Smoky Taco Seasoning Recipe

Have you ever made your own taco seasoning? While you may expect it to be overwhelming, you'd be surprised how easy it is to make. Simply gather your spices, stir, and you have homemade taco seasoning that you can use on any of your favorite Mexican food dishes.

Recipe developer and health coach Miriam Hahn brings us this smoky taco seasoning recipe. Hahn includes special ingredients that are key in this recipe. Hahn notes that she prefers using "smoked paprika to give it a real smoky flavor and tone down some of the chili powder flavoring." Hahn also likes to use "Himalyan salt in this because of the high mineral count and I also love the flavor and texture it adds."

Not sure how else to use taco seasoning besides adding it to taco meat? Hahn recommends adding this to ranch dressing to serve on taco salads, mixing it with sour cream to make a dip, or even mixing it with guacamole to add an extra kick to the creamy dish.

To make this smoky taco seasoning, start by gathering your ingredients. You'll need chili powder, ground cumin, salt, pepper, smoked paprika, garlic granules, onion granules, red chili flakes, and dried oregano. Don't forget to opt for the pink Himalayan salt if you have it available.

Add all of these ingredients into a small jar or a bowl. If using a jar, cap it and shake to combine. If using a bowl, stir to combine. Make sure it's mixed well. 

Add this taco seasoning to your taco filling as usual. Hahn recommends using this on ground beef or ground turkey tacos, but notes that she particularly likes using it in vegetarian versions made from lentils or tofu. Hahn says "You can even use it as a fajita spice or for roasted vegetables like potatoes, bell peppers and onions."

This mixture stores in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 6 months. If you don't use it all when you first whip it up, you'll know you have extra on-hand for future taco-inspired recipes.