Homemade Chicken Taco Seasoning

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This homemade chicken taco seasoning recipe is the perfect way to spice up taco night. It's packed with bold flavors and so versatile you'll find plenty of other uses beyond chicken tacos.

A clear bowl with chicken taco seasoning and a teaspoon.

You may be wondering why you should make your own taco seasoning mix when you can buy store-bought packets. Well, there are two main reasons you want to make your own homemade seasoning mixes. First, you control all the spices, flavors and added salts (more on that later). And second, the best part of making your own taco seasoning is you can control the freshness of the spices, meaning your mix will be bold, bright and delicious! This homemade taco seasoning will make the absolute best chicken tacos or grilled chicken breasts.

Ingredients that Matter

A handful of simple pantry staple ingredients are all you need for this seasoning blend:

Chili Powder. The star of any taco seasoning blend is chili powder. Did you know chili powder may have one or multiple dried and ground chili peppers? Here you can use your favorite brand of chili powder. Or, make your own! Start by removing the seeds and stems from your preferred dried chili (think puya, guajillo, pequin or chipotle) then pulverizing in a spice grinder.
Smoked Paprika. Another ground dried pepper (though typically less spicy than chili powder), paprika has a slightly sweet and fruity pepper flavor. We prefer smoked paprika (which is made by grinding smoked dried peppers), as that smoky flavor makes for incredibly delicious tacos! Use hot (spicy) or sweet smoked paprika as you prefer.
Garlic Powder. Dried and ground garlic is all you'll find in garlic powder, and its garlicky flavor is just what we want in our taco seasoning. Note that garlic powder loses its potency when diluted in water. But when mixed with oil/fat it comes alive! That's why it works particularly well when sprinkled into ground chicken or directly onto breasts or thighs.
Cumin Seeds. Whenever possible, start with whole spices. You'll get far more flavor grinding whole spices compared to using pre-ground spices (see below about spice grinders). This is true for cumin, as well. Use a spice grinder or mortar and pestle to pulverize the seeds into a powder and your entire house will smell delicious!
Coriander Seeds. As mentioned above, start with whole spices when possible. Coriander seeds, the dried seeds of cilantro, are fruity and packed with flavor, especially when grinding your own!
Dried Oregano. If you can find Mexican oregano, use that! It has a more pungent, intense flavor compared to traditional Greek oregano. You can also use dried marjoram here for a flavor similar to Mexican oregano.
Notable Omissions: You may have noticed the recipe does not include salt. Well, there's a simple reason for that. We believe it's best to season your food directly with salt instead of adding it into a spice mix. This allows you to better distribute the salt. And if you add salt to this spice mix, you'll have a harder time controlling the final sodium level of the recipe. The same goes for black pepper. We suggest keeping the salt and pepper out of this taco seasoning mixture and using them separately.

A white plate with various whole spices in small piles.

How to Grind Whole Spices

A spice grinder with whole coriander and cumin seeds and dried oregano inside.

Measure your whole spices and add them to a spice grinder. Place the lid on and pulse several times until the whole spices are pulverized into a powder.

A black spice grinder with pulverized spices inside.

In between uses, we suggest cleaning out your spice grinder. Simply add some dried rice or another dried grain and pulse to pulverize. Then dump out mixture and unplug the grinder. Use paper towels to brush out any leftover spices or pulverized rice.

Looking for a spice grinder? You can use a one-touch handheld coffee/spice grinder! Here's one we recommend:

BLACK+DECKER Grinder One Touch Push-Button Control

How to Make Chicken Taco Seasoning

A white bowl with spices and a black spice grinder off center.

Step 1: Grind whole spices in a spice grinder. Then measure pre-ground spices and transfer all ingredients to a small mixing bowl. Stir well to combine.

Step 2: Transfer seasoning blend to a glass jar and store in the pantry for up to 6 months.

How to Store Taco Seasoning

Store the chicken taco seasoning mix in an airtight container and keep it in cool dark place. If stored properly, it will taste fresh for about 6 months. We like to store our spices in the pantry, but a spice cabinet or even a pull-out drawer works well.

And if you are going to make a lot of different homemade spice mixtures, be sure to save your old glass spice jars. Simply clean them out with soapy water, dry well, and use a funnel (or make a funnel with a paper towel) to add your spice mix. Be sure to include a label!

You can also double or triple the recipe to make a big batch. If you do so, you may want to store your taco seasoning in a mason jar.

A glass spice jar with chicken taco seasoning.

How to Use Homemade Taco Seasoning

This recipe makes about the equivalent of one (1 oz.) package of store-bought taco seasoning mix. You can substitute this homemade version for any recipe that calls for a store-bought packet of taco seasoning. This means you can use a whole recipe for one pound of meat (such as ground chicken, boneless chicken breasts or thighs, or ground turkey). It's also perfect in ground beef, salsa, enchiladas, nachos, guacamole and fajitas.

We love to use it in our Baked Crispy Chicken Tacos recipe. Or mix in a full batch with one pound of ground chicken for our favorite ground chicken tacos or make chicken taco burgers. Or, add a tablespoon to a pitcher of bloody marys or use the mix on the rim of a glass for a spicy cocktail.

Variations

The beauty of making a homemade spice blend is you can control the ingredients. Here are some suggested variations based on your preferences.

Add 1 teaspoon onion powder.
Add a pinch of cayenne pepper.
Grind a big pinch of red pepper flakes and add to the mix.
Stir in some lime juice and/or lime zest just before using.

Try brushing wedges of corn tortillas with some oil and sprinkling well with this homemade chicken taco seasoning, then bake in a hot oven until crispy for delicious tortilla chips. Or brush whole tortillas with oil and sprinkle with taco seasoning for the best chicken taco shells. The taco seasoning works well with black beans as well! Mix some of the seasoning into my Vegan Refried Beans as a side for quesadillas, taco salads, burritos or Tuesday night taco bowls!

One of my favorite snacks are these Roasted Black Beans. I love to sprinkle some of this homemade taco seasoning before roasted the black beans for delicious, protein and fiber-packed snack.

A white bowl with chicken taco seasoning and a glass spice jar in the background.

Dinner Ideas

Want some inspiration for dinner tonight? Try these recipes:

FAQ

What is the difference between chicken taco seasoning and regular taco seasoning?

Regular taco seasoning tends to have more of a kick than chicken taco seasoning, but they are often used interchangeably.

How long does homemade seasoning mixes last?

For best results, homemade seasoning blends and mixes will last about 6 months. Be sure to store them in an airtight container in the pantry. I like to repurpose old glass seasoning and spice jars.

Is chicken taco seasoning best for chicken breasts or ground chicken?

This recipe makes the equivalent of a 1-oz package of taco seasoning, which is perfect for 1 pound of ground chicken. It's just as good rubbed onto chicken breasts or even a whole chicken.

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