The Best Homemade Chicken Taco Seasoning

Why you will love this recipe:

• It tastes amazing! This taco spice mix has the best authentic Mexican flavour and is better than any store bought seasoning mixes or packets. It's perfect for taco night, just like my homemade mango habanero salsa.
• This seasoning mix is quick and easy to make and is ready in just a few minutes.
• It's cheaper to make your own seasoning blend rather than buying pre-made store-bought packets so this is a great way to save money on groceries. 
• This taco seasoning is healthy, sugar free, gluten free, dairy free, vegan, paleo, Whole30, keto, low carb and free from any preservatives, artificial flavours, or processed ingredients. It's also lower in sodium compared to most taco seasoning packets.
• You can use this Mexican seasoning mix for making any type of taco meat including beef tacos, turkey tacos, fish tacos, pork tacos, taco salads, and fajitas.
• You can make it as mild or as spicy as you like.

Ingredients and substitutions:

For the exact measurements refer to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

• Cumin - a classic Mexican spice that gives this taco spice blend so much flavour and a little heat. Be sure to use ground cumin rather than cumin seeds.
• Oregano - a nice mild herb that helps contrast the spicier spices in this mix. You can either use oregano or Mexican oregano.
• Smoked paprika - adds a nice bold, smokey flavour to this spice blend. Paprika is one of the best seasonings for chicken. If you don't have smoked paprika you can use regular paprika instead.
• Salt - salt not only adds flavour but helps enhance the taste of the other spices in this mix. I recommend using sea salt for the best flavour.
• Ground black pepper - pepper adds even more heat and boldness to this mix. You could use either ground black pepper or ground white pepper for this recipe.
• Chili powder - adds more spicy flavour to this recipe. Be sure to use a pure chili powder rather than a chili powder blend.
• Garlic powder - this adds a delicious savoury flavour and enhances the taste of the other spices.
• Onion powder - onion powder is a pantry staple spice that makes spice blends taste so much better!
• Dried cilantro - cilantro is a classic Mexican herb that people either love or hate. I personally love the taste of cilantro but if you don't like it or don't have dried cilantro simply omit it from the recipe.

Recipe variations and add ins:

• To make this mix spicier: add another teaspoon of chili powder or 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper. 
• This recipe is good for about a pound of chicken or a pound of meat, so if you are cooking more than that you can double or triple the recipe.
• You can make this seasoning lower in sodium by reducing the amount of salt.

How to make chicken taco seasoning:

Step 1

First, place all the herbs and spices in a small bowl or jar.

Step 2

Then mix the spices well until the seasoning mix is well combined.

Chef's tips:

• Use fresh spices and seasonings for the best taste.
• If you want to have more of this homemade seasoning to have on hand for later you can make a big batch and store it for later. It's perfect to have ready for those busy weeknights. 
• Use a small funnel to make transferring this spice blend to a jar or other storage container much easier and with less mess.

How to use this chicken taco seasoning:

This seasoning mix makes the best shredded chicken tacos. For the most flavour, you want to season your chicken before cooking it if you are using chicken breasts or chicken thighs.

If you are using ground chicken you don't need to season the chicken before cooking it. Simply brown the meat in a pan or large skillet and add the seasoning while the meat is cooking. 

You could also use this mix to make a delicious Mexican dip. Simply mix equal parts mayonnaise and sour cream or Greek yogurt and add as much seasoning as you prefer. I also love adding a little fresh lime juice.

This taco seasoning also works great as a spice rub for other meats, seafood or veggies. I love adding it to air fried diced potatoes and French fries.