Everyone loves taco seasoning. This blend of spices adds flavor to meat, packing a spicy punch. You'll usually find chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, and sometimes salt and pepper in the mix. As the name suggests, it's a standard ingredient in the kitchen for most taco nights.
Don't underestimate the spices in taco seasoning, though; they're versatile. There's nothing wrong with thinking outside the shell and applying them in other dishes. Here are a few taco seasoning recipes without a taco in sight.
One of our most popular recipes with taco seasoning is a Mexican Tortilla Casserole. This mixes ground beef, onion, corn and beans in a cheesy Mexican-themed meal that uses our McCormick® Original Taco Seasoning Mix for a fiery flavor addition. Tortilla chips scattered through the meal bring a satisfying the crunch.
Potato recipes with taco seasoning
Potatoes are a go-to vegetable for a reason; they're tasty, filling, and easy to prepare. While they're flavorful enough with simple spices, taco seasoning can elevate the humble spud to new levels. That spicy heat combined with potatoes' satisfying starchiness makes for the ultimate comfort food.
For proof, check out this delightful Taco Tater Topped Casserole dish. Ground beef, frozen veggies, beans and cheese are the basic ingredients for this casserole, along with a dash of salsa and our taco seasoning to bring the heat. The real star of the show, though, is the topping: a simpler layer of fried potato nuggets that bakes to crispy perfection and absorbs the spicy flavors underneath.
Our casserole dish is a suppertime adventure, but for a simpler alternative, try a taco-flavored take on an old favorite: the baked potato. This Taco Potato recipe adds our taco seasoning to ground beef for a simple three-ingredient take on a comforting classic that's ready in just ten minutes. Add whichever toppings you choose to make it your own.
If you thought nothing could be simpler than this dish, then hold our beer. Taco Fries is the simplest of all taco seasoning recipes, and is perfect for game day. Simply air frying frozen fries in oil and our taco seasoning mix gives you spicy mexi-fries that will keep beckoning you back to the bowl. It's such a simple idea that you'll wonder why you never thought of it before.
Taco seasoning recipes with rice and pasta
Perhaps it's not surprising that taco mix and carbs go together so well, given that tacos themselves are so carbolicious. One of our favorite taco seasoning mix meals is Taco Rice. Taco mix jazzes up simple white rice just as quickly and easily as it does with fries, turning a plain staple into a spicy, mouthwatering treat with the addition of a little ground beef and tomato sauce. The joy of this meal is that it invites — nay, demands — you to add your own toppings. Sprinkle on some avocado, cilantro, and cheese, and watch your family come back for seconds.
Still not done with carbs? Just try this One Pot Taco Spaghetti and be amazed at how you could prepare such a fabulous looking meal in just ten minutes. Beef, tomatoes and onions cook alongside spaghetti in the pot, allowing the pasta to soak up all of the spicy flavors. The recipe says to add cheese at the end of the cook and let it melt for five minutes, but this single-pot dish looks so good we're honestly not sure if we can wait that long.
Given that taco seasoning recipes are all about convenience, let's finish up with another single-sheet meal. This Sheet Pan Taco Chicken Fingers with Cheesy Roasted Broccoli recipe allows you to cook your veggies and proteins on the same sheet for minimal effort. Running the taco seasoning through panko breadcrumbs gives you a fiery coating for succulent chicken strips that will be crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside.
More taco seasoning recipes
Hankering for more recipes with taco seasoning? Check these out.
