Hey Husband, remember when we used to buy taco seasoning packets at the store?
Lolololol, me too.
What were we thinking? It’s like we didn’t even have brains then. We were like shopping zombies when we got to the seasoning packets section. “So many pretty packets. Must put pretty packets in cart. Ehgghh? Sale?… Must put 10 pretty packets in cart. 10 for 10 means good.”
But NOW, we’re totally rockin’ the homemade mixes. And our lives have changed drastically for it!
Okay, not really. But, it’s still pretty cool that we make homemade seasoning mixes, right? Right, Husband?
Even if your husband (or mine) doesn’t appreciate the awesomeness that is homemade seasoning mixes, you still gotta make ’em. We know that they’re awesome. Besides, are we really gonna listen to a man who watches other men throw a ball into a circle?
Reason #1 Why Homemade Seasoning Mixes are the Bomb: They’re healthier than the conventional stuff.
Those enticing packets at the store got all sort of garbage up in there. MSG (a neurotoxin), hydrogenated polyunsaturated oils, lotsa GMO (genetically modified organisms) action, preservatives, food colorings & flavorings. No bueno.
Reason #2 Why Homemade Seasoning Mixes are the Bomb: They’re cheaper than the alternative.
Oh, did that peak your interest, Mr. Basketball-Obsessed Husband? It’s true. Homemade seasoning mixes are even cheaper than that 10 for $10 deal. You’re welcome.
Homemade Seasoning Mix Recipes
Click here to see where I got my jars, lids and labels. They’re great!
Italian Seasoning
(makes 1 cup)
2 TBS. garlic powder
4 TBS. onion powder
2 1/2 TBS. dried oregano
4 TBS. dried parsley
2 TBS salt
1/2 TBS. pepper
1 tsp. dried thyme
2 tsp. celery flakes
Instructions for this one are easy. Just mix everything up in a food processor and you’re good to go.
For Italian Dressing:
Mix: 2 TBS. Homemade Italian Seasoning Mix with 1/4 c. apple cider vinegar, 1 TBS. water and 1/2 c. olive oil.
For Italian Seasoning:
Use on any kind of meat or sauce you want. But don’t get too crazy here, it’s not chocolate.
Taco Seasoning
(makes 1 cup)
1/3 c. chili powder
3 TBS. onion powder
1 1/2 TBS. cumin
1 TBS. garlic powder
1 TBS. paprika
1 TBS. salt
For this one, you don’t need to use a food processor. Just mix it together with a spoon and pour into your jars.
For Tacos:
Mix: 3 TBS. of Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix with 2 TBS. arrowroot starch and 3 TBS. water to 1 lb. of ground beef.
Ranch Dressing
(makes 1 cup)
1/2 c. dried chives
3/4 c. dried parsley
2 tbs. salt
2 tsp. paprika
2 tsp. garlic powder
Basically mix everything up in a food processor and you’re good to go.
For Ranch Dressing:
Mix 1 TBS. of Homemade Ranch Dressing Mix with 1/2 c. organic mayo and 1 c. whole milk yogurt. Add a little bit of water if it needs thinning out.
Thank you, Danelle! You’ve converted me to making my own mix for tacos and Italian stuff. It even smells so much better than the packets. ?
Hi Kimberly-
That is so great! Thank you for the kind words!
-Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I watch men throw a ball into a circle (pretty obsessively) ? *AND* I make my own dry seasoning mixes! I think of myself as a well-rounded woman!
I liked it a lot. Here is what I did to make it perfect for me. I added Cayenne pepper, chili powder, lemon pepper, more pepper with a dash of lemon juice. I also added a bit more of garlic powder. Replaced yogurt with sour cream and thinned it out a bit with whole milk. It was great. I can’t wait to make the other two later.
The taco seasoning is amazing! And by the way, I just added the arrowroot starch right into the mix before putting it into jars (7 tbsp for the whole recipe).
Whats the purpose of the arrow root
Hi Helen-
Arrowroot is usually added as a thickener, much like cornstarch. I hope that helps answer your question. Thanks -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I tried the ranch dressing recipe and it did not turn out well at all 🙁 It was way too strong and salty. Are you sure it is supposed to be 3 tbsp of seasoning for just one cup of wet ingredients? I increased the yogurt and mayo by a factor of 3 to get it to a ratio of 1 tsp seasoning per cup of wet ingredients and that was better. Then I added a whole bunch of dill which added a nice touch to it.
I did the same thing! Almost a quarter cup of spices for one cup of liquids??? It was horribly overpowering. Eck! I ended up adding three more cups of mayo/yogurt, and it is still SUPER strong. Next time I will start with ONE TEASPOON. I really think she must have this recipe wrong. Three tablespoons was WAY too much, though I did like the mix.
You guys are absolutely right! I wrote the wrong amount! So sorry! It should be 1 TBS.
How can I print a copy of your spice mixes for my own us? They are really great but I don’t want to have to hand copy them. They are great references for my kitchen.
Will be trying this 🙂
My family thought the Ranch Dressing had too strong of a mayo taste with too much parsley. It was green and didn’t really taste like the Ranch dressing that we were hoping for.
AWESOME! have you ever ordered from Penzeys? they have nice jars with shaker lids. see here: https://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/p-penzeysjars.html?id=f8Is96ni
I was able to print a copy of Perfect Pie Crust, but there isn’t a way to make a print out of Homemade Seasonings. Is there a way to print these recipes?
Yes, I’m working on it. Hopefully it’ll be done soon:)
When we started making our own taco seasoning, we left out the salt completely and didn’t notice. Usually we chuck cheese on tacos and that is salty enough on its own!
On the taco mix, is there a reason you can’t/don’t just add the arrowroot to the mix?
Where can I find organic mayo? I have been trying to find a mayonnaise that does not have soy in it. None to be found. Does organic mayo have soy?
https://www.vitacost.com/productResults.aspx?x=0&y=0&ntk=products&ss=1&Ntt=organic%20mayonnaise&csrc=PPCADW-organic%20mayonnaise&mtp=sJ0DTLur8-dc|pcrid|26177076131|mt|p&gclid=CKnBpN_rv7sCFbQWMgod8yYAew
nevermind… they have soy…
Make your own with olive oil and egg
Ingredients
1/2 cup organic olive oil
1/2 cup coconut oil (melted and cooled)
1 egg yolk
1 1/2 tsp lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp white vinegar
1/4 tsp dried mustard
1/8 tsp sea salt
1/8 tsp paprika
Instructions
Melt coconut oil and allow to cool.
Once cooled combine it with the olive oil.
In a bowl mix together all the ingredients except the oil mixture.
Use your mixer with a whisk attachment and SLOWLY pour in the oil while mixer is going.
Start with 1 drop at a time and then increase to a slow steady stream.
This should take you at least 5 minutes to accomplish.
Once all the oil is infused, you will have your mayonnaise.
I tried the taco season and it was very yummy! Do you have a chili season recipe? I know it’s similar to the taco but just a little different.
A great source for high quality, organic spices.
https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/
Just a word of warning…look at the spices you use…some list ingredients that go against this whole idea of not using MSG, GMO, etc. Some standard spices have these. Of course the best bet is to grow, dry, and grind your own spices, but who has time for that! LOL So just be mindful of the spices if you want a truly natural mix.
Anyone trying to go natural understands the importance of label reading. Our family learned the importance of label reading when my son was diagnosed with acute renal kidney failure and was put on (according to my son) a diet of boiled water and frozen air.
These recipes came to me at the PERFECT time…thank you so much!
Oh, and a mixing tip for those of us who either don’t have a food processor (or would rather not haul it out) to mix seasonings:
1. Mix in a bowl with a fork or a whisk, or
2. Mix ingredients in a sandwich(or quart)-size zipper bag, then cut one of the bottom corners to use as a funnel to empty into storage container of choice. 🙂
Where do you find those jars at. I would love to have some. I have been making my own taco seasoning and poultry seasoning for awhile now. I can’t wait to try these.
Hi, Jennifer-would you be willing to share your recipe for poultry seasoning? TIA 🙂
I was hoping to find out what kind of chili powder you use. Every brand I have found has unnecessary added ingredients (for things like caking, etc.), and I am hoping to find one that doesn’t. Thank you!
I bought mine from a local health store, I need to go back and check the ingredients now! 🙂
Does anyone have a taco seasoning recipe that does not include chili powder? I’m allergic to it and if I get too much it makes me really sick but I LOVE Taco’s and other Hispanic food.
Hi JC- I have a Mexican seasoning recipe given to me several years ago by a wonderful Hispanic lady from my church. My entire family loves it and it’s VERY simple to make.
I get my ingredients from the ethnic foods aisle in Wal-Mart (in cellophane packets).
1 pkg granulated garlic (powder)
1 pkg ground cumin (comino molido)
1 pkg ground black pepper
Mix together thoroughly and store in an airtight container; makes about 1 1/2 cups of seasoning
We use approximately 2-3 Tbsp of seasoning in taco meat. I just sprinkle the seasoning over fajita meat…use it to your taste. Enjoy! 🙂
What organic mayo do you use for the ranch dressing?
Terri–if you have a Kroger stores in your area, the Kroger brand of Chili Powder lists chili pepper, spices, salt and garlic powder.
I was looking for some chili powder the other day and noticed the store-bought mix has dextrose in it. Blech. Is there any chance you might have a recipe for chili powder?
Thanks for this post; I love the seasoning ideas and included this in my Monday Miscellany post. https://tonigatlin.com/monday-miscellany-3/
Thanks so much! I needed an Italian dressing recipe, my family LOVES Good Seasons.
(found you via a FB post by Food Renegade)
Is there a substitute for the yogurt in the Ranch Dressing? I don’t eat dairy but I know that the yogurt must give it that tang. Any suggestions? Thanks!!
If I’m using a recipe that calls for 1 pkg of Ranch dressing mix, approximately, how much of this should I use?
I prefer the “zesty” or “robusto” style of Italian dressing. Do you think if I added dried red peppers that would make it that way? I think I’ll give it a try and let you know!
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How long does the taco seasoning last? I want to make a lot at once but afraid I won’t use it fast enough. Thanks!
Mine has lasted more than 6 months, if that helps.
I love your Blog. Why would you want to let air into your jar of seasonings. Is there an advantage? Thank you.
Not really, I just thought they were cute, haha.
Do I have to run the 2 recipes through a processer? Will the recipes still work if I don’t? I don’t have a big enough processer so I mixed them like crazy. Thanks!
I should explain…I am xing this recipe x 12. 🙂
You don’t have to run through a processor, they’ll still work fine:)
Hi Thank you for the recipes, I was just wondering about the lids. Are they airtight? or do you switch lids?
Thanks a million!!!!! How do I print this to stick inside of my seasoning cupboard? My daughter and I are headed to the store tonight to pick up what we need to make these! Thank you, thank you!
I made a similar ranch mix recently. It was very yummy except that the salt doesn’t disperse evenly so we ended up getting a REALLY SALTY first batch of dressing. I decided it would be better to add the salt afterwards so I make sure I’m not getting too much or too little. Also on the plastic lids, I bought those off Amazon and then promptly started noticing them in every store I entered for half the price! They are sold at hardware stores, grocery stores, Target, Walmart, etc for a lot less.
Brilliant! Just popped over and am so glad to have found you! Thanks for these mixes!
thanks for this! now where do I get those lids? they are awesome!
Got em’ here… https://amzn.to/12Z2HRr
I wonder if the tops that go on top of the mason jars would fit under the lid part, like when canning?
For the Ranch Dressing Mix is the parsley fresh or dried?
dried parsley
Now I wish I had ordered those lids from Pick Your Plum!
The jar lids are pretty, a not so pretty alternative is to use the lids from Kraft (or store brand) Parmesan Cheese. Those green lids screw on nicely to regular mouth mason jars! That’s what I’m going to use until I can maybe find some pretty lids 😀
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You don’t need the arrowroot for the Taco Seasoning. I make a very similar blend and I don’t add any thickening to it. I put the seasoning blend, 14 oz of Pomi strained tomatoes and 1 tsp of salt. Once it is blended, I add water and let it cook down to concentrate the flavors.
Hi there,
Thanks for all the recipes but I was wondering if I could substitute something else for the salt? I have a family member who can’t eat salt at all – any suggestions?
Just leave it out and remind your family/guests to salt to taste.
Leave out the salt. I am very sensitive to salt, so I don’t use it at all (I have a jar of sea salt just for fermenting vegetables and I have a salt shaker that I bring out if I have guests.) The herbs and spices in the recipes are enough to get your attention.
Thanks for sharing these recipes! I love using my homemade taco and Italian seasonings, too! I am most excited about these lids, though! 😉 Thanks for the link.
where does one get those lids??? i love cannin’ jars!
Got em’ here… https://amzn.to/12Z2HRr
You can get Ball/Mason jar plastic storage lids on Amazon. If you have Amazon Prime, you get them in 2 days with free shipping. Ace Hardware also carries them.
I love those white plastic storage lids, but I find that my powdered spices get moisture in them and clump up into a big clod. Especially my onion powder. Any solutions?
Is there a second lid under the daisy cut one, or are the spices exposed constantly to air?
There’s no second lid, but you can put a regular lid on top if you want.
I have just discovered your blog and I love it! You have already made me laugh out loud… twice! Besides all that fun I am very excited to try these seasoning mixes :-Thank you!
Kerry from Jones, Oklahoma
I came to the same realization a few years ago & it’s been bliss! Well….for me anyway. I have never blended the Italian seasoning though, I’ll have to try that. I do have to make more than 1 cup at a time though, we go through it fast as I use it for just about anything. I’ll also have to try the ranch recipe, I despise bottled ranch, but DH loves it…sigh….
Thanks for the inspiration!
Thanks! I make my own taco seasoning but have never tried and italian seasoning
In the Italian Seasoning it’s listed as 2 tsp of celery…celery what? Just clarifying! Looking forward to making these recipes and giving them as gifts, as well as keeping some for ourselves. 🙂
Sorry, it is Celery Flakes:)
I can’t find celery flakes in our small town stores in northern Wisconsin. Heck, I couldn’t even find them in a big chain in the city! What should I substitute? Many thanks!
let the leafy tops of celery dry out or use a dehydrater to dry them then roll them in your hands to break them up. Viola! you now have celery flakes