Homemade Bulk Taco Seasoning

Taco night shows up often enough at our house, especially with three kids, that I like to keep a big jar of homemade taco seasoning in the pantry. This batch is sized for a 1½-pint (24-ounce) mason jar, so a little measuring now means taco meat is only a scoop away on a busy weeknight.

The flavor is straightforward and familiar: chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic, onion, oregano, salt and pepper. There are no fillers and no surprise heat unless you add it. Shake or stir the jar before you scoop, brown the meat, and dinner is underway.

Why Make Taco Seasoning in Bulk

• One jar, many dinners: This batch makes about 2⅞ cups, enough for about 23 pounds of meat at 2 tablespoons per pound.
• Pantry ingredients: Everything is a standard spice you can already have on hand.
• You control the flavor: Keep the jar mild for the family, then add heat or adjust the salt in the skillet if you want to.
• Ready when you need it: Measure once, then scoop and cook.
• Easy to share: A labeled jar is a practical homemade gift for someone who cooks taco meat often.

If you want a complete taco-bowl plan to go with it, see the taco bowls in Eat & Feed Weekly Prep: Week 1.

The Starting Batch: 3 Pounds of Meat

My usual taco seasoning batch for about 3 pounds of meat is below. 

• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1½ teaspoons paprika
• 1½ teaspoons garlic powder
• 1½ teaspoons onion powder
• 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

Bulk Taco Seasoning Ingredients

This list is the full jar recipe. Stir the spices together in a large bowl, then transfer them to a clean, dry jar.

• 1 cup chili powder: The main flavor and color. A standard, mild chili powder keeps the jar family-friendly.
• ⅔ cup ground cumin: The earthy flavor you expect in taco meat.
• ¼ cup paprika: Regular paprika, as written. It adds color and a gentle sweetness.
• ¼ cup garlic powder
• ¼ cup onion powder
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt: The recipe is written for kosher salt. Table salt is finer and tastes saltier by volume, so if that’s what you have, use less in the jar and adjust at the stove.
• 2 tablespoons dried oregano
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon cayenne (if some heat is desired)

How to Fill the Jar

1. Add all of the spices to a large bowl.
2. Stir until the color looks even and no streaks of a single spice remain.
3. Funnel the seasoning into a clean, dry 1½-pint (24-ounce) mason jar, leaving a little space at the top so the lid can seal and the jar can be shaken.
4. Seal the jar and label it with the name and the date. A good line to add on the label is: use about 2 tablespoons per pound of meat.

How to Use Homemade Taco Seasoning

Per pound of meat: about 2 tablespoons of seasoning and about 4 cup water. Use 1½ to 2 tablespoons if you want a lighter coating.

The whole jar: at 2 tablespoons per pound, about 23 pounds of meat. If you use closer to 1½ tablespoons per pound, it will go further, around 30 pounds.

Taco meat on the stove

1. Brown the ground meat in a skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it up as it cooks. Ground beef, turkey or chicken all work.
2. Drain extra fat if needed.
3. Sprinkle on the taco seasoning, then pour in about 1/4 cup water per pound of meat.
4. Stir and simmer for a few minutes, until most of the liquid has reduced and the meat is evenly coated. Taste and adjust with a pinch more seasoning or salt if you need to.

This taco meat is right at home in tacos, taco bowls, quesadillas and taco salad. For a full week of taco bowls and walking taco bowls, use it in Eat & Feed Weekly Prep: Week 1.

Optional Flavor Adjustments

The jar recipe above is the standard batch. These optional changes are for a separate jar or for the skillet, and they are not extra ingredients you need to make the seasoning.

• Mild, for kids: The standard jar has no cayenne and is already a good starting point. Choose a mild chili powder if the one in your pantry runs hot, and offer hot sauce at the table for anyone who wants it.
• Spicy: Leave the main jar as written. When you cook the meat, stir in cayenne or chipotle powder to taste, starting with about ⅛ to ¼ teaspoon per pound. If you want a dedicated spicy jar, stir cayenne or chipotle into that jar a little at a time and taste as you go.
• Low-salt: Reduce or leave out the kosher salt and salt the meat at the stove after tasting. If you leave out the full ¼ cup salt, the jar will hold a little less than 2⅞ cups.

Storage

Store the jar airtight in a cool, dark place, away from the stove. For the best flavor, use it within about 6 months. Spices don’t suddenly spoil at that point, but they do fade.

Shake or stir before each use. The finer powders can settle, and a quick shake brings the seasoning back together. Keep the jar dry: use a clean, dry spoon and close the lid when you’re done.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much homemade taco seasoning should I use per pound of meat?

About 2 tablespoons per pound is the standard amount, based on one starting batch for about 3 pounds of meat. Use 1½ to 2 tablespoons per pound if you want it a little lighter, and add a splash more water only if the pan looks dry.

How much meat will a 1½-pint jar season?

About 23 pounds at 2 tablespoons per pound. Closer to 1½ tablespoons per pound stretches it to around 30 pounds.

Can I make a smaller batch?

Yes. Use the starting batch at the top of this post, which makes a little more than ⅓ cup and seasons about 3 pounds of meat. For a half jar, use half of each ingredient in the bulk list.

How long does homemade taco seasoning last?

Keep it sealed in a cool, dark place and plan to use it within about 6 months for the best flavor. Write the date on the jar so you can keep track.

Can I use this on chicken or vegetables?

Yes. The same 1½ to 2 tablespoons per pound works on ground or shredded chicken. For roasted potatoes or vegetables, start with a lighter sprinkle, toss with a little oil, and add more to taste.

Is this taco seasoning spicy?

The standard jar is mild. Heat depends on your chili powder. Add cayenne or chipotle in the skillet if you want more kick.

Save this recipe for your next taco night, and follow Eten en Voeden on Pinterest for more simple homemade recipes.

Other Recipes to Try

• Homemade Chili Seasoning
• Easy Homemade Tortillas
• 5 Minute Restaurant-Style Salsa
• Eat & Feed Weekly Prep: Week 1

Try this homemade taco seasoning and leave a rating below. Click the stars just below the recipe title, then snap a photo and tag #etenenvoeden on Facebook or Instagram.

Bulk Taco Seasoning

A pantry taco seasoning sized to fill a 1½-pint (24-ounce) mason jar, with a little room at the top.

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients

  

• 1 cup Chili Powder
• 2/3 cup Cumin
• 1/4 cup Smoked Paprika
• 1/4 cup Garlic Powder
• 1/4 cup Onion Powder
• 2 tablespoons Oregano
• 1 tablespoon Pepper
• 1 tablespoon Salt
• 1 tablespoon cayenne (optional for heat)

Instructions

 

• Add all ingredients to a mason jar and stir well.
• Seal and store in a cool, dark place. Shake or stir before using.
• Use 1-2 tablespoons per pound of meat (more or less to taste) plus 1/4 cup water. Simmer until incorporated and thick.