I love making up seasoning mixes. You can save money and make the seasoning to your liking. It’s not hard to do. If you have a store bought version that’s a favorite, look at the ingredients and you can figure out what you need.
To help decide the ratio, just remember the higher the ingredient is on the list, the greater the quantity that’s used. Sometimes the list is lame and includes but a few ingredients and then says “additional spices and flavorings”. Don’t worry about that. You’re the captain of your ship, the General in your Army, the Commander of your Post…well, you get the picture. Add seasonings and spices that you like and taste good.
This mix serves double duty for me. I use it for taco seasoning and as a meat rub.
For taco seasoning, I use about a palm full to a pound of browned ground beef. Add about one teaspoon of cornstarch to 2/3 to 3/4 cup of water, mix well and add to ground beef and seasoning. The cornstarch adds the thickening that you get from packaged taco seasoning.
For a rub, mix the seasoning mix half and half with brown sugar.
Homemade Taco Seasoning and Meat Rub
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon sea salt or kosher salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
Mix all ingredients.
I make four batches at the time and keep it in a half pint canning jar in my spice cabinet. It can be added to Tex-Mex style dishes like chili, also.
Hope you enjoy it!
Homemade Taco Seasoning and Rub
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon sea salt or kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients.
Sandra Davis says
Jackie! I just fixed up a big batch of this! It’s definitely a staple at our house, it has such a good quality taste to it. We Luv It!! Hope you’re doing good!
Jackie Garvin says
Hey Sandra! I hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving. 😉
Laurel says
This rub mix looks great! I signed up today, and will try the rub asap. I’ve always wanted to make a beef brisket.
Jackie Garvin says
Thank you for your support. I hope you find many recipes you like.
Michele says
Thanks, Jackie! I love this and am looking forward to giving it a try this week 🙂
Jackie Garvin says
I hope you enjoy it, Michele! 🙂
Kay says
I have been enjoying your website since I discovered it through Pinterest, Because I enjoy eating so much, I have been forced to learn to cook.
I wanted to share a hint with you that I recently discovered about taco meat mixture.
When cooking up your next batch, after you have browned your meat, add your chopped onion, and seasonings finish up the mixture by adding a 16 ounce jar of Catalina salad dressing instead of the corn starch mixture and simmer for 30 minutes. I often wondered why some of the restaurant mixtures tasted so much better than what I was cooking in my kitchen and now I know.
Jackie Garvin says
Kay,
Thank you for your thoughtful comment. I hope you’re finding lots of good recipes to cook and enjoy!
Thanks for the interesting tip of using Catalina salad dressing in place of taco seasoning. I’d never examined the seasoning and spices in that salad dressing to realize it was similar to taco seasoning. 🙂
Beverly Watson says
Just so I understand this. For taco filling: Cook beef and onions as usual, add taco seasoning, add 16 oz Catalina, and simmer.
Jackie, I just found you last week. I’m loving your recipies!
Jackie Garvin says
Hi Beverly!
Welcome to Syrup and Biscuits. We’re sure proud you found us.
My recipe for taco filling is even simpler than you described. This is what I said in the recipe, “For taco seasoning, I use about a palm full to a pound of browned ground beef. Add about one teaspoon of cornstarch to 2/3 to 3/4 cup of water, mix well and add to ground beef and seasoning. The cornstarch adds the thickening that you get from packaged taco seasoning.”
Dorothy Dunton says
I have been making my own taco seasoning for years – I did not like the high salt content and off flavor the “unidentified” ingredients. I prefer to know what is and is not my food. Your blog is GREAT!!
Jackie Garvin says
Hi Dorothy!
Making season blends and rubs are so easy I’m surprised more folks dont do it. I love experimenting with flavors. Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you come back often. 🙂