This Homemade Chicken Taco Seasoning recipe is easily customizable, making it the perfect blend of spices for your chicken tacos.
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This recipe is better than anything you can buy in the store and is very easy to make. You likely have the spices right in your pantry to make delicious chicken tacos in minutes.
Plus, you can customize this recipe to your own taste preferences. For example, you could leave cumin out of the recipe if you don’t like it.
What is a Chicken Taco Seasoning?
A chicken taco seasoning is a blend of spices to flavor chicken for tacos. The most common spices in this 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.
What is the difference between taco seasoning and chicken taco seasoning?
Taco seasoning is a blend of spices that can be used to flavor both beef and chicken tacos. Chicken taco seasoning is a blend of spices designed to enhance the flavor of chicken tacos.
While you can use taco seasoning on chicken tacos, we prefer chicken taco seasoning because it has more spices that we think go well with chicken.
Why is homemade better than store-bought?
There are several reasons why homemade chicken taco seasoning mix is better than store-bought.
First, homemade seasonings generally taste better because they are fresher. Store-bought spice blends can contain stale spices that have lost their flavor.
Second, homemade spice blends are usually more affordable than store-bought ones.
And finally, when you make your own seasoning, you can control the ingredients and make sure they are all-natural.
Ingredients
- Chili powder
- Dehydrated onion – can substitute with dried onion powder
- Ground cumin
- Sea salt
- Ground paprika
- Garlic powder
- Dried oregano – I like using Mexican oregano
- Crushed red pepper
Equipment Needed
How to Make the Best 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 with “chicken taco seasoning.”
Recipe Variations
While this is our favorite recipe for a homemade taco seasoning mix, feel free to experiment with different spices.
For example, you could add smoked paprika for a smoky flavor, cayenne pepper, or chipotle powder for a bit of heat.
How to Use Chicken Taco Seasoning
There are many different ways to use chicken taco spices. One of the most popular is simply rubbing it onto chicken breasts before cooking.
You can add the seasoning to ground chicken or turkey before cooking it. It’s a great way to add flavor to tacos, burritos, or just plain chicken breasts.
Another popular way to use this seasoning is in a slow cooker with shredded chicken.
Add all the ingredients for your favorite chicken taco recipe to the slow cooker, then sprinkle on some of the seasoning mixture. The shredded chicken will come out flavorful and moist. You can add more seasoning mix at the end if needed.
Love Mexican-inspired recipes? Try our Taco Wonton Cups, Crunchwrap (Taco Bell copycat), Fajitas, and Chicken Pozole.
How to Store Chicken Taco Seasoning
This seasoning will last up to six months if stored in a cool, dark place.
We recommend storing them 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can use taco seasoning as a dry rub. Combine the spices in a bowl and mix them together. Then rub the mixture onto your chicken breasts before cooking.
Some people like to add water to their taco seasoning, 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.
Then rub the mixture onto your chicken breasts before cooking. The flavors will complement each other perfectly!
Get the Full Chicken Taco Spice Mix Recipe Below
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.