Homemade Chili & Taco Seasoning

I recently started making my own homemade seasoning mixes for salad dressings and dips, soups, and chili. Maybe the control freak in my is taking over, but I like having a say in what goes into my family’s meals. While prepackaged seasoning blends are convenient, it’s incredibly easy and even more delicious to make your own. I use this simple spice blend to season meat for chili and tacos. I keep the amount of cayenne pepper to a minimum to keep it kid friendly since it’s so easy to spice up individual portions or just add an extra dash of pepper when I want to make a spicier batch of chili. When making chili, I add about a tablespoon of flour per pound of meat to thicken the consistency. I’ve included my super quick, four-ingredient chili recipe in the notes – it’s perfect for busy weeknights!

Prep time

5 mins

Total time

5 mins

by: Jessica @ FabFitMommy.com

Ingredients

½ cup chili powder
¼ cup ground cumin
2 tablespoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons black pepper
2 tablespoons paprika
1 tablespoon onion powder
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons oregano
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon sugar
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Instructions

Combine ingredients in an airtight container and mix well. Keep sealed in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months. Makes approximately 1⅓ cups of seasoning mix, or enough for about 15 pounds of ground meat.
For tacos, brown ground beef or poultry in a skillet over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain and stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons of seasoning mix plus ¼ cup water per pound of ground meat to the pan. Cover and let simmer for 5 minutes before serving.
For chili, use 1 to 2 tablespoons of seasoning mix plus 1 tablespoon of flour per pound of ground meat. For quick, weeknight chili, brown 1 pound ground beef or poultry in a skillet over medium heat. Sprinkle in seasoning mix and flour and stir to combine. Add 1-14.5 oz can of diced tomatoes and 1-14.5 oz can of kidney or black beans (undrained). Cover and let simmer for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Make 4 servings.