Taco & Fajita Spice Blend
This homemade Mexican spice blend doubles as both a taco seasoning and fajita seasoning. Eight simple spices, no fillers, and ready to mix in two minutes. Make a big batch and keep it on hand for tacos, fajitas, roasted veggies, eggs, or anything that needs a little kick.
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If you like the vibrant, bold flavors of Mexican cuisine, you need to make a batch of this homemade Taco & Fajita Spice Blend. It’s the flavor bomb your dishes need, whether you’re making tacos, fajitas or even just dressing up a pot of black beans.
I use this Mexican spice blend on just about everything, including oven-roasted shrimp, fajita platters, breakfast potatoes, and eggs. It’s the blend I reach for whenever I want bold, layered flavor without opening five separate jars. A batch takes two minutes to mix and keeps for months in an airtight jar.
Benefits of Making Your Own Mexican Spice Blend
- Easy to Customize: Creating your own seasoning blend gives you flexibility to tweak it to your personal preferences. Want it a bit spicier? Add some cayenne or amp up the chili powder. You’re in the driver’s seat.
- No Hidden Ingredients: So many store-bought blends contain preservatives, artificial flavors, excess salt or even unwanted sugar. Making your own means you control what goes in it, and you know it’s right for your recipes.
- It’s Cost-Effective: Buying spices in bulk is much cheaper than the pre-made seasoning packets you get at the store. Plus, you’ll always have extra on hand when you need it.
Ways to Use Taco & Fajita Spice Blend
Aside from the obvious taco and fajita applications, you can use this blend on grilled or roasted veggies, in quesadillas, or mixed with sour cream to create a tangy, spicy dressing for bowls and salads. It’s also excellent stirred into the potato filling for Crispy Potato Tacos.
Here are some of my recipes that use this blend:
- “Beef” Fajita Salads
- Portobello Mushroom Fajitas with Spiced Black Beans
- Shrimp Fajita Tacos
- Crispy Potato Tacos
Spices Used in this Blend
- Chili Powder: Adds a mild heat and a rich, earthy flavor.
- Ground Cumin: Provides a warm, nutty taste.
- Kosher Salt: Enhances all of the flavors and balances the blend.
- Garlic Powder: Adds a savory depth and rich, aromatic flavor.
- Smoked Paprika: Contributes a mild, smoky and slightly sweet taste.
- Dried Oregano: Brings an herbaceous, slightly bitter and earthy touch.
- Black Pepper: Provides another subtle kick and mild heat.
- Onion Powder: Includes a gentle sweet and savory note.
How to Store and Gift This Mexican Spice Blend
Holiday gift giving can be impersonal and impractical, not to mention a real stress-inducing activity during an already-hectic time of year. Homemade gifts are always a little more heartfelt and can be an easy solution for teachers, co-workers or your friends and family.
I like to use decorative tins or small jars wrapped with a festive ribbon to present these gifts, along with a wooden spoon or tea towel. Using a ½ cup measuring cup as your baseline will make enough Taco & Fajita Spice Blend to fill 8 small mason jars or at least 12 regular-sized spice jars.
Taco & Fajita Spice Blend
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons chili powder
- 4 tablespoons ground cumin
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1½ tablespoons dried oregano
- ½ tablespoon ground black pepper
- ½ tablespoon onion powder
Instructions
- Use a measuring spoon to measure out the indicated number of parts for each spice. Add the spices to a large bowl and stir together with a wooden spoon or metal whisk.
- Transfer blend into a jar with an air-tight lid or several containers, depending on how much you’re making, and store in a cool, dry place.
Notes
- Store in an airtight jar in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months.
- Use approximately 2 tablespoons per pound of protein or vegetables, adjusting to taste.
- To make it spicier, add ½ to 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper.
Like this? Leave a comment below!
This is the perfect blend to keep on hand!