Homemade Chorizo Recipe
This homemade chorizo recipe can be made with your choice of ground meat (chicken, pork, turkey, or beef) seasoned with authentic Mexican chorizo spices. Vegan-adaptable!
How to Make the Best Homemade Chorizo
Making your own homemade chorizo is surprisingly simple and allows you to control exactly what goes into this flavorful Mexican staple. With a blend of smoky paprika, warm cumin, and a touch of heat from chipotle, this recipe delivers authentic chorizo flavor in just 15 minutes from start to finish.
What makes this recipe so versatile is that you can use any ground meat you prefer—turkey and chicken make for a lighter option, while pork delivers that classic richness. For a plant-based version, crumbled extra firm tofu works beautifully with these bold spices. The secret ingredient is the splash of vinegar, which adds that distinctive tangy note found in traditional Mexican chorizo.
Use this homemade chorizo in breakfast tacos, scrambled eggs, quesadillas, nachos, or anywhere you’d use store-bought chorizo. Once you taste the difference of freshly made chorizo with real spices, you’ll never go back to the pre-packaged version.
Homemade Chorizo
This homemade chorizo recipe can be made with your choice of ground meat (chicken, pork, turkey, or beef) seasoned with authentic Mexican chorizo spices. Vegan-adaptable!
Ingredients
Chorizo
Instructions
Make the Chorizo
- Place all chorizo ingredients in a medium bowl, including the vinegar.
- Mix well using a fork, then knead with a damp, clean hand. Store in the fridge or freeze until ready to use.
Cook the Chorizo
- Heat a little oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the chorizo, breaking it up into smaller pieces with a metal spatula, browning and turning.
- Lower heat and continue cooking and browning until cooked all the way through (no pink).
- Taste and adjust salt and heat level to your liking.
Notes
- For tofu chorizo, crumble extra firm tofu and mix with the spices and vinegar. Cook the same way as meat chorizo.
- This chorizo can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
- Adjust the chipotle powder based on your heat preference—start with less and add more as needed.
