This taco seasoning combines ten pantry spices, including cumin, cayenne, paprika, and ground ginger, in a single bowl. The blend is scaled for one pound of taco meat and comes together in about 5 minutes. Quadruple it and store in a sealed jar for four batches at once.
Ground ginger is the ingredient that sets this blend apart from standard supermarket taco seasoning. Most commercial taco seasoning mixes rely entirely on cumin, chili powder, and paprika, and ginger is rarely in that list. A quarter teaspoon rounds out the sharpness of the cayenne without adding a detectable ginger flavor to the finished meat.
The water step is what carries the spice blend evenly through the pound of meat. Without it, the spices sit on the surface and the meat underneath stays bland. The simmer window is about 5 to 8 minutes and ends when the pan is nearly dry
Trader Joe’s Taco Seasoning Recipe
Course: Side DishCuisine: Mexican-AmericanDifficulty: Easy4
servings5
minutes5
kcalTrader Joe’s Taco Seasoning Recipe: ten pantry spices including cumin, cayenne, and ground ginger mixed in one bowl. Enough for one pound of taco meat
Ingredients
- Spice Blend
1½ teaspoons salt
1½ teaspoons cumin
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon chili powder
¼ teaspoon dried oregano
¼ teaspoon ground ginger (see Notes)
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (or ⅛ teaspoon for a milder blend)
Directions
- Measure all ten spices into a small bowl and stir until evenly combined.
- Store in an airtight container until ready to use, or use immediately.
- To make taco meat: cook 1 pound of ground meat in a skillet over medium heat until browned. Add the seasoning blend and 1 cup of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 5 to 8 minutes until the water has evaporated and the spices coat the meat evenly.
FAQs
How do I scale this recipe to make a larger batch for storage?
Quadrupling every ingredient makes four batches at once, and the full blend stores in a sealed jar at room temperature for up to six months. Each quarter of the stored batch covers one pound of meat, so labeling the jar with that amount prevents guessing later. A tablespoon measure helps scoop consistent portions from a larger jar without recalculating.
What proteins work with this seasoning beyond ground beef?
Ground turkey, ground chicken, and ground pork all take the seasoning in the same proportions and the same water-simmer method as beef. Shredded chicken works as well — toss cooked shredded meat with the dry blend and add ½ cup of water rather than a full cup. Canned black beans seasoned with half the batch make a fast plant-based taco filling with no meat required.
Can this seasoning be used for anything besides taco meat?
Stirring the dry blend into 8 ounces of Greek yogurt or sour cream makes a quick taco dip that needs no cooking at all. One tablespoon of the mix combined with shelled walnuts pulsed in a food processor produces a vegan taco filling in under two minutes. Both work at full strength — no adjustment to the spice quantities needed.
What TJ’s pasta recipe works well on non-taco nights?
On nights when tacos aren’t the goal, a pasta built entirely from TJ’s pantry staples is an easy shift. A TJ’s lemon pasta recipe on this site uses fresh lemons, heavy cream, and parmesan and comes together in 15 minutes. The two cover opposite ends of the flavor spectrum within the same weekly TJ’s rotation.
What other TJ’s pasta fits the same weeknight format?
Switching between a bold spiced protein and a lighter pasta across the week keeps the meal plan varied without requiring different shopping trips. A Trader Joe’s lemon pesto pasta on this site adds jarred pesto and cherry tomatoes to a stovetop build in 15 minutes. Together the two cover different dinner formats from a single TJ’s run.
