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 like to use this spice mixture for oven-roasted shrimp, fajita platters and tossed in to spice up my breakfast potatoes. It works well to dust atop eggs, as well as stirred into whatever you’re using to make Taco Tuesday a bit more magical.
Benefits of Making Your Own Taco & Fajita 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.
Here are some of my recipes that use this blend:
“Beef” Fajita Salads
Portobello Mushroom Fajitas with Spiced Black Beans
Shrimp Fajita Tacos
How to Make Taco & Fajita Spice Blend at Home
This blend couldn’t be easier, and you probably already have all of these basic spices in your pantry or spice drawer. Simple determine how much you want to make, and choose a measuring device – a tablespoon is a great starting point to make a jar for yourself.
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.
Taco & Fajita Spice Blend Makes a Great Holiday Gift
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.
Ingredients
- 6 parts chili powder
- 4 parts ground cumin
- 2 parts sea salt
- 1 part garlic powder
- 1 part paprika
- 1½ parts dried oregano
- ½ part ground black pepper
- ½ part 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 stire 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.
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