Taco Seasoning

By Sam Sifton

Updated May 22, 2023

  • Ryan Liebe for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
Media 1 of 1
Total Time
5 minutes
Rating
5(1,902)
Comments
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Skip the powdered, packaged stuff and make your own taco seasoning, adjusting the spices to your family's taste. The recipe below makes enough to season one pound of browned ground beef or chicken (it even works with crumbled tofu), but you can easily double or triple it and store it in airtight container so it's ready to go on a busy weeknight. 

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Ingredients

Yield:Enough to season 1 pound ground beef, chicken or turkey

  • 2 tablespoons chile powder

  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin

  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste

  • 1 teaspoon black pepper, to taste

  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch

  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (or substitute hot or sweet paprika)

  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder

  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder

  • ½ teaspoon crushed red-pepper flakes, or to taste

Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving

8 grams carbs; 43 calories; 1 gram monosaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 2 grams fat; 4 grams fiber; 234 milligrams sodium; 2 grams protein; 1 gram sugar

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Mix all ingredients together until well combined.

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Ratings

5 out of 5
1,902 user ratings
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Comments

Cheryl S.

I also add a teaspoon of Mexican oregano. Crumble it with your hands to release the oils. It really adds another dimension. This is a really good recipe, although I've never added the cornstarch.

Rohn Jay Miller

Cayenne ground pepper can give a more even heat if you prefer, over chili flakes. And try grinding your own mix of toasted ancho and chipotle chilis

James A

Seems about right to me. We love home made tacos and use spices liberally. Do toast whole cumin seed and grind it fresh. Easy as pie and much more delightful. We also add corriander seed, toasted and ground. I love the comment to use rosemary. Will try!

MJ

Chili pepper made it too spicy

Rudresh

I think this is supposed to be 1 tablespoon of chile powder. If you look at the recipe for “middle school tacos,” all the spice amounts are doubled because it is for 2 pounds of ground beef except it calls for for 2 tablespoons of chile powder. That makes me think that this recipe for 1 pound of ground beef supposed to be 1 tablespoon.

jb

way too much chile powder!

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