At some point in our lives, everyone gets one of those fancy spice racks with 900 spices in it, half of which you’ve never heard of. Whether as a wedding, housewarming or Christmas gift, you probably have one sitting on your counter (or in the corner of a pantry somewhere). Well, it’s time to finally use it!! A delicious blend of spices are the only things you need to make your own homemade taco seasoning mix from scratch. And if you eat tacos as much as we do, it’s a wonderful trick to have up your sleeve.
Let’s talk about heat. This homemade taco seasoning mix recipe rates on the medium-high scale for spiciness. I’d call it slightly above mild; about a 3.5 out of 5 stars. If you’re looking to make it less spicy, simply reduce the amount of red pepper flakes and chili powder, or use less mix overall. Or reverse these instructions to amp up the heat!
Update on my pregnancy, I’m now staring 41 weeks square in the eye and wondering if this child will ever make an appearance. I’ve embarked on all the recommendations for naturally inducing labor which is why when it came to this taco mix, the spicier the better. She’s been given her eviction notice and she better start taking it seriously!!
As you’ll soon see below, this is the ultimate zero waste recipe. Most grocery stores are now well equipped with a nice bulk spice section offering you everything from salt and pepper to curry powder and italian herb blend. This is the BEST place to stock up on spices because you only take as much as you need (and I don’t know about you, but I don’t need an entire jar of cayenne).
Shopping the bulk spice aisle will save you some money (good pre-packaged spices are expensive) and packaging if you bring your own reusable bags or jars. Don’t be afraid to refill old spice jars (I’d recommend refilling with the same spice to avoid an odd mixture of flavors). Be sure to have a cashier weigh your empty jar before you fill it so you don’t get charged for the weight of the container along with your spices. Now you’re set to conquer the spice aisle!
To make magnificent tacos, add two tablespoons of this homemade taco seasoning mix for every pound of meat or vegetable you use. Feel free to add a tablespoon of water or two to loosen up the mixture and make it easier to stir. In our house we use lean ground turkey mixed with black beans and corn all in one pan along with our seasoning mix. It’s a perfect mixture for the classic taco, taco salad, burrito, nacho or quesadilla. Personally I’m a taco salad lover (you can keep that nasty fried shell, thank you) and I load mine up with fresh avocado, olives and cheese over a bed of thinly sliced romaine and topped with a creamy ranch. Yep, I want that now.
WHAT TO BRING TO THE STORE
Since this recipe is all about spices, be sure to bring a good handful of reusable spice bags, jars or use up small plastic bags you’ve used for previous spices to prevent yourself from taking new ones. Spices are hard to rinse completely out of plastic bags, so if you go this route, try using the same bag for the same spice. Label the bag, keep it and reuse it!
WASTE METER – 5!
This homemade taco seasoning mix is a 100% zero waste recipe because you don’t need to toss, recycle or compost anything to make it. Happy dance! Bulk for the win!
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Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix
A quick recipe for a medium-hot taco seasoning from scratch! You control the ingredients.
Total Time
2 min
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 1 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1 tbsp cumin
- 1 1/2 tsp coarse salt
- 2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp flour
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients in a small bowl.
- Store in an airtight container.
- Use about 2 tbsp of taco seasoning per 1 pound of meat or vegetables.
Enjoy those tacos!
