Bulk homemade taco seasoning comes together quickly and stores really well! By making enough taco seasoning to fill a quart-size mason jar, I’m preparing the equivalent of at least 25 taco seasoning packets!

Why make bulk homemade taco seasoning?

If you make bulk homemade taco seasoning you’re in charge of the ingredients! If there is a spice you don’t like, you can decrease or omit it and replace it with an alternative or more of another ingredient! Having it in bulk on hand ensures there’s enough for any recipe.

When I was looking at common taco seasoning packets, I started reading the ingredients. There are so many additives to the prepacked taco seasoning! When you make your own, you can decide if you want to put the extra stuff in. Here are just a few of the ingredients that I was surprised to find in some of the prepackaged taco seasoning packets:

Corn starch, maltodextrin, vegetable oil, soybean oil, “anti-caking” ingredients, wheat flour, corn flour, and yeast.

Is homemade taco seasoning spicy?

This is a mild taco seasoning mix. In the entire quart-sized mason jar there is 2 tbsp of black pepper and 1 ½ tbsp of crushed red pepper. If your family enjoys more spice, increase either of those ingredients. If your family doesn’t enjoy spice, you can omit the crushed red pepper. I would keep the black pepper because I think it adds a great flavor.

How to store homemade taco seasoning?

Homemade taco seasoning should be kept in a cool dark area like a pantry or cabinet. This bulk homemade taco seasoning recipe is specifically meant to fill one quart mason jar. Make sure your jar is cleaned and completely dry. Water is the enemy of storing spices!

What can you use taco seasoning for?

Of course, the obvious use is to make homemade tacos. 2 tablespoons of this mix with about a quarter cup of water in a saucepan of 1 pound of cooked ground beef will make fantastic taco meat!

Let us know in the comments if there is an unconventional use for taco seasoning that you use regularly!

Check out our recipes for taco pizza and cowboy soup that both call for homemade taco seasoning!

How to make bulk homemade taco seasoning:

Supplies:

1 quart mason jar
Funnel (optional, but makes it easier)
Mixing bowl
Whisk
This recipe makes enough to completely fill a quart mason jar, which is a lot of taco seasoning. If you don’t want that much, you can halve this recipe. If you want more, you can go ahead and double it!

Ingredients

1 cup + 1tbsp chili powder
½ cup cumin
⅓ cup plus 1 tbsp garlic powder
¼ cup white sugar
⅓ cup plus 1 tbsp onion powder
⅓ cup salt
3 tbsp oregano
3 tbsp paprika
2 tbsp black pepper
1 ½ tbsp crushed red pepper
First, clean and thoroughly dry a one-quart mason jar.

This is such an easy recipe! All that you do is combine these ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly. Once you are satisfied that the seasonings have been well mixed, pour it into the mason jar. Don’t try to mix all of the ingredients in the mason jar to save a dish. It won’t work. Your spice blend will be unevenly mixed and will not taste good!

This mix will fill the mason jar up to the very top. That’s the main reason why I recommend a funnel to assist in filling it. You’ll need to shake and tap the jar to make sure that it all gets in. I promise though, it fits!

Seal the jar with a mason jar compatible lid or a ring and lid. Store in a cool, dry place.

What other homemade spice mixes do you keep on hand? Any that you would like to learn to make? Let us know in the comments below!