minutes.

I used freshly ground Tellicherry Pepper and freshly ground Pink Himalayan Salt.  

1/4 tsp onion powder can be substituted for the 1 tsp of dried minced onion.

Use the lesser amount of the crushed red pepper flakes if you can't handle a lot of heat, more if you like your food spicy!

Enjoy!



Thank you for featuring me!

real food recipe roundup Mary’s Kitchen


29 comments:

  1. I love making as many things as I can from scratch! Chrystal @ YUMeating.com

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  2. I'm always trying to come up with my own taco seasoning and yours looks great. Hope you don't mind but I'm going to share this on my Facebook Page Everything Susan and More. It's a recipe sharing page.

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  3. Thanks for linking up with us and sharing your recipe ... would love to try it!!

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  4. Love your spice pictures - they look like something out of a recipe book!

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  5. This looks delicious! Great recipe! I will be trying it out sometime soon!
    New follower from the Yum Eating link up! :)
    -Brittney

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  6. I love DIY spice mixes! Featuring you on my Facebook page tonight! :)
    Thanks for linking up with Cook it! Craft it! Share it!
    ang

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  7. I have also been making my own taco seasoning for years now - it is much better and not as salty as the store bought ones. The recipe I use is pretty much like the one you posted. Great pictures of everything.

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  8. Good on ya! You don't need a seasoning package at all. I never buy them, but always make up my own. As you say, less salt, more spice, very good :)

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  9. Hi Jenn! I've been making my own taco seasoning for a few years now, I would never go back to store bought packets. My ingredients are similar to yours, I keep the salt either out or just a shake, keeps the sodium down.
    Thanks for stopping by my blog the other day! You know how much I enjoy photography, and it's so nice to hear how much you enjoy my pictures...thank you! Hope you are having a nice summer :)
    Dawn
    @ A Place for Pictures and Memories

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  10. Ooh this is fab. We love tacos too - well hubby and I do , kids are ridiculously fussy at times! Definitely going to give this a go!x PoCoLo

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  11. Love you recipe. Thanks for sharing on Real Food Fridays Blog Hop

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  12. That looks delicious. A "must try"! Thanks for linking up #PoCoLo

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  13. That's pretty cool. Thanks for showing how to make it. Linda

    PINNED to food board

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  14. Thanks for sharing with us at the Four Seasons Blog Hop! I love making my own spice blends! They have a much better flavor than the pre-blended kinds~ Lynn @ Turnips 2 Tangerines

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  15. Reading this at lunch time and now I am not happy with what I have on our table and I am craving for Tacos =P #PoCoLo

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  16. Same thing happened in my house...no packets...a lot of complaining. LOL!

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  17. I was so surprised to discover that my kids - who normally don't allow food items of different groups to touch -- LOVED tacos. But yeah, that store seasoning is a bit scary. Love the idea that I can make my own now.

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  18. It is not easy to prepare this seasoning but it look doable. Thanks for sharing with 4 seasons blog hop. Cheers and have a nice day.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Ken, have a great week!

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  19. We make our own taco seasoning too...my kids love tacos! And we did the same thing as you...made our own one day when we ran out of seasoning! But we have never even written ours down...we always wing it, so I was glad to see yours on Foodie Fridays! Thank you! We will give it a try!

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  20. I LOVE homemade spice mixes! There is nothing like making something at home that saves you money and is just the right balance of flavors for your family! I'm so glad you brought this recipe to The Yuck Stops Here this week! Can't wait to see what you have up your sleeve to bring to the party next week! HUGS

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    1. It's true, homemade is better in so many way :) So glad you stopped by Cheryl!

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  21. I love making my own taco seasoning and yours looks so good. I featured your recipe in my weekly meal plan this week. Be sure to join the Real Food Recipe Link Up http://www.sassymomsinthecity.com/real-food-recipe-round-up-weekly-meal-plan-june-22/

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  22. Your taco seasoning blend sounds delicious, Jenn. Homemade spice blends always taste so much better than store bought! Pinned :-)

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  23. Hi Jenn! I'm stopping over from Let's Get Real today. We eat a lot of tacos in our house too. I think it is so much easier to have a stocked spice cupboard than to store a bunch of little packets so I make my own also. Better ingredients and better flavor........that's what makes me happy. I like the tip about adding some heat. I'll have to try that for my husband. He likes things on the spicier side.

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  24. We just love taco night here, too! Thanks for linking up with "Try a New Recipe Tuesday. I hope you can join us again this week. http://our4kiddos.blogspot.com/2014/06/try-new-recipe-tuesday-june-24.html

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  25. I love it when you can go to Pinterest to find several recipes for what you are looking for to take what you need to get the best version for your family.
    Thanks for sharing at The Weekend Social, I'm looking forward to seeing you again next Thursday at 9pm EST at www.thequestionablehomesteader.com for another installment of The Weekend Social.

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  26. Thanks so much for sharing this awesome Taco Seasoning with us at Full Plate Thursday!
    Come Back Soon,
    Miz Helen

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  27. I love making my own seasonings and this sound wonderful. Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friends Friday and I hope that you will join us again this week.

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