Spice Up Taco Night With DIY Taco Seasoning

You are a grownup, you love tacos, and that's why it's time to learn how to make your own taco seasoning. Now that the new taco emoji is finally happening, it's high time we had some tacos to celebrate, right? When it comes to making tacos, the options are limitless — from pizza tacos to muffin tacos, we've seen it all. Call me old-fashioned, but I think nothing compares to a simple, classic spicy taco. Which is why I learned a simple, tasty DIY taco seasoning recipe.

Taco seasoning is a perfect blend of flavors. It's bold and spicy, complex and savory. It clears the sinuses and soothes the soul. OK, it does for me anyway, and if you're a tried and true taco lover, then you know exactly what I mean. And if, like me, you believe in celebrating taco night at least once a week, then you know that packaged taco seasoning has a great flavor, and can usually be found for pretty cheap. However, it's always more fun to go the DIY route, and not only is homemade taco seasoning easy to make, a lot of the ingredients it calls for are probably already in your spice cabinet. It's time to (literally) spice up taco night — and this recipe is exactly what you need.

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp. chili powder
• 1 tbsp. cumin
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. black pepper
• 1/2 tsp. onion powder
• 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp. cayenne powder
• 1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/4 tsp. oregano
• 1/4 tsp. cinnamon (optional)

Directions:

Combine the spices in a small bowl, and stir until well mixed. Store in an air-tight container.

To prepare tacos, you will use about three tablespoons of spices to every one pound of meat, depending on how spicy you like them. Just like when you're using the store-bought seasoning, add your homemade seasoning and 2/3 cup of water to meat that has been cooked and drained. Simmer for about 10 minutes.

This seasoning works well with ground beef or turkey, shredded chicken, and shrimp. Like every DIY recipe, the best part about this one is that the seasoning is easily tailored to your individual tastes and preferences. If you want a thicker taco sauce, you can add one tablespoon of flour to the seasoning mix. For seafood tacos, you can also add in one teaspoon of Old Bay Seasoning and a little bit of cilantro. If you like a more mild seasoning, or you prefer one with even more kick, adjust the amount of chili powder accordingly. The options are limitless, but one thing is for sure: I will definitely be keeping this on hand in my spice cabinet.

Images: Fotolia; Sadie Trombetta (2)