Finding a taco seasoning recipe that is free of sugar and fillers can be a challenge. Many don’t know that spice blends are easy to DIY! Homemade seasoning blends often taste fresher and are more flavorful. Even if DIY isn’t your thing, this recipe will give you a high return on investment.
If you have five minutes and a few common spices in your cupboard, you have everything you need for delicious homemade taco seasoning. But it’s not just for tacos! You can use this blend on eggs, meat, salads, and dips.
Table of Contents:
- Hidden Ingredients in Taco Seasoning
- Healthy Seasoning Mix Ingredients 101
- Make My Taco Seasoning Recipe
- Mama Z’s Famous Taco Dip
Hidden Ingredients in Taco Seasoning
When I think of taco seasoning recipe ingredients, I think of chili powder, cayenne, paprika, and maybe a little salt. Taco seasoning contains all those things, but it also has hidden ingredients that aren’t so hot for your body.
Store-bought taco seasoning includes a lot of salt, which would be perfectly fine if it were the kind of sodium that benefits your body. Most store-bought seasonings include regular table salt, which has been strictly processed. This process strips it of the most valuable vitamins and minerals. (1) These blends also contain more salt than needed. Even reduced-sodium seasoning includes a whopping 220 mg of salt. (2)
You could always purchase a no-sodium variety, right? Think again! Companies substitute salt with potassium chloride, which comes with its own health risks. Potassium chloride is known to interact with medications, particularly those that help with kidney function. (3)
If the seasoning blend you choose has MSG and potassium chloride, it’s not better than the high-sodium seasoning you’re trying to avoid!
A Better Way to Season
Sometimes the thought of making food from scratch can seem a bit daunting. You don’t need a lot of experience, fancy ingredients, or time to get started. You can begin by replacing just one unhealthy item at a time. Doing it yourself can fill your home with natural products without spending a fortune.
This recipe is an excellent example of an easy swap you can make to better your health. It takes minutes, and you can use this spice blend in many different dishes.
Bonus: you probably have most of the spices in your cupboard already!
This seasoning is full of south-of-the-border flavor, and you can customize it to fit your family’s unique needs. You can add cayenne if you have a house full of fire breathers. Need to cool it down? Pull back on the chili powder. The possibilities are endless.
Healthy Seasoning Mix Ingredients 101
What spices are in taco seasoning? The answer might surprise you!
Chili Powder: Chili powder comes from crushed and ground chilis. There are many kinds of chili powder, but we use the plain red type in this recipe. Sometimes, you’ll find your spice jar will have a spiciness rating on the label ranging from mild to hot.
Ground Cumin: Cumin adds such great flavor to this blend! It has a slightly smoky flavor that pairs well with our chili powder. Cumin comes in two forms: Seed and ground, so be sure you’re grabbing the ground variety! Fun fact: Cumin is in the same family as parsley. Who knew?
White Pepper: Not to be confused with black pepper, white pepper is a class all its own. Though both are grown from the same plant, the harvesting process is different and creates two different flavors. White pepper is a little less spicy than black and lends a unique flavor to dishes.
Paprika: Paprika comes from a blend of dried and ground peppers. It has a gorgeous red color that makes this spice blend stand out. It’s a great addition to taco seasoning because it doesn’t pack a lot of heat yet still has that Latin-food flair.
Garlic Powder: Garlic powder is just what it sounds like; a spice made from dehydrated and ground garlic. It amps up the flavor of almost any dish or spice blend. It’s also one of the spices that I use most often.
Dried Oregano: Contrary to what you may have heard, oregano isn’t just for Italian dishes! It’s a staple in many Mexican foods as well. It has an earthy flavor and is sometimes in chili powder blends.
Sea Salt: While too much salt can be bad for your body, a diet that’s too low in sodium isn’t ideal either! I recommend using Colima Sea Salt because it hasn’t been stripped of all nutrients, unlike table salt. It goes through the same hand-harvesting process that ancient Aztecs did years ago! All benefits aside, it has a great flavor that’s not too overpowering.
Make My Taco Seasoning Recipe
This is a one-step recipe that takes five minutes to make. If you have kids, this is an easy seasoning they can make themselves. You may want to measure each spice in advance to be on the safe side!
Mama Z’s Taco Seasoning Recipe
Total time
Author: Mama Z
Serves: ½ cup
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons organic chili powder
- 2 tablespoons organic ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
- 2 teaspoons organic paprika
- 1 teaspoon organic garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon organic dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground pink Himalayan salt or sea salt
- Supplies:
- Small mixing bowl
- Glass jar with a tight-fitting lid
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix the chili powder, cumin, white pepper, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, and Himalayan salt.
- Store the mixture in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid placed away from the light.
- Use the seasoning to add a south-of-the-border flavor to eggs and many other dishes.
Step One: Mix the Spices
In a small bowl, mix the chili powder, cumin, white pepper, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, and sea salt until well combined.
Step Two: Store
Store your taco seasoning in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. You’ll want to keep your spice jar away from direct light.
Mama Z’s Famous Taco Dip
This one-step dip is such a hit at family gatherings. It’s great to serve with gluten-free crackers or vegetables! Here’s how you make it.
Mama Z's Famous Taco Dip
Author: Mama Z
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons Mama Z's Taco Seasoning
- 1 cup soy-free Veganaise or your preferred avocado-oil or grapeseed oil vegan mayonnaise
Instructions
- Mix the taco seasoning and mayonnaise until well blended.
- Chill until ready to use. Serve with gluten-free crackers or crudites.
Step One: Combine the Ingredients
Mix the taco seasoning and vegan mayonnaise until well blended. Chill until ready to use!
