When you are doing your best to live a frugal way of life, so-called “convenience foods” can often be the bane of your existence.  Who can resist those quick fix mixes, pouches and powders that can make meal prep a snap?  You can!

In the first of a series of recipes specifically designed to prove just how easy it is to mimic your favorite convenience food recipes, I present my GFF (Gone Frugal Friends) with my recipe for made from scratch, homemade taco seasoning mix that is not only just as tasty as the junk you buy in the store, it doesn’t contain any of the additives, preservatives and other crap you can’t pronounce.

The recipe for this super simple mix is after the jump!

Gone Frugal Taco Seasoning Mix

INGREDIENTS:

5 T chili powder
1 1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 1/4 tsp onion powder
1 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 1/4 tsp dried oregano
7 1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp ground black pepper
3 tsp corn starch

INSTRUCTIONS:

1.  Place all ingredients in a clean, dry container with a lid that seals well and shake well to mix.

Really, that’s it.

When you are ready to use your mix, add 3 Tablespoons of dry mix per pound of cooked ground beef or chicken along with 1/4 – 1/2 cup of water and simmer 10-15 minutes or until the mixture thickens to the desired consistency.