GORDON RAMSAY RECIPES | Homemade Taco Seasoning

Never buy another package of taco seasoning with this spicy taco seasoning in your pantry. This is SO MUCH BETTER. Now you can have a tasty tacos in about 15 minutes.

I love my usual taco recipe (and my wife told me not to change it) but it takes 25 minutes and I get out a lot of spices. It is time to simplify my life. The second issue I have ( the real one to me) is that a lot of recipes I want to try call for a package of taco seasoning. I refused to do that and substituting would mean adding 7 or 8 more ingredients. This is much better.

As a pediatrician, I’m always look at ingredients on everything. Taco seasoning mix always puzzled me. Whoever though of putting most of that junk in there must be a genius since I had no idea that wheat, flour and maltodextrin were needed. And the salt… so much salt. And I though it was suppose to be spices. Silly silly me.

Rating

Tasty like my other taco meat.

Make extra and store in a air tight container for the next time

Notes: there are hundred of recipes for taco seasoning out there. I didn’t bother since I knew what I wanted.
By making your own, you get to control everything. I want to always use fresh onion so I did not put the onion powder in. I find the garlic a bit of a pain at times so the garlic powder is in. This is 3/10 spicy. Adjust the cumin and cayenne accordingly. You are the boss.

Lots of good things plus an air tight container.

Combine 1/2 cup chile powder, 1 tsp each of oregano, Kosher salt, 1/2 tsp each of cayenne pepper, black pepper and 2 tsp cumin. Options are 1 tsp each of granular garlic powder and onion powder. Add these if you are not adding onion or garlic during your cooking. I always do fresh onion so I omitted the onion powder.

Seal in a air tight container. It should be good for months.

To make taco meat. If you did not add the garlic and onion to the mix. Start with one small onion and 2-3 cloves of garlic and dice the onion and crush the garlic.

Over medium high heat add 1 t oil to a nonstick pan. Add the onion and cook for a couple of minutes until clearing. If adding fresh garlic, put it in now and “bloom” for 30 seconds.

Add 1 pound of ground beef and continue over medium high heat, breaking the meat apart and cook until browned. About 4-5 minutes.

Drain the fat.

Add 3 tablespoons of taco seasoning and 1/4 cup of water. I usually will add 1/2 cup of tomato sauce or salsa here. Simmer for a few minutes until liquid is reduced.

Homemade Taco Seasoning

by DrDan at 101 Cooking for Two April-20-2013

Never buy another package of taco seasoning with this spicy taco seasoning in your pantry. This is SO MUCH BETTER. Now you can have a tasty tacos in about 15 minutes.

Ingredients

1/4 cup chili powder
2 t Garlic powder- granulated preferred- optional
2 t onion powder-optional
4 T cumin
2 t oregano
1 t cayenne pepper
2 t kosher salt
1 t black pepper

Instructions

1) Combine ingredients in medium bowl. Omit the garlic powder and/or onion powder if adding them fresh.2) The heat on this is 3/10. Adjust cumin and cayenne for taste. See post to vary amounts.3) To make taco meat. If you did not add the garlic and/or onion to the mix. Start with one small onion and/or 2-3 cloves of garlic and dice the onion and crush the garlic.4) Over medium high heat add 1 t oil to a nonstick pan. Add the onion and cook for a couple of minutes until clearing. If adding fresh garlic, put it in now and “bloom” for 30 seconds.5) Add 1 pound of ground beef and continue over medium high heat, breaking the meat apart and cook until browned. About 4-5 minutes. Drain the fat.6) Add 3 tablespoons of taco seasoning and 1/4 cup of water. I usually will add 1/2 cup of tomato sauce or salsa here. Simmer for a few minutes until liquid is reduced.

Make extra and store in a air tight container for the next time

Details

Prep time: 3 mins Cook time: 12 mins Total time: 15 mins Yield: 1 to 8 pounds taco meat

Updated

April 20 2013

Dan Mikesell

This recipe has already been read 111 times!