Homemade Chicken Taco Seasoning

Name: Homemade Chicken Taco Seasoning
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 tablespoon smoked ground paprika; 1 tablespoon chili powder; 2 teaspoons ground cumin; 1 teaspoon orange peel; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 2 teaspoons garlic granules; 2 teaspoons onion granules; ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes; 1 teaspoon minced onion (optional); 2 teaspoons dried oregano; 2 teaspoons dried rosemary or thyme; 2 teaspoon chicken bouillon powder ((or cube, crushed) optional)

Need a quick fix for Taco Tuesday? This homemade chicken taco seasoning is zesty, bold, and can be made in 5 minutes or less!

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My version uses orange peel, which adds a nice tang to the blend, as well as chicken bouillon for flavor. It also works well with other proteins. Add it to your tacos, enchiladas, fajitas, or in my sticky chicken drumsticks. You’ll be glad you did.

Taco seasoning mix in a dish plate with spoon.

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What Is Chicken Taco Seasoning?
Reasons To Love This Taco Seasoning Recipe
📃Ingredient Description
Variations
How to Make Taco Seasoning at Home
👩🏽‍🍳Maur's Tips
Storage Tips
Recipe FAQs
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📖 Recipe

What Is Chicken Taco Seasoning?

The seasoning is milder and less spicy than regular taco seasoning. It uses more herbs, such as oregano and coriander. It packs less heat and isn’t overpowering. It can be used as a marinade or dry rub to season poultry.

Reasons To Love This Taco Seasoning Recipe

Easy: five minutes, need I say more? Mix in a bowl or spice jar and shake it up. That’s it!
Versatile Uses: I have used this recipe for multiple Mexican-inspired dishes, such as chicken tostadas and quesadillas; you can bet it was gone in seconds.
Longer Shelf life: This spice mix can last up to 6 months to a year, depending on how well it is stored. Yes, you don’t need preservatives at home to extend the shelf life. Batch it up! Need I say more? Please see my tips below for proper storage.
Benefits: Unlike store-bought packs, you have control over the ingredients and the amount of sodium used.
Family Friendly: This recipe is family-friendly by default, with easy tweaks that allow you to adjust the heat level to suit your preference, offering either a spicy or mild option.

📃Ingredient Description

Here are some of the ingredients needed to make this chicken seasoning:

Ingredients needed to make the seasoning mix.

Paprika: (regular or smoked): I love using smoked paprika for both taste and color. Regular sweet paprika would do.
Orange peel: This is one ingredient I noticed was missing from most homemade recipes. Orange peel not only adds an extra oomph to the mix but also a subtle citrus flavor that complements chicken, as well as the other ingredients.
Garlic and onion powder: These both add flavor to the spice blend. Onion and garlic powder work great on poultry and can be used interchangeably. I am garlic obsessed, hence the amount used; if it isn’t your jam, by all means use less.
Cumin: cumin in chicken is like 5 and 6, they “go together”, thanks to the earthy and smoky notes it adds to the blend.
Chili: This moderately spicy powder adds a pungent flavor to the mix. For a more piquant and smokier background, add a dash of chipotle powder to take it up a notch.
Oregano: Oregano has a mint-like aroma that is pungent, sweet, and slightly peppery. It’s a must for a taco mix; it’s part of what gives the store-bought taco seasoning that certain je ne sais quoi.

Please refer to the recipe card for the exact measurements.

Variations

Do you have dietary needs and concerns, yet still want to enjoy this seasoning in your meals? Make a low-sodium version by skipping the salt and chicken powder.
Replace chili powder with a combination of turmeric and cinnamon for an Indian-style fusion. Play around and see what you like. Other flavor variations to try include a smoky Southwest version, Caribbean-inspired jerk poultry seasoning, and a West African spice fusion that pairs perfectly with this chicken peri peri.

It’s important to note that when making substitutions in recipes, the texture and flavor may be slightly different. However, these substitutes are the best options for changing the original recipe.

How to Make Taco Seasoning at Home

Detailed instructions are outlined in the recipe card below, but here are a few steps with visuals to guide you:

Mixing the spices in the plate before transferring into a jar.

Making your spice mix at home is as easy as mixing all the ingredients in a bowl or cup and then transferring them into a spice jar for storage.

As someone who uses this mix regularly, cos Tacos Tuesday, consider doubling or tripling the recipe, you'll thank yourself next Tuesday.

Note to Self: LABEL IT

Don’t confuse taco seasnonig with cinnamon sugar again, lol.

👩🏽‍🍳Maur's Tips

Don’t use old spices, as this might reduce the quality of your blend
A pinch of Chicken Bouillon boosts the overall flavor, trust me!
You can also blend the mix in a spice or coffee grinder for a smoother texture, if desired. Use about a tablespoon per pound of chicken, just enough to coat every corner. Adjust to taste as you go.
Use fresh spices, not ones that've been hanging around for a while (say three years or more); they’ve probably lost their mojo. Give the spice jar a sniff; if it has a dull or dusty smell, toss ‘em and start fresh. You want all the vibrant flavors that could last a year.
Be sure to mix the blend properly. I like using a small whisk or adding the mix into a mason jar and giving it a nice shake before transferring it into a smaller jar.
Don't sprinkle the spice mix over steaming food straight from the jar. Scoop it out with a dry spoon first. No one wants clumpy, stale spices.

A scoop of each dry ingredients in a plate with a spice whisk.

Storage Tips

If you're mixing up your spice blend at home (because you're fancy like that), here's how to keep them fresh and flavorful for the long haul:

Glass jars with tight lids work great. Think old spice jars, mason jars, or even those cute little labeled ones from the dollar store or Amazon (linked in the recipe card). Just make sure no air's sneaking in.
Store in a cool, dry place. Heat and light are spice killers, so keep the spice jars away from steamy shelves above the stove; preferably, store them in a cabinet out of direct heat.
Write the name and date on the jar because, let's be real, we will forget what's in that mystery jar six months from now.

Recipe FAQs

How much taco seasoning should I use per pound of chicken?

To season a pound of chicken (or other protein), use about 2 tablespoons of chicken taco mix. Use about 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning per 1 pound of chicken. If you want more flavor, you can increase the amount to 2 ½ tablespoons.

Can I use it for beef or turkey tacos as well?

Yes, you can use this seasoning blend on beef or turkey. It works just fine. Just know it might taste a little lighter, so feel free to add more chili powder or smoky spices if you want a bolder flavor.

Can I grind it for a finer texture?

Yes, although I love the texture of the garlic and onion granules, you can give the spice mix a few pulses in a coffee or spice grinder for a finer texture.

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PEACE & LOVE

Maureen

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