Chicken Taco Seasoning
by Sommer Collier — last updated on Aug 27, 2025 Skip the store-bought stuff and make your own homemade chicken taco seasoning with simple pantry staples! This flavorful spice blend makes the best tacos, and is great to use in all kinds of delicious Mexican-inspired recipes.
Sommer’s Recipe Notes
Now, I know some people tend to think chicken tacos are less flavorful than beef, pork, or fish tacos. I’m here to set the record straight and show everyone that it’s not the meat that’s not-so-flavorful… You simply need the right spice blend to add pep to your poultry!
Similar to our fabulous all-purpose chicken seasoning recipe, we’ve cracked the code on how to combine the perfect pantry spices to make the best chicken taco seasoning.
Why You’ll Love Homemade Chicken Taco Seasoning
- Irresistible flavor – The combo of spices creates the most zesty and delicious chicken to take your taco night up a notch or two… Or ten!
- Adjust the servings – As is, this recipe makes enough seasoning for approximately 8 tacos. Use our serving slider in the recipe card below to multiply the ingredient proportions for large batches.
- Long shelf life – Once you’ve mixed up the seasonings they can be stored in the pantry for up to a whole year!
It is so good, in fact, you really can – and should – use it as a replacement in any recipe that calls for store bought packets of seasonings… From casseroles to dips and so much more!
How to Make Chicken Taco Seasoning
Tip for Success – In these pictures I show the spices being combined in a glass with a spoon. But you can place the spices in a container with a lid, and simply shake ’em until blended!
Find the full Chicken Taco Seasoning recipe with detailed instructions, storage tips, and a video tutorial in the printable form at the bottom of the post.
Storage Notes
- Storing Homemade Seasonings – Keep the spices in an airtight container for up to a year. For the longest shelf-life I suggest keeping in a dry, dark and cool place to keep the seasonings from caking together.
Ways to Use Homemade Taco Seasoning
Use this spice blend to season chicken or turkey meat on the stovetop to make chicken tacos, either as “regular” tacos or baked tacos), taco salads, and copycat Chipotle burrito bowls.
We also love it as a replacement for packaged seasoning to make lots of our other Mexican-inspired recipes on the site, like
- Cool Ranch Dorito Casserole (yes, that’s a thing and it is ahh-mazing!)
- Chicken Taco Soup
- Keto Stuffed Peppers
- Cheesy Southwest Chicken Lasagna Rolls
- Cool Chicken Taco Pasta Salad
- 3-Ingredient Creamy Taco Dip
And more! Give this recipe a try and let us know in the comments different ways you use it to add deliciousness to your dishes.
Chicken Taco Seasoning Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon chili powder I used ancho chile powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika or sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Set out a small jar. Measure and combine the chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper.
- Stir the spices together, or cover the jar with a lid and shake vigorously.
- Store in an airtight container for up to a year.
Notes
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
Simply add ground cayenne pepper to the blend to make spicy chicken tacos. I’d start with 1/4 teaspoon for a low but noticeable amount of heat. Then add more bit by bit to taste.
Because poultry is a more mild-tasting meat, chicken seasoning doesn’t have quite a big punch as beef seasoning. Spice blends for beef tacos tend to have more chili powder and often don’t include paprika, which adds a smoky and lightly sweet flavor that pairs well with chicken.
Just made this and it’s perfect. It makes the chicken exciting!