Homemade Taco Seasoning

Sarah and I love tacos! For the longest time, we would just buy a taco kit or a seasoning packet any time we wanted to make some. They make the process really quick and easy, but we weren't wild about the amount of processing and preservatives/additives that go into a kit like that. We realized that we literally have everything we need to make our own taco seasoning right here in our kitchen. It saves us money, is SUPER easy, and helps cut down on some processed food we could do without. After seeing on Pinterest that other people could do it, we decided, so can we! And, if you've got a pretty standard spice selection on hand in your home, so can you.

Here's what you need:
- 1 tbsp. Chili Powder
- 1/4 tsp. Garlic Powder
- 1/4 tsp. Onion Powder
- 1/4 tsp. Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
- 1/4 tsp. Dried Oregano
- 1/2 tsp. Paprika
- 1 1/2 tsp. Cumin
- 1 tsp. Kosher Salt
- 1 tsp. Black Pepper


Just mix it all together! You can make the batches larger to keep some saved and ready to go for next time, or just throw all this together each time you taco. The amounts above will serve about 1 pound of ground beef (or any meat/meat substitute of your preference). Add 3/4 cups water to your browned beef, add your spices, and simmer until liquid reduces.

That's it! The flavor of this mix is an excellent match to what we'd expect from a store-bought taco seasoning mix, but it is a little on the spicier side, which is okay with us! If we're not in the mood for spice, we just use a little less chili powder. I also feel much better knowing that I can make this at home and cut out some of the nasty processing I'd get with pre-packaged food.

Hope you can get a chance to try this at home. Be sure to let us know what you think!

Sarah & Nick