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Homemade Green Taco Seasoning

a jar of Homemade Green Taco Seasoning and different spices

This Homemade Green Taco Seasoning is super flavorful and not too spicy. This easy recipe will take any tacos, nachos or quesadillas to the next level!

Homemade Green Taco Seasoning

I must confess, I’ve never really been a fan of traditional {red} taco spice mixes. I have yet to find a packet at the store that wows me, so I usually end up just winging it when I make tacos, adding a bit of this and a pinch of that. 

Our spice drawers are stocked pretty well, so I’m never feeling left out when I’m craving a particular flavor, and feel confident in my ability to come up with a tasty combo whenever I need to.

But there is one little pre-mixed packet that I’ve held very dear to my heart for many years, that I just can’t seem to shake. It’s not your typical taco seasoning. The packaging has changed over the years, but it used to advertise “no red stuff!”

I’ve since come up with a recipe for Homemade Green Taco Seasoning. It’s our family’s favorite way to season taco meat!

Chi-Chi's Seasoning

Do you know this little packet of yum?! Chi-Chi’s Restaurante Seasoning Mix

If you’re not familiar with Chi-Chi’s, it was a Mexican restaurant chain founded here in Minnesota back in the 70’s. Growing up on the farm in South Dakota, the closest Chi-Chi’s was located in Fargo, about 75 miles away. When we drove to Fargo for shopping (the closest mall), appointments, or concerts, you can bet that Chi-Chi’s was always a contender for our lunch money. I was kind of addicted to their wonderfully thick and almost crispy chimichangas. And their chips and salsa. And their seafood enchiladas, all creamy and worthy of plate licking.

Now there’s not a Chi-Chi’s restaurant to be found.

Man, I miss those guys.

a plate of spices

Why I Love This Seasoning Recipe

I think that a part of my attitude toward that little seasoning packet is tied to nostalgia and all the great meals I had there with family and friends for so many years. But I also just plain love its flavor. The mix is not hot and spicy, just really flavorful. And I can’t tell you how many times I’ve looked at the packet’s ingredients list and grunted in frustration. It lists a few common obvious ingredients such as dehydrated onions, salt, and garlic powder, and then ends with “spices”. Are you kidding? That’s no ingredients list!

So I turned my grunting around, into something much more positive. I made my own Chi-Chi’s seasoning mix.

Our girls have never been fans of traditional red taco seasoning or pretty much anything using red chiles, so this Homemade Green Taco Seasoning has been a big hit with our family. Now we can all enjoy the Mexican dishes that we love…in our favorite taco salad with an easy taco salad dressing, Macho Nachoz, and quesadillas…using our own flavorful homemade mix. Blake and the girls live for turkey taco night around here!

mixed spices in a jar

The store-bought Chi-Chi’s mix has dehydrated onions and green chiles, left in larger flakes. I have experimented with leaving our homemade mix with the flakes intact, and also with running the mix through a spice grinder, which quickly whirrs all the ingredients to a uniform size. I think it’s a matter of personal choice…flakes or no flakes…in the end, the flavor is the same either way. (Delicious!)

a jar of Homemade Green Taco Seasoning and different spices

Homemade Green Taco Seasoning

Yield: 6 servings
prep time: 10 minutes
total time: 10 minutes
This Homemade Green Taco Seasoning is super flavorful and not too spicy. This easy recipe will take any tacos, nachos or quesadillas to the next level!
4.4 Stars (20 Reviews)
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Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon dried green bell pepper flakes
  • 2 teaspoons dried minced white onion
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried cilantro
  • ½ teaspoon Morton kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon Mexican oregano (or regular oregano)
  • ¼ teaspoon dried crushed jalapeño pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper
  • 1 pinch dried red pepper flakes

Instructions

  • Make the seasoning mixture: Stir together all ingredients.
  • How to use: In a skillet, brown 1 pound of ground meat, such as beef, turkey, chicken, or pork, until cooked through. You could also use cooked and shredded meat. Drain away any excess fat. Then sprinkle the green taco seasoning over the cooked meat and add ⅓ cup of water to the skillet. Stir well and turn heat to medium low. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until liquid is absorbed. Taste and add more salt, if desired. Use the seasoned meat for tacos, nachos, quesadillas, breakfast burritos, and so much more!

Notes

Inspired by my favorite Mexican seasoning mix, Chi-Chi’s Restaurante Seasoning.
A single recipe makes about 1/4 cup of seasoning mixture, enough to season 1 pound of ground or shredded meat. 
If you want to make a larger quantity of seasoning, to keep on hand for future use, I recommend grinding the mixture (an electric spice grinder works great) to achieve a uniform size for all ingredients. Otherwise, the smaller granules settle to the bottom, while the larger flakes sit on top. If you choose to not grind the mixture, just be sure to stir it very well before using it.

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 1 Calories: 6kcal Carbohydrates: 1g Sodium: 147mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated by Spoonacular. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee accuracy. If your health depends on nutrition information, please calculate again with your own favorite calculator.
Did you make this recipe?Please leave a comment below. And share a photo on Instagram with the hashtag #afarmgirlsdabbles or tag @farmgirlsdabble!