This mild gluten-free taco seasoning recipe packs incredible flavour without the heat, making it perfect for your family’s next taco night! It’s sugar-free, dairy-free, and 100% kid friendly! It also has amazing gut health benefits!
Keep reading to learn what makes this homemade mild taco seasoning so healthy, or skip ahead to the recipe!
Skip Ahead | Table Of Contents
- Homemade vs Store-Bought Taco Seasoning
- Is Taco Seasoning Gluten-Free?
- Is Taco Seasoning Healthy?
- Gut Health Benefits & More
- Nutrition Facts
- Healthy Ingredients
- How To Make Taco Seasoning
- How To Use Taco Seasoning
- Meal Prep & Storage Tips
- FAQs
- Recipe Card
Store Bought vs Homemade Mild Taco Seasoning Mix
Making your own mild taco seasoning is as easy as measuring and dumping spices into a glass jar or small bowl. I promise you, you’ll never want to go back to buying store-bought packets after making your own!
There are 3 main benefits of making your own homemade mild taco seasoning mix.
- It saves you money
- You can control the flavour and heat
- It’s much healthier for you (by a long shot)
1. It saves you money
Most store-bought taco seasoning packets contain just a little over 1oz of seasoning, equivalent to only two tablespoons—TWO TABLESPOONS!
This recipe will give you 8 tablespoons, or the equivalent of 4 packets of seasoning, which can range from $1.50 to $4.50 per packet, depending on the quality and ingredients.
If you’ve never purchased spices before, then yes, the initial upfront cost is higher than buying the odd packet or two. Thankfully, traditional taco seasoning uses extremely common spice cabinet pantry staples like paprika, onion, garlic, salt and oregano. What gives taco seasoning its distinct taco-flavour is cumin and chili powder, which can be sourced inexpensively.
The bottom line is that investing upfront to build your own spice repertoire will save you more money over time than buying store-bought seasoning.
2. You can control the flavour and heat
Spicier taco seasoning mix gets its heat from chili pepper powder, cayenne and red pepper flakes. When you make your own, you can adjust the spice levels to suit your flavour palate.
This kid-friendly version of the old favorite is heavy on the cumin, light on the chili, and completely omits the cayenne and red pepper flakes, making it better for little kids and spice-averse adults.
You also have complete control over the salt. Pre-packaged processed foods are very high in sodium, which can affect your blood pressure. While sodium is an extremely important mineral for the body, too much can cause health problems over time.
Making your own taco seasoning from scratch allows you to adjust the salt to your taste and diet preferences, and to customize the overall flavour.
3. It’s much healthier for you
Making your own seasoning blends allows you to control the ingredients and quality.
Case and point, have you ever read the ingredient list on the back of the pre-made packets of your favourite seasoning blends? Yikes!
Like most store-bought spice mixes sold at your local grocery store, many taco seasoning mixes contain added ingredients, like anti-caking agents, vegetable oils and preservatives. They can also contain sugar, dairy, added starch like cornstarch, potato starch or tapioca flour, citric acid, artificial or natural flavours, and artificial colours.
Now, that’s not to say there aren’t some great brands out there that use better-for-you ingredients in their seasoning blends, because there are. But they’ll cost you, a lot, especially if they are organic, gluten-free, sugar-free and questionable-ingredients-free.
Is Taco Seasoning Gluten Free?
It all depends on the ingredients. Many store-bought taco seasonings use wheat-containing ingredients.
While you can look at the ingredient labels of your favourite taco seasoning blends, the only way to ensure there’s been no cross contamination is to look for a certified gluten-free label on the packet. While the ingredients themselves could be gluten-free, if the taco seasoning packets were processed in a plant with other gluten-containing ingredients, there’s a chance that trace amounts of gluten could be present.
If you are gluten-sensitive or suffer from celiac disease, your best option is to purchase certified gluten-free spices and seasoning blends.
Is Old El Paso taco seasoning gluten-free?
While the disclosed ingredients themselves are technically gluten-free, they are not certified gluten-free and, therefore, could contain traces of gluten in them. Plus, their taco seasonings contain natural flavour, which can have up to 300 undisclosed ingredients, some of which could contain gluten.
Ingredients in Old Del Paso Mild Taco Seasoning:
Corn Starch, Maltodextrin, Salt, Chili Pepper, Onion Powder, Sugar. Contains 2% or less of: Spice, Vegetable Oil (canola, high oleic soybean and/or sunflower oil), Silicon Dioxide (anticaking agent), Natural Flavor, Modified Corn Starch.
Is Taco Seasoning Healthy?
Yes, homemade taco seasoning made exclusively with spices is healthy!
That’s because spices, in general, are extremely healthy. They are potent sources of antioxidants and have a high concentration of phytonutrients. They’re also anti-inflammatory and immune-supportive, and can help lower your risk of developing chronic diseases.
Howwever, taco seasonings that contain added oils, preservatives, sugar and flavourings don’t pack the same nutritious punch as homemade seasoning. The added ingredients, unfortunately, take away from the spices’ natural benefits and can trigger inflammation, headaches and digestive issues for some.
Gut Health Benefits & More
The main ingredient in this mild taco seasoning is cumin. This warm, earthy spice packs tons of the classic taco flavour we all know and love, but with zero heat! It also gives this low-carb, sugar-free taco seasoning its amazing health benefits!
GuT HEALTH BENEFITS
- It stimulates digestive enzyme activity, which helps your body to break down and access the nutrients from your food
- It increases bile production, helping you to digest fats more easily
- It can reduce painful bloating by helping your body to relieve gas
- It’s been shown to help with nausea, cramps, digestive spasms and constipation associated with irritable bowel syndrome
OTHER HEALTH BENEFITS OF CUMIN
- It has antimicrobial properties, helping to prevent food-borne illnesses
- It can help lower blood sugar and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels
- It contains high levels of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties
- It’s rich in iron and magnesium
Nutrition Facts
Just one tablespoon of this seasoning mix has 2 mg of iron, which is the same amount of iron in 2 1/2 cups of spinach!
It also contains:
- 1g of protein
- 1g of fibre
- 1g of healthy fats
- 0g of sugar
- 2g of net carbs
- 18 calories
Mild Gluten Free Taco Seasoning Blend Ingredients
This simple blend of spices makes for the best-tasting gluten-free mild taco seasoning mix! No funky ingredients, sugar, or preservatives are added, making it compliant with most diets, including low carb, paleo, Whole30, keto and vegan.
All you need is:
- Ground Cumin
- Chili Powder
- Granulated Onion or Onion Powder
- Pink Salt or Sea Salt
- Sweet Paprika
- Ground Black Pepper
- Granulated Garlic or Garlic Powder
- Dried Oregano
Check out the printable recipe card for exact measurements.
How To Make Mild Gluten Free Taco Seasoning
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
STEP 1: Add all your ingredients to a glass jar, cover and shake well to combine. Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
How To Use Gluten Free Mild Taco Seasoning
To make classic taco meat:
- Cook one pound of ground meat, (like beef, ground turkey or chicken) over medium-high heat.
- Then add 2 tablespoons of seasoning and 1/2 cup of water, and cook over medium-low heat until the seasoning has dissolved and the water has evaporated.
- Taste and add more seasoning if desired, 1 tablespoon at a time, along with a quarter cup of water.
While you can serve your taco meat in hard taco shells, here are a few serving ideas for your next Taco Tuesday or DIY taco night.
- Over tortilla chips or sweet potato wedges
- In a baked potato
- Over a salad
- Over brown rice or quinoa
- Stuffed into a bell pepper
- In romaine lettuce leaves for a low-carb, Paleo, keto or Whole30-friendly taco
Tacos, however you serve them, are an excellent way to eat the rainbow, given all the delicious and colourful topping options available!
- Black beans
- Avocado
- Cilantro
- Tomatoes
- Purple onions
- Pico De Gallo or Salsa Verde
- Lettuce
- This dairy-free cashew cheese sauce
BEYOND THE BEEF
If traditional beef taco meat isn’t your thing, try using this gluten-free taco seasoning on shrimp, chicken breasts, thighs, or cod. All of which can be used as a healthy, low fat taco filling or a high-protein addition to salads or Mexican macro bowls.
Taco seasoning also adds tons of flavour to chilli, soups, and dips, like this white bean taco hummus.
Meal Prep & Storage Tips
MEAL PREP
Pre-making a large batch of this delicious spice blend will save you loads of time and money over the long run. One batch makes a 1/2 cup of mix, which is equivalent to approximately 4 packets.
However, if you make taco-flavoured recipes or chilli regularly, save your future-self some time by doubling or tripling this recipe. It takes the exact same amount of time to make one batch as it does three!
STORAGE
This mild taco seasoning is preservative-free and will stay fresh for up to 6 months when stored in an airtight glass jar or spice jar. Traditional mason jars work great for storing spices, and so do these adorable jars from Ikea.
A few years back, I switched all my spices to these affordable jars and just labelled the tops with my simple, humble label maker. I love how I can easily insert my tablespoon measuring spoon inside and how well they fit in my spice drawer.
Questions About This Recipe?
Your whole family will love this mild, gluten-free, sugar-free taco seasoning mix as much as you’re going to love how easy it is to make! Still have questions?
Check out these Frequently Asked Questions, or write a comment below!
FAQs
A packet of taco seasoning typically has 1 oz of seasoning, equivalent to 2 tablespoons.
Add 2 tablespoons of seasoning to 1 pound of ground beef, chicken or turkey to make traditional taco meat.
It won’t smell as strong and will look less vibrant in colour. If your taco seasoning is made from just spices, it will never officially go bad because cumin has antimicrobial properties. However, it will lose its flavour.
Mild taco seasoning is less spicy or hot than original taco seasoning.
Chili pepper powder, red pepper flakes and cayenne pepper.
Add more chilli pepper powder, red pepper flakes, and/or cayenne pepper.
The main difference is their texture. Granulated spices are more bulky and grainy. Powdered spices are finer because they’ve been ground down into a powder. You can substitute one for the other, but you will need to adjust the measurement by half. For example, 1 tsp of granulated garlic can be substituted with 1/2 tsp of garlic powder. It’s best to use granulated spices in recipes that have a rougher, bulky texture. Powdered spices are best in recipes with a smoother texture, like soup or sauces.
Recipe Card
Mild Taco Seasoning (Gluten Free and Sugar Free)
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp ground cumin
- 4 tsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp granulated onion or 1 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp pink salt like Himalayan salt or Redmon Real Salt
- 2 tsp sweet paprika
- 1 tsp granulated garlic or 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl or jar, combine all your ingredients.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
Notes
- This recipe makes 1/2 cup of seasoning or 8 tablespoons.
- 2 tablespoons equals approximately one packet of store-bought taco seasoning.
- To make traditional taco filling, add 2 tablespoons of seasoning to 1 pound of ground meat.
- Reduce the amount of salt in this recipe by half if you are using it to season pre-salted meat or legumes.
Nutrition
Let’s Keep In Touch!
I can’t wait to hear all about your healthy eating journey and what you’ve been cooking! Please comment below or share your successes with me on Instagram @nourashnutrition so that I can celebrate you and your healthy eating milestones!
Until next time…
Sending you 🤎 & ✨!
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