The Best Homemade Taco Seasoning - The Recipe Critic (2024)

FAQs

What makes tacos taste better? ›

Not enough people use cilantro. Iceberg lettuce can be refreshing in a burrito, but when it comes to tacos, cilantro, onion and lime are king. I know Tex-Mex enthusiasts love their dairy on a taco. Big pinches of cheddar cheese that lack flavor or the ability to melt.

Mexican seasoning typically consists of a blend of traditional herbs and spices while taco seasoning is a specific blend of spices that may not be used as much in traditional Mexican dishes.

Ground cumin – Next to chili powder, cumin is the most important ingredient in taco seasoning. It adds an earthy flavor and aroma.

McCormick Original Taco Seasoning Mix features the warmth of cumin, paprika, and chile pepper to deliver complex Tex-Mex flavor with a hint of heat that will have your guests coming back for more.

Salsa: Salsa and sauces are the soul of your taco, tying all other ingredients together.

A restaurant-quality taco starts with a great tortilla — and that means one made from scratch. More than a vessel to hold the goodness inside, the tortilla is essential to the taste and texture of the taco.

With garlic and onions as the savory cornerstone, the most common Mexican spices and herbs are coriander, allspice, cloves, thyme, Mexican oregano, Mexican cinnamon (ceylon), cumin and cacao which showcase the breadth of Mexican food.

Fajita seasoning and taco seasoning are very similar, but they are not the same. Taco seasoning typically has more oregano and chili powder than fajita seasoning. With that being said, however, you can use fajita seasoning and taco seasoning interchangeably in recipes, it may just warrant a slightly different flavor.

This taco seasoning blend is medium in heat. If you prefer a spicier taco seasoning mix, use spicy chili powder and/or add up to 2 teaspoons red chili pepper flakes. If you want a mild mix, use mild chili powder (Tone's has a mild chili powder which is what I use.)

What's in Lawry's taco seasoning? ›

Ingredients. Spices (Including Paprika, Cumin, Oregano, Chili Pepper), Onion, Salt, Lactose (Milk), Sugar, Garlic, Enriched Wheat Flour (Flour, Niacin, Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Cocoa Powder Processed with Alkali and Natural Flavor.

Cumin is an earthy, aromatic spice that brings citrusy notes to a dish. If you're in a pinch, there are many great alternatives you might already have in your pantry. Caraway seeds and ground coriander most closely mimic cumin's flavor, while curry and chili powders contain cumin.

McCormick Premium Taco Seasoning, 24 oz | Costco.

Discover the taste of Mexico with Old El Paso™ Taco Spice Mix. A rich blend of tomatoes, cumin and garlic combine to create everyone's favourite Mexican flavour.

The major difference between McCormick's 'Original' and their 'Premium' Taco Seasoning is that Premium also contains Smoked Paprika, Dehydrated Red and Green Bell Peppers, some Cocoa Powder and Black Pepper.

Most taco seasoning mixes contain salt, warming spices (such as paprika, oregano, and chili), onion powder, and garlic powder. This top-rated recipe is made with chili powder, ground cumin, dried oregano, sea salt, black pepper, ground paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and crushed red pepper flakes.

Ideally, all the ingredients should come together as a composed dish. The components that make a great taco are number one, the tortilla; number two, protein or vegetable; whatever's in it, it needs to have a good flavor and acid. You need that acid to balance the other ingredient, which is fat.