If you’re wondering what to do with that taco seasoning packet in your cabinet that’s staring at you, you’ll find some great recipes using taco seasoning (that aren’t tacos) here.
For more ideas of what to cook, check out all of our recipes.
I love tacos. We make them with ground turkey so it’s a little healthier, but I use boxes of shells because I’m too lazy to make homemade taco shell every single time.
I do, sometimes, make my own seasoning, which leaves me with the taco seasoning packets from the box. If you have some too, you’ll love this round up of recipes using taco seasoning that aren’t tacos.
Now, if you don’t have leftover taco seasoning from taco shell packages lying around, no worries. You can actually buy taco seasoning in a packet, by itself, in the store. Which is what I do a lot for these recipes.
These aren’t taco recipes, but they are taco-esque. I mean, they have taco seasoning in them, so they’re gonna remind you of tacos even if they’re not tacos.
If you’re hungry for actual tacos now, don’t worry. We have a great list of Taco Recipes that you can check out and make with your taco seasoning instead.
The Ultimate List Of Recipes Using Taco Seasoning … That Aren’t Tacos
This list is filled with all the recipes using taco seasoning that we currently have on Drugstore Divas. As we add more, we’ll update this list. So, be sure to bookmark it, pin it, save it however you do, and come back to it later to see what we’ve added.
Quick Dips & Appetizers
These dips and appetizers are perfect for game days, parties, or just snacks at home.
Easy Cheesy Refried Bean Dip
Blow your guests away with this easy refried bean dip. You dump all the ingredients, including a full packet of taco seasoning, into a casserole dish, stir, and bake.
The result is the easiest and most delicious bean dip recipe you’ll ever made.
Taco Dip With Refried Beans
For another dip idea, try this taco dip.
It has eight layers and two of them have taco seasoning incorporated: the base layer of the refried beans and the sour cream layer. The taco seasoning adds a lot of flavor to this already tasty dip.
Wonton Taco Cups
These wonton taco cups are a great party appetizer. Meat is mixed with taco seasoning, then dropped in wonton wrappers. Bake them, top with your favorite taco toppings, and set them out.
What’s great is that this is basically individualized taco dip, so everyone can grab one and enjoy it rather than having people dip into a community bowl.
Loaded Beef Nachos
Nachos are such a fun dinner idea. It’s kind of a way to play with your food without really playing with it. And, they’re taco-esque because loaded beef nachos are basically deconstructed tacos.
When you’re cooking the beef, you add a packet of taco seasoning to season the meat. That gives these nachos the taste of tacos even though, technically, they’re not tacos.
Easy Weeknight Meals & Comfort Food
These recipes are all great go-to dinner ideas.
Chicken Burrito Bowl
This chicken burrito bowl is so fun to eat because each element is separate in the bowl.
Chicken is cooked with taco seasoning, then added to individual serving bowls with onions, corn, pinto beans, and rice. Top it with a dollop of homemade salsa in the center and you have a restaurant-worthy dish made at home.
Slow Cooker Taco Soup
This slow cooker taco soup is made with cooked ground chicken, which add to the slow cooker with the rest of the ingredients.
Once you get everything in the slow cooker, top it with a packet of taco seasoning and let it cook while you do anything else.
Taco Rice Casserole
This taco rice casserole is our go to taco-but-not-taco recipe.
The ground meat is cooked with taco seasoning, then added to a casserole pan with rice, plus various other taco ingredients (beans, cheese, tomatoes, etc.) and cream of mushroom soup (which gives it so much flavor). It’s baked in the oven and dinner is done.
Taco Lasagna
Taco lasagna is such a fun taco-ish recipe. It’s a real combination of tacos and lasagna, hence the name. It uses lasagna noodles, just like a traditional lasagna, but it has the flavoring of tacos thanks to the taco seasoning.
Some of the ingredients in the recipe, like the cheese and meat, overlap between lasagna and tacos, so it is a really great crossover.
Taco Pie With Crescent Rolls
This taco pie is our current favorite on the list. It’s so, so good. So if you made it this far down the list, you’re in luck because this recipe is delicious.
Ground meat is cooked with onions and taco seasoning, then used as a layer in the taco pie. The bottom is crescent rolls, which gives it an incredible flaky crust with taco toppings on top.
Grilled Taco Burgers
A packet of taco seasoning is added to ground beef to season the meat for these taco burgers. These burgers actually do taste like tacos, but in burger form. They hold up better and aren’t crumbling and falling apart onto your plate while still satisfying your craving for tacos.
Serve them with a dollop of salsa and sour cream, just like you would serve a traditional taco.
Taco Stuffed Peppers
Taco seasoning makes these taco stuffed peppers really unique. It flavors the meat and bean mixture, which is used to fill the peppers.
You can top it with traditional taco toppings to get the full taco taste.
Unexpected Uses for Taco Seasoning
For something totally different, make these recipes.
Vegan Taco Pasta Salad
This vegan taco pasta salad is the biggest hit at backyard barbecues when I bring it. The recipe makes a ton, which is great because people will inhale it. And it’s vegan by accident, not on purpose, so it’s good for everyone.
The taco seasoning is added in a bowl with cooked pasta, olives, tomatoes, cilantro, and green onions. It’s tossed, tossed again with dressing, and then tortilla chips are added right before serving.
Which of these recipes using taco seasoning are you going to make first?