If you've never made homemade Turkey Taco Seasoning, this is your sign! It's so easy to make, and it's a great alternative to using taco seasoning packets that often have added fillers.
As a dietitian, I prep seasoning blends like this homemade taco seasoning to keep on hand for when I'm ready to make dinner. The great thing is that you can customize it to your taste!
This recipe was inspired by my Turkey Taco Skillet, an easy 20 minute high-protein dinner for busy weeknights. Make a batch and use it to make easy turkey tacos or healthy taco rice bowls or salad. It's the best spice mix to use for your next taco night and I hope you love it. 😊
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Video of How to Make Turkey Taco Seasoning
- Key Ingredient Notes
- How to Make Homemade Turkey Taco Seasoning
- Variations
- How to Make Ground Turkey Taco Meat
- Suggestions for Serving Ground Turkey Taco Meat
- How to Store Homemade Turkey Taco Seasoning
- Dietitian tip
- FAQ
- Related
- Perfect for Pairing
- Looking for Nutrition Education from a Dietitian?
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Customizable - making your own taco seasoning gives you the ability to alter it to your taste! Do you like it on the spicy side? Add more chili pepper or add red pepper flakes! Prefer it a bit sweeter? Double up on the paprika.
- Flavorful - this seasoning has extra flavor so you'll never have bland turkey tacos again.
- No added ingredients - many of the little packets of taco seasoning have added fillers. By making your own turkey taco seasoning, you know what's in it.
Video of How to Make Turkey Taco Seasoning
Here's a video of how to make this recipe that I hope is helpful! Don't forget to check out the recipe card below for the full recipe.
Key Ingredient Notes
*This turkey taco seasoning is made with simple ingredients you can find in the spice aisle at the grocery store. Be sure to check the printable recipe card at the bottom for exact ingredient measurements and full recipe.
- Chili Powder - Chili powder is a spice blend that serves as the base of this turkey taco seasoning.
- Cumin - Ground Cumin adds earthy flavor and flavonoids, nutrients that have antioxidant properties.
- Paprika - Paprika is a spice made from dried and ground red peppers. It has a sweet and peppery flavor.
- Smoked Paprika - Smoked paprika tastes totally different than regular Paprika because the peppers are dried over smoking oak wood. It provides an intense smoky flavor that pairs beautifully with the other spices in this taco seasoning.
- Garlic Powder - A small amount of garlic powder is used to add more flavor and some antioxidants.
- Oregano - Dried oregano is used to add an aromatic flavor.
- Kosher Salt & Black Pepper - Salt and Pepper ties all the other flavors together.
How to Make Homemade Turkey Taco Seasoning
*Below are the instructions for how to make Turkey Taco Seasoning with some visuals that I hope are helpful! Don't forget to check out the recipe card at the bottom for the full recipe.
Step 1 - In a small bowl, combine the spices and mix them well.
Step 2 - Add the seasoning to your favorite taco recipes in place of a taco seasoning packet.
Hint: double or triple the recipe to make extra and store it in an empty spice jar in a cool dark place so it's ready to use next Taco Tuesday! It'll stay fresh for about 6 months.
Variations
One of my favorite things about making homemade turkey taco seasoning is you can make different variations based on your preference. Below are some ideas, but feel free to get creative!
- Spicy - add crushed red chili pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to spice it up.
- Deluxe - add onion powder or double the smoked paprika for more intense flavor.
- Sweet - you can make the flavor a bit sweeter by adding a dash of cinnamon.
How to Make Ground Turkey Taco Meat
If you're looking for an easy way to use this Turkey Taco Seasoning, here are some instructions for making simple ground turkey taco meat.
- Step 1 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Coat the skillet with olive oil or avocado oil and once the oil is heated, add your ground turkey, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon or spatula.
- Step 2 - Add the taco seasoning and 2-3 tablespoon of tomato paste and ¼ cup of water or use ¼ cup of tomato sauce instead. Cook until turkey is brown and fully cooked to 165°F.
Suggestions for Serving Ground Turkey Taco Meat
This taco seasoning mix is so versatile and has amazing flavor. Once you've used it for meal prep, here are some ideas for how to serve it!
- In a Turkey Taco Skillet - this one pan dinner only takes 20 minutes to make and it's so delicious and filling!
- Over tortilla chips - serve turkey taco filling over tortilla chips with your favorite toppings. I suggest black beans, corn, sour cream, salsa or hot sauce and guacamole on top.
- On a taco salad - this turkey taco recipe goes great on top of crisp romaine lettuce with pico de gallo and a southwestern lime cilantro dressing.
- In a rice bowl - make it a grain bowl for a delicious meal on busy weeknights. Add brown rice, spring mix, black beans, and salsa on top.
- Healthy Turkey Tacos - using this taco seasoning makes the best turkey tacos. Serve it up in corn tortillas or crunchy taco shells with your favorite taco toppings!
How to Store Homemade Turkey Taco Seasoning
Store this homemade turkey taco seasoning in an airtight container in a dark, cool space for up to 6 months.
Dietitian tip
Making homemade taco seasoning only takes a minute and it doesn't have any of the added ingredients that many seasoning packets have. While seasoning packets absolutely have their place in my kitchen, I prefer to make my own seasoning when I have the right spices on hand!
Use 3 tablespoon of this turkey taco seasoning to replace 1 Taco Seasoning Packet in a recipe.
FAQ
Absolutely! This taco seasoning can be used for any kind of taco meat including ground beef or ground chicken for chicken tacos.
Taco seasoning packets tend to contain quite a few filler ingredients. Making your own seasoning avoids added ingredients. It also gives you the option to customize it to your taste!
It will stay good in an airtight container for up to 6 months. Store it in a cool, dark place.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Perfect for Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Turkey Taco Seasoning:
Looking for Nutrition Education from a Dietitian?
Here are some of my educational posts you may enjoy:
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! I would love to hear from you! If you made this recipe, please leave me a review below or tag me in a photo or story on Instagram....I LOVE knowing there’s people out there trying out my recipes! 🙂 IG: @mallorythedietitian
📖 Recipe
Easy Turkey Taco Seasoning Recipe (Homemade Mix)
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Chili Powder
- 2 teaspoon Ground Cumin
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- 1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika optional but I highly recommend
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ½ teaspoon Dried Oregano
- ¼ teaspoon Kosher Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
Instructions
- In a small bowl, measure and combine the spices.
- Add the seasoning to your favorite taco recipes in place of a taco seasoning packet.
Video
Notes
- For best results, use high quality spices.
- Double or triple the recipe to make extra and store it in an empty spice jar at room temperature so it's ready to use next Taco Tuesday!
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