This homemade chicken taco seasoning recipe is easily customizable, making it the perfect blend of spices for your taco night. This homemade spice blend is better than anything you can buy in the store, and is very easy to make! You likely have the individual ingredients right in your pantry to make delicious chicken tacos in minutes.
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What is Chicken Taco Seasoning?
This seasoning is a blend of spices perfect for tacos. The most common spices used in taco seasoning are chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and paprika.
However, this recipe also includes oregano, salt, pepper, and dried onion powder. While some people like to add a bit of sugar to their spice mix, we think it’s unnecessary.
Why We Love This Recipe
There are several reasons why this homemade spice mix is better than the packaged varieties.
- Easy to make. You likely have all the ingredients in your pantry to make chicken taco seasoning in minutes.
- Less expensive. Making chicken taco seasoning is usually more affordable, since you can make a larger batch of it relatively inexpensively.
- Customize this recipe to your own taste preferences. For example, you could leave oregano out of the recipe if you don’t like it.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Dehydrated onion – These are little flakes of dried onion. You can also substitute with ground onion powder.
- Dried oregano – We like using Mexican oregano.
- Crushed red pepper- You can add more or less according to your heat preferences.
You can easily customize this recipe to your own taste preferences. For example, you could leave cumin out of the recipe if you don’t like it.
Recipe Variations
Feel free to experiment with different spices!
For example, you could add smoked paprika for a smoky flavor, or cayenne pepper or chipotle powder for a bit of heat.
How to Make Chicken Taco Seasoning
Mix chili powder, dehydrated onion, ground cumin, sea salt, paprika, garlic powder, dried oregano, and crushed red pepper in a small bowl.
Once the spices are combined, store the spice mix in a glass jar or container with a tight-fitting lid. Add a label or mark the container so you remember what you’ve made later.
How to Make Taco Seasoning For Chicken
- Use a fork or whisk to stir seasonings together into a mix.
Stir up seasonings until well combined. - Store in an air-tight container.
Pour spice mix into a glass jar or container with a tight-fitting lid. - Add a label or mark the container so you remember the contents.
How to Use Taco Seasoning for Chicken
- There are many different ways to use this seasoning. One of the most popular is simply rubbing it onto easy sauteed chicken before cooking.
- You can also add it to ground beef or turkey before cooking it. It’s a great way to add flavor to burritos or a healthy taco salad, too.
- Another popular way to use it is in a slow cooker. Add all the ingredients for your favorite chicken slow cooker recipe together, then sprinkle on some of the mixture. You can always add more at the end if needed. (We absolutely love slow cooker recipes!)
Love Mexican-inspired recipes? Try our wonton taco cups for an easy and tasty appetizer. These crunchwraps on Blackstone or chicken fajitas Blackstone recipes are definitely fun dinners, especially when you’re hosting. And our Instant Pot Pozole can be made in the Instant Pot for a quick and simple weeknight dinner that’s bursting with flavor.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can use it as a dry rub. Combine the spices in a bowl and mix them together. Then rub the mixture onto your protein before cooking.
Some people like to add water, but we think it’s unnecessary. The spices will release moisture as they cook, so there’s no need to add water.
If you want to add water, we recommend adding it a little at a time until you reach the desired consistency.
In addition to using it as a dry rub or in a slow cooker, it can also be used to make homemade taco shells. Combine the spices in a bowl and mix them together.
This blend of taco spices will last up to six months if stored in a cool, dark place.
We recommend storing this seasoning in a glass jar or container with a tight-fitting lid. This will help keep the spices fresh and prevent them from losing flavor and caking together.
More Easy Pantry Must Haves To Love…
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Chicken Taco Seasoning
Equipment
- container for storing spices
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons dehydrated onion (can substitute with 1/2 teaspoon dried onion powder)
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon ground paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano (I like using Mexican oregano)
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix together chili powder, dried onions, cumin, salt, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, and red pepper.
- Add to ground chicken after browning or to chicken tenderloins, cutlets, or thighs before cooking.
- Once the spices are combined, use immediately use the spice blend or store the spice mix in a glass jar or container with a tight-fitting lid. Add a label or mark the container with "chicken taco seasoning."
- Double or triple the recipe and store it in a spice jar to use for chicken tacos. Use 3 tablespoons per pound of chicken meat.
Notes
We recommend storing this seasoning in a glass jar or container with a tight-fitting lid. This will help keep the spices fresh and prevent them from losing flavor and caking together.
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Paula says
Made a batch last night and it was delicious!!!
Heather says
Great flavor, customizable and so much better than store-bought varieties! Thanks so much!
Katherine says
This seasoning blend is incredible! Loved the flavors.
DK says
Great seasoning blend! We have taco night every week and I used this blend for our chicken meat and it was a great hit with the family!
Sara Welch says
This was such a tasty recipe that does not disappoint! Easy, quick and delivers on flavor! Definitely, a new favorite seasoning!