Healthy Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe (2024)

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Save money and unwanted ingredients by making your own taco seasoning! This Healthy Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe is exactly what you need.
Healthy Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe (1)When you start reading food labels and paying attention to ingredients, you realize that buying spice packets is not always the healthiest option. Most of the time they have extra ingredients, like oils and starches that aren’t needed, and sometimes there’s even gluten hidden in there.

I try to avoid gluten and inflammatory oils as much as I can with my anti-inflammatory diet, so I avoid those taco seasoning packets as much has I can.

It’s so convenient to have certain spices mixes on hand, though. I knew I had to make my own healthy taco seasoning.

The good news is that making your own homemade spice mixes, like this homemade taco seasoning recipe, is SO easy. This easy recipe takes about five minutes to mix the spices together, and then you have the mix on hand whenever you want to make something with a little taco spice.Healthy Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe (2)

I’ve tinkered with different combinations and found the two combinations we like best. There’s a mild version with no chili powder that gives excellent flavor without any heat. Add the chili powder for a little bit of heat. Our kids can’t handle any kind of spice, but I love it.

Sometimes you’ll find onion powder in different recipes, but my personal preference is I like it best without it.Healthy Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe (3)

Healthy Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe Ingredients

You probably have everything you need to make this recipe right in your spice cabinet!

All common spices, real ingredients, nothing inflammatory or sketchy involved.

  • Cumin
  • Garlic Salt
  • Smoked Paprika (yessss get the smoked!)
  • Chili Powder (optional)
  • Black Pepper

That’s it! You’ll be so happy you took a few minutes to mix this up. I’m using this in tons of recipes so make sure you always have this on hand–it’s such a tasty spice blend!

Store your homemade seasoning in an airtight container. I put mine in a small mason jar but if you have dedicated spice jars on hand, that’s perfect.

You could also measure out 3 tablespoons of the mix and store it in small plastic bags–it’s the perfect serving size for having your own packets of taco seasoning on hand ready to go. Most of my recipes that use this amount of homemade taco seasoning mix.

These simple spices come together with the most delicious result and it’s a great way to create Mexican food or southwest inspired recipes at home.

Recipes that Use My Favorite Homemade Taco Seasoning

These delicious recipes all call for my healthy homemade taco seasoning!

  • Taco Stuffed Zucchini Boats
  • Cauliflower Tacos Recipe
  • Sweet Potato Nachos
  • Loaded Vegan Queso Dip
  • Chicken Fajita Pasta
  • Vegan Taco Salad

Of course you can use this recipe with regular beef tacos, ground turkey tacos, or any recipe to which you want to add a taco flavor profile.

Healthy Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe (4)

My favorite dinners are Mexican or southwest inspired! Anyone else? I’m excited to try this Fajita Marinade. Chicken Fajitas are one of my all-time faves!

If you make this healthy homemade taco seasoning or any of my other healthy recipes, please share it onInstagramand I’ll feature you! Also, if you try it, please leave a comment with a star rating below! Those star ratings are so helpful in helping my recipes get discovered. I appreciate you!

Looking for more homemade seasonings, sauces, or dressings? Try my Healthy Stir Fry Sauce, Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice, Homemade Italian Dressing, or this Cilantro Lime Dressing Recipe.

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Healthy Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe (5)

Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe

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  • Author: Happy Healthy Mama
  • Total Time: 5 mins
  • Yield: 1/2 cup 1x
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Description

This Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe will bring flavor to many of your dishes and is without any of the unhealthy ingredients you find in store-bought packets!

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1/4 cup ground cumin
  • 2 tablespoons garlic salt
  • 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder (optional)
  • 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Mix all of the ingredients together and store them in an airtight jar.
  2. Use 3 tablespoons per pound of ground meat or vegetables.
  • Prep Time: 5 mins
  • Category: staple

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/2 cup
  • Calories: 159
  • Sugar: 3g
  • Sodium: 1,115mg
  • Fat: 9g
  • Carbohydrates: 18g
Healthy Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What can you add to taco seasoning to make it better? ›

Like more heat? Toss in a little cayenne pepper. Or you've got a garlic fanatic in your house, so when you add the tablespoon of garlic powder, you make sure it's a heaping one.

Is taco seasoning good for you? ›

Commercial taco seasoning isn't terrible. The worst part about it is the salt - which is a huge issue for those with hypertension! With my salt free version, you get all the great antioxidant benefits of the herbs and spices without the salt. You can even add a little of your own if you wanted since this has none.

How to improve homemade tacos? ›

Salsa and guacamole are great, but look to mix it up with fresh radish, chicharrones, or pickled onion. A fresh, warm tortilla is made better by a crunchy counterpart.” One of Romero's favorite toppings is a morita pepper and peanut salsa, which lends a spicy, smoky, crunchy lift to any taco.

What is taco seasoning mix made of? ›

Most taco seasoning mixes contain salt, warming spices (such as paprika, oregano, and chili), onion powder, and garlic powder. This top-rated recipe is made with chili powder, ground cumin, dried oregano, sea salt, black pepper, ground paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and crushed red pepper flakes.

What makes tacos taste better? ›

Not enough people use cilantro. Iceberg lettuce can be refreshing in a burrito, but when it comes to tacos, cilantro, onion and lime are king. I know Tex-Mex enthusiasts love their dairy on a taco. Big pinches of cheddar cheese that lack flavor or the ability to melt.

What ingredients are in Old El Paso Taco seasoning? ›

Ingredients: Corn Starch, Maltodextrin, Salt, Chili Pepper, Spice, Sugar, Garlic Powder. Contains 2% or less of: Sea Salt (potassium magnesium chloride, salt), Citric Acid, Onion Powder, Vegetable Oil (canola and/or soybean oil), Silicon Dioxide (anticaking agent), Natural Flavor.

How important is cumin in taco seasoning? ›

Ground cumin – Next to chili powder, cumin is the most important ingredient in taco seasoning. It adds an earthy flavor and aroma.

Are homemade tacos healthy? ›

Yes! When you want to prepare tacos at home, you can choose healthy filling options. The list can be endless. If you want a lean option, you can prepare lean chicken (skinned and white meat) or seafood to fill your taco.

What makes tacos healthy? ›

Veggies and fruits make tacos nutrient dense. Toppings like lettuce, tomatoes, and onions are a staple on tacos. They add flavor, texture, and color. Nutrient-dense veggies like these are also one of the main reasons why tacos can be nutritious and part of a healthy diet.

What is the most important ingredient in tacos? ›

Salsa: Salsa and sauces are the soul of your taco, tying all other ingredients together.

What is similar to Mexican seasoning? ›

Chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper and cumin all mixed together is pretty much the same. The cumin is the star here, without it, you'll mostly be getting hot and salty, not so much the taco flavor.

Can I use chili mix instead of taco seasoning? ›

Yes, taco seasoning can be used as a substitute for chili seasoning and vice versa in a pinch. However, it's important to note that the flavor profile may not be exactly the same due to the different spice blends.

Is Cajun similar to taco seasoning? ›

You can also add other spices to your liking, such as garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and oregano. Cajun seasoning: Cajun seasoning has a similar flavor profile to taco seasoning, so it can be used as a substitute. However, cajun seasoning is typically spicier than taco seasoning, so you may want to s.

What's the difference between Mexican seasoning and taco seasoning? ›

Mexican seasoning typically consists of a blend of traditional herbs and spices while taco seasoning is a specific blend of spices that may not be used as much in traditional Mexican dishes.

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