Homemade taco seasoning is easy to make, and can save you money. With this recipe it costs less than half of what you would pay for the pre packaged stuff. Plus, no preservatives!

This homemade taco seasoning mix tastes exactly like the packaged version. It’s versatile and easy to make. Listed below the homemade taco seasoning mix are 5 delicious recipes that you can use your taco seasoning on. Try them out for dinner, or a great dip for the ball game!

Taco Seasoning Mix Recipe

Yields: About 1/2 a cup.

• 6 teaspoons of chili powder
• 4½ teaspoons of cumin
• 5 teaspoons of paprika
• 3 teaspoons of onion powder
• 2½ teaspoons of garlic powder
• 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper

Mix all the ingredients, and store in an airtight container. The homemade mix is twice as strong as the store bought one, so add only half as much. 7 Teaspoons is equal to one store bought package.

And now, the recipes.

Once again this homemade taco seasoning mix is twice as strong as the store bought brand, i’ve made it easy for you by converting each package to 7 teaspoons in the recipes, but just keep this in mind for any other recipes you find online. Basically 1 package = 7 teaspoons of the homemade seasoning.

Easy Homemade Tacos

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1/4-1/2 of cup water
• lettuce (shredded)
• cheddar cheese (shredded)
• onion (chopped)
• tomatoes (chopped)
• soft and/or hard taco shells
• hot or mild sauce (bottled, optional)

Directions:

1. Brown ground beef and drain off fat.
2. Add water and 7 teaspoons (or 1 store bought package) of Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix.
3. Bring to a boil and let simmer for 20-25 minutes.
4. If mixture gets too thick before cooking is complete, add a small amount of water to thin.
5. Serve on soft or hard taco shells topped with your favorite vegetables and sauce.

Enchilada Casserole

• 2 lb. of ground beef or turkey
• 1 can of tomato sauce
• 1 cup of salsa
• 7 teaspoons (or 1 store bought package) of Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix
• 1 cup of corn (thawed)
• 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper
• 2 cups of grated Cheddar Cheese
• 1 can of refried beans
• 4 medium soft flour tortillas

Directions:

1. In skillet, brown and drain ground beef or turkey.
2. In same skillet with meat, add: tomato sauce, salsa, taco seasoning, corn, and pepper.
3. Mix and let simmer.
4. In round 2 quart covered round casserole dish (Corningware) begin to layer:  Flour tortilla, Heaping tablespoon refried beans (spread), Meat mixture (as above), Grated cheese.
5. Continue layering until out of above mixture. (Does approximately 3-4 layers)
6. Make sure top with cheese.
7. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until cheese bubbles.
8. Serve with sour cream and tortilla chips!

Touchdown Taco Dip

Yields: 4 Cups

• 1 (2 lb.) loaf  ofVelveeta cheese
• 2 lb. of lean ground beef
• 1 large jar of  salsa (your choice green or red)
• 1 packet of taco seasoning mix
• 1 cup of water
• 1/2 cup of chopped green onion (optional)

Directions:

1. Brown ground beef and drain.
2. Add taco seasoning and water. Simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Add Velveeta to drained ground beef and taco meat mixture cook on medium low heat make sure to stir until cheese is melted.
4. Add jar of salsa. Cook slowly over low about 5-8 min until all the cheese it is all melted and mixed together well with salsa and ground beef.
5. You can keep this dip in a crock pot on low. Top with Green Onion (optional) and serve warm with tortilla chips.

Taco Nachos

• 1 pound of ground beef
• 7 teaspoons (or 1 store bought package) of Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix
• 3/4 cup of water
• 3/4 pound of processed cheese (cubed)
• 1 tablespoon of milk
• 1 (12 ounce) of package tortilla chips
• 1 (16 ounce) pf can re fried beans
• 1/2 cup of chopped fresh tomato
• 1/3 cup of chopped green onions

Directions:

1. Place ground beef in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain and mix in homemade taco seasoning mix and water. Continue cooking 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
2. Place processed cheese and milk in a small, microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high until melted, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir until blended and smooth.
3. Place tortilla chips on a large, microwave safe dish. Spread with refried beans. Top with beef and cheese and mixtures.
4. Microwave approximately 2 minutes on high, until the cheese has melted into the beef. Top with tomato and green onions. Serve warm.

Taco Chili

Yields: 8 Servings

• 1 1/2 to 2 pounds lean ground beef
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 7 teaspoons (or 1 store bought package) of Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix
• 2 cans (14.5 oz ea.) of diced tomatoes
• 1 can (10 oz) of diced tomatoes with green chilies
• 1 can (15 to 16 oz) of pinto beans (rinsed and drained)
• 1 can (15 oz) of chili beans in sauce
• 1 cup of frozen whole kernel corn
• shredded cheese (mozzarella, Monterey Jack or Cheddar)
• tortilla chips, slightly crushed

Directions:

1. In a large skillet, cook ground beef and onion, one-half at a time, till meat is browned and onion is tender.
2. Drain off fat. Transfer to a 3 1/2- to 5-quart crockery cooker.
3. Stir in homemade taco seasoning mix, diced tomatoes, diced tomatoes with green chilies, pinto beans, chili beans in chili sauce, and corn.
4. Cover; cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours.
5. Sprinkle each serving with some cheese and chips.

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Try out these great recipes for homemade dog food, biscuits and even frozen treats. Your dog will love these tasty snacks!

1. Homemade Dog Food

This delicious dog food recipe is sure to make your dog happy and fill its belly! Feed your dog knowing what goes into their dog food.

• 1- 2 lb. of roast beef or a whole chicken
• 6 cups of cooked white or brown rice
• 1 can of peas (drained)
• 1 can of carrots (drained)
• 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder

1. Cook the meat in a crock pot for 4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low. Add about 2 cups of water to the meat. After meat has cooked and cooled shred or cut up into small 1/4″- 1/2″ chunks. Save the juices from the meat mixture in the crockpot.
2. In a very large bowl mix rice, peas, carrots and garlic powder. Then add meat and juices from crockpot. Mix with large spoon. I usually freeze the dog food in muffin tins sprayed with Pam. Then transfer them into a ziplock bag to freeze, then freeze the next batch in the muffin tin.
3. We take one frozen dogfood muffin out a day and microwave for about 1 min. add a little water and pour it over the hard food that we serve our dogs every morning.

2. Bad Breath Banishers

Everybody knows about bad breath and dogs, so here is an all natural delicious treat that will freshen your dog’s breath.

• 2 cups brown of rice flour
• 1 Tablespoon of activated charcoal (find this at drugstores, not briquets)
• 3 Tablespoons of canola oil
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup of chopped fresh mint
• 1/2 cup of chopped fresh parsley
• 2/3 cup of low fat milk

Preheat oven to 400F. Lightly oil a cookie sheet. Combine flour and charcoal. Add all the other ingredients. Drop teaspoonfulls on oiled sheet, about 1 inch apart. Bake 15-20 minutes. Store in airtight container in the refrigerator.

3. Frozen Doggie Treats

Your dog will love this Popsicle-like treat on a hot day!

• 1 Tablespoons of honey
• 3 Tablespoons of peanut butter
• 1 ripe banana
• 16 ounces of plain yogurt

Mix the peanut butter, honey, and fruit together until well blended—mash with a fork or use the blender. Add the fruit mixture to the yogurt and mix well. Freeze in ice cube trays. Crack trays and release treats as needed!

4. Baggins’ Dog Biscuits

Fresh homemade dog biscuits. Your dog will love you for these homemade treats!

• 1 cup of Whole Wheat Flour
• 1 cup of Regular Flour
• 1/2 cup of Powdered milk
• 1/2 cup of Wheat germ
• 1 Egg slightly beaten
• 1 Teaspoon of Molasses
• 6 Tablespoon of Shortening
• 1/2 Cup Water

Preheat oven to 325. Mix dry ingredients and cut in the shortening. Add egg, molasses and water. Knead lightly on a floured surface. Roll dough out to 1/2 inch and cut into fun shapes using cookie cutters. Bake for 30 minutes.

5. Veggie Doggie Bagels

A healthy vegetarian treat for your dog. A great diet food.

• 1 Teaspoon of Vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup of Wheat Flour
• 2½ cups of White Flour
• 1/4 Teaspoon of Baking soda
• 1/4 Teaspoon of Baking powder
• 1/2 cup of Chopped spinach
• 1/2 cup of Chopped carrots
• 1 Egg
• 3/4 Cup of Water

Preheat to 350 degrees. Combine wet and dry ingredients separately. Then mix together. Knead by hand. Form into ball shaped pieces. Depending on your dog’s size, golf or tennis ball. Flatten and poke a hole in the center and shape into a bagel. Bake for 45-50 minutes. You can garnish cooled bagels with poppyseeds or sesame seeds by spraying lightly with water and then sprinkling with seeds.

Let us know about some of your favorite treats that you like to share with your dog.

• Why Homemade Dogfood may Save your Dogs Life
• Dog Nutrition & Feeding: Dog Diet, Health & Nutrition Information
• Dog Allergies and How they Affect your Pet