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

FAQs

What brand of taco seasoning is authentic? ›

Ortega Taco Seasonings are made with the highest quality ingredients and use a unique blend of spices to provide a truly authentic Mexican eating experience. Our seasonings are sure to please the whole family! Cultivate a flavorful, authentic flavor with this Ortega Taco Seasoning Mix.

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.

To use the seasoning mix, brown 1lb ground meat then add 2 – 2-1/2 Tablespoons seasoning with 1/3 cup broth or water, then simmer until the liquid has thickened and reduced, 1-2 minutes. Easy.

Tacos are tortillas curled into shell shape and fried. It is filled with ground meat sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, onion, and topped with cheese. McCormick Taco Seasoning Mix is a special blend of Herbs & Spices with prominent cumin flavor & aroma, intended to impart a unique flavor to meat dishes.

Our Original Taco Seasoning Mix is spicier than our Mild Taco Seasoning Mix.

You will find cumin in many Tex Mex and Southwestern dishes. It's a must have spice in my chili and I don't spare its use in my taco meat, but it's uncommon in real Mexican dishes.

Cumin's origin is in the Mediterranean, but the seed found its way into Mexican cuisine. It offers a strong flavor described by many chefs as pungent, earthy, warm, hearty, bitter, and toasty. Cumin is a popular seasoning for tacos, sweet vegetables, and mild bread.

Along with chili peppers, cumin is the seasoning most people tend to reach when making “Mexican” food. However, cumin is not a traditional Mexican spice. Cumin was introduced to chili con carne in San Antonio and was another staple used to set the cuisine apart from the food found south of the border.

Add onions to the mixture to make it more savory.

You'll want to cook the onions until they soften before adding the ground beef. It gives the taco meat a deeper flavor, but it's totally optional. Adding onion powder is a quick easy update as well.

Why is my taco meat bland? ›

The number one reason why people end up with bland tacos is because the meat wasn't seasoned properly. Luckily, that isn't an issue with this dish. However, if you find that your tacos aren't spicy enough for your liking, feel free to adjust the seasoning as needed or add a few shakes of your favorite hot sauce.

Cook and stir ground beef in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 7 to 10 minutes. Drain and discard any excess grease. Pour water and seasoning mix over beef; stir to combine. Bring to a simmer and cook until mixture thickens slightly, about 5 minutes.

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.

Old El Paso is a brand of Tex-Mex-style foods from American food producer General Mills. These include dinner kits, tacos and tortillas, taco seasoning, sauces, condiments, rice, and refried beans. Pet, Inc. Old El Paso products are marketed across the globe.

We've had long-standing relationships with all of our suppliers to ensure they meet and exceed industry standards for food quality. All of our ingredients are certified by the Food and Drug Administration, under the GRAS provision.