Get ready to take your chicken from good to Mexican food bliss with just a few simple spices you've already got in your spice cabinet! This is the best Chicken Taco Seasoning recipe--so versatile and packed with flavor. It works beautifully for any kind of chicken taco, no matter what cut of meat you use: ground chicken, chicken thighs, and even chicken breasts.
Growing up in Texas, Tex-Mex isn't just a cuisine, it has become a way of life. With hundreds of tested-from-scratch recipes under my belt, I've got the street [taco] cred to prove it.
Chicken tacos can be really good, but they can also be dry, bland, and pretty forgettable. This homemade chicken taco seasoning recipe was created to make sure your chicken turns out juicy, flavorful, and beyond crave-worthy.
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Why This Recipe Works
Simple Ingredients | This simple seasoning blend keeps it clean and classic: Kosher salt, cumin, chili powder, Mexican oregano, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper (quantities can be found in the recipe card below). While the list may look familiar (maybe you've seen these spices in our tinga de pollo dish?), chicken doesn't quite need the same level of spice or salt that beef does. This chicken taco seasoning recipe isn't your traditional chicken seasoning either. It is, however, perfectly customized to enhance the flavor of chicken, without overpowering it.
Better than Store-Bought | Technically, if you're in a pinch for time, you can use store-bought spice packets like Old El Paso or McCormick taco seasonings, but oftentimes, seasoning packets come with preservatives, additives, and anti-caking agents that muddy the flavor of the spices.
If you want a chicken taco seasoning that enhances the flavor of your chicken using pure, simple ingredients, this is the recipe you want. The same goes for shrimp seasoning and meatloaf seasoning, too. Homemade spice blends are proof the easy button does not always mean better!
Fully Customizable | You'll also love that homemade chicken taco seasoning is completely customizable to your taste buds. Don't like cumin? Don't add it in. Like it muy caliente? Throw in a pinch of cayenne.
Quick + Budget Friendly | The best part? This chicken taco seasoning takes mere minutes to throw together! Use the recipe card slider below to multiply the spice quantities for a budget-friendly batch mix to make chicken tacos at a moment's notice. If you make a big batch, store in an airtight container at room temperature in a cabinet, drawer, or the pantry.
So Versatile | So many uses beyond tacos! Use it to add flavor to burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas, fajitas, roasted veggies, soups, stews, and even dips!
The Best Seasoning for Chicken Tacos
- Kosher Salt | This offers better coverage and a cleaner flavor when it comes to seasoning meat, particularly chicken, and it can be found in all of our homemade seasonings, like our all-purpose seasoning.
- Cumin | We love this spice for signature Tex-Mex vibes. It adds smoky notes and depth of flavor.
- Chili Powder | You can't have taco seasoning without chili powder. This blend of peppers adds great color and mild spice.
- Mexican Oregano | This ingredient is not overpowering in herb flavor, but adds a note of bright flavor to a savory blend.
- Smoked Paprika | This is the secret ingredient to make your chicken tacos taste like they hit the grill, even if they didn't.
- Garlic Powder + Onion Powder | A dynamic duo for adding aromatics to spice blends. They add richness, round out flavors, and lend major umami vibes to this chicken taco seasoning recipe.
- Black Pepper | Not too spicy but the perfect kick of heat. If you like it extra hot, sub in cayenne pepper instead.
How to Make Chicken Taco Seasoning
Combine spices in a small bowl or airtight container (preferably glass).
Use right away or store sealed in your spice cabinet for up to a year.
How to Use Chicken Taco Seasoning
This customizable seasoning is so versatile. It can be used on all different cuts of chicken, cooked in all kinds of ways. My absolute favorite cut of chicken for chicken tacos is chicken thighs because of the higher fat content, which yields the juiciest, most flavorful chicken tacos (and fajitas).
Whichever cut of meat you prefer, use one batch of taco seasoning per one pound of chicken.
Give it a try on our chicken street taco dish!
Ground Chicken | Add 2 tablespoons of oil to the pan, add the ground chicken, then sprinkle with chicken taco seasoning, and break meat apart with a spatula. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring often, 8-10 minutes or until chicken is fully cooked through. If desired, add the juice of a lime and stir before serving.
Chicken Thighs | Pat chicken thighs dry, add to bowl, drizzle with a tablespoon of oil (and if you're feeling zest, the juice of a lime), sprinkle over seasoning, and rub to adhere. Then, add 2 tablespoons of oil to the pan and allow to come to temperature over medium heat. Cook chicken for 7-8 minutes on each side until fully cooked through.
Chicken Breasts | Pat the breasts dry with a paper towel, drizzle them with oil, and sprinkle the seasoning over them. (We use the same protocol for our blackened chicken recipe). Rub it in to adhere, and don't worry if all of it doesn't stick. Heat the oil in a large cast-iron skillet (or large fry pan) over medium-high heat. Sear each breast for 2 ½ to 3 minutes on the first side, then flip and sear 1 to 2 minutes more. If your pan is not large enough to house all of the chicken with a little space in between each breast, transfer it to a baking dish. Then, bake for 20 minutes at 350°F (or until the internal temperature registers 165°F). Allow it to rest about 5 minutes before serving or slicing.
5 More Chicken Taco Recipes You'll Love
- Shredded Chicken Tacos
- Crock-Pot Chicken Tacos
- Tacos de Pollo
- Chicken Fajita Tacos
- Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
Chicken Taco Seasoning Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Add all of the spices to a small bowl or small glass jar with a lid and stir (or shake, sealed) to combine. Use right away or store in your spice cabinet for up to a year.
- To Use: Use the full blend for every 1 pound of chicken.
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