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Homemade Chicken Taco Seasoning

This homemade chicken taco seasoning takes five minutes to mix together and transforms plain chicken into restaurant-quality tacos. You control every ingredient, can dial the heat up or down, adjust the salt, and skip anything you don't want. The balance between warm spices, smoky depth, and just enough salt makes the flavors pop.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings: 12 tablespoons
Course: Sauces and Condiments
Cuisine: Mexican-American
Calories: 12
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons paprika smoked paprika adds deeper flavor
  • 1 and 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 and 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Equipment

  • Small mixing bowl
  • Measuring spoons
  • Whisk or fork for blending
  • Airtight glass jar or container for storage
  • Spoon for stirring

Method
 

  1. Pull out all your spices and arrange them in front of you before you start measuring to prevent accidentally skipping an ingredient or measuring something twice.
  2. Add 2 tablespoons of chili powder to a small mixing bowl.
  3. Stir in 1 tablespoon of ground cumin and mix thoroughly with the chili powder.
  4. Add 2 teaspoons of paprika and whisk it together with the chili powder and cumin.
  5. Add 1 and 1/2 teaspoons of garlic powder and 1 teaspoon of onion powder, then stir everything together.
  6. Stir in 1 teaspoon of dried oregano and 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper (or adjust cayenne to your heat preference).
  7. Add 1 and 1/2 teaspoons of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of ground black pepper, then whisk everything together vigorously for about 30 seconds to break up any clumps and distribute all the spices evenly.
  8. Pour the finished seasoning blend into a glass jar with an airtight lid and seal it tightly. Label the jar with the date and use within six months.

Notes

Store in a cool, dark cupboard away from heat and humidity. Use 2 tablespoons of seasoning per pound of chicken or ground meat for perfectly seasoned tacos. Mix the seasoning directly into the meat with a tablespoon of water to help it distribute evenly and stick to each piece. Adjust cayenne to taste for heat preference.