Homemade Keto Taco Seasoning

This easy homemade Keto Taco Seasoning recipe is not only perfect for your tacos, but also a great way to spice up lots of chicken and beef recipes. It takes less than 5 minutes to make and most likely you have all the ingredients in your spice cabinet as well. 

Now that you all know how to make our Keto Cheese Taco Shells, you’re going to need something to fill them with, so we’re going to share our recipe for homemade low carb Taco Seasoning. It’s honestly a must-have item in my spice cabinet and I highly recommend it being a staple in yours as well. 

If you all are fans of Taco Tuesday or even Fajita Friday, then I’m sure you buy taco seasoning packets and probably go through them pretty quickly. While they may be convenient to just pick up while you are at the store, they can get expensive after a while and they have so many fillers in them! 

But making your own homemade taco seasoning tastes so much better, it’s gluten-free, keto-friendly, and will save you time and money. 

What is Taco Seasoning?

What exactly is taco seasoning? It’s a bunch of spices typically used in Mexican recipes like tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and so much more. 

There is a good chance that the spices used to make up taco seasoning are already going to be in your spice cabinet or pantry. 

Taco seasoning is primarily made of chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Other spices like paprika, red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, or oregano….can be added as well. 

Is Taco Seasoning Keto-friendly? 

The problem that you are going to find when using seasoning packets from the grocery store is that they aren’t just spices. There are other ingredients that are in prepackaged taco seasoning that isn’t really very good for keto. A lot of them contain sugar, and cornstarch, canola oil, and maltodextrin…ingredients that are not ok when eating low carb, and to be honest they are NOT even necessary. 

It’s crazy how many carbs are in a packet of taco seasoning. To give you more of an idea for 1 packet of taco seasoning it has about 12 NET Carbs. It’s pretty high in my opinion. 

Now take our low carb version. For 2 tbsp of homemade Keto taco seasoning is the equivalent amount for 1 packet of taco seasoning. That being said our homemade taco seasoning has only 3.6 NET Carbs for 2 tablespoons. Not too bad at all!

When it comes to seasonings and finding out carbs, it’s kind of a tricky thing. When you read the label of some seasonings, it will say zero but that’s not entirely accurate, because when you use nutrition calculators as I do for all my recipes they say that most spices do have some carbs. 

Spices are what some call “hidden carbs.” Some are higher than others, but still can be used just in smaller portions. 

Here is an article that helps break down the carbs in spices.

Why Homemade Taco Seasoning is Better than Store-bought Packets (Old El Paso or McCormick)

As I’ve already mentioned, the biggest problem with store-bought packages of seasonings is that they always contain more than just seasonings. When you read the ingredients on the back of the package most of them will have ingredients like sugar, cornstarch, canola oil, maltodextrin, cornflour, silicon dioxide…and the list can go one. Let me tell you, these ingredients are not necessary at all!!! 

Making your own homemade seasonings, like this taco seasoning is not only cheaper in the long run, but you know EXACTLY what’s going into it, absolutely no fillers. 

You can adjust the spices as you see fit. For instance, if you don’t like one of the ingredients, then use less of it and more of another one. It makes adjusting the flavor super easy. 

Making your own low carb taco seasoning means you can make a large batch of it with spices that are probably already in your cabinet or pantry and have it ready for anytime you need it. No need to worry about running the store to get the packets when you want to make tacos. 

What Ingredients are in Keto Taco Seasoning?

This recipe for homemade keto taco seasoning is a combo of the following 8 spices :

• Cumin – ¼ cup of cumin
• Chili Powder – ¼ cup of chili powder, this and the cumin makes up the bulk of the volume
• Garlic Powder – I love garlic so I use 2 tbsp, but it can be lowered 
• Salt – I use a good amount, feel free to lower the amount 
• Black Pepper – I don’t like a lot of spiciness so don’t use a lot, but you can add more if needed
• Paprika – Regular paprika is used. For a more smokey flavor use smoked paprika
• Oregano – Coriander and dried cilantro may be used instead of oregano
• Onion Powder – 1 tbsp but you can add more or less

Is Taco Seasoning Spicy?

I’m not a big fan of spicy foods, unlike the rest of my family. But seeing that I’m the one who cooks I control the amount of spice in our food. 

That being said, I made this homemade taco seasoning not too spicy at all, I’d call it mild. One of the added benefits of making your own seasoning is you control the spice level. 

If you want your taco seasoning to have more of a kick, then add some red pepper flakes. That will definitely give you some added spiciness to your taco seasoning. Start off with about 2 tsp and increase if desired. 

Taco Seasoning Uses – What Can You Make?

What can you make with my homemade low carb taco seasoning?? Good question! Whether you are having Mexican food or not, there are plenty of ways to use this seasoning. 

• TACOS…Duh! This seasoning recipe was made specifically for tacos, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use it for other things as well
• Fajitas 
• Taco Salad
• Add it to some Keto Stuffed Peppers for a Mexican flare
• Use it when making beef, steak, chicken, or even pork
• Sprinkle it on your popcorn for a nice flavor

How to Make Homemade Keto Taco Seasoning

This recipe will take you less than 5 minutes to make, which is why we love it. 

Homemade Keto Taco Seasoning Instructions :

1. Measure out all your spices.
2. Add them all to a bowl and mix with a spoon.
3. Transfer it to an airtight container or glass jar.

That’s it! Easy right?? 

Best Tips for Low Carb Taco Seasoning 

Here are  some helpful tips to help you make the best homemade low carb taco seasoning: 

• This recipe makes a good size batch, but feel free to double it for an even larger batch. I recommend doubling it if you make tacos or fajitas on a weekly basis. 
• You can change the amount of each spice based on how much flavor you want.
• Store the homemade seasoning in an airtight container or glass jar. 
• Keep stored in a cool dark place, like a pantry or spice cabinet. 
• It will last several months if stored properly.
• I use regular paprika, but you can use smoked paprika if you prefer. Keep in mind that it will add a more smokey flavor. 
• This seasoning doesn’t have any thickening agents like store-bought ones, so if you want your taco meat to be thicker add ¼ tsp of xanthan gum with the spices. 

How to Add Thickness to Taco Seasoning

Store-bought taco seasoning usually has a thickening agent in it, like potato or corn starch. Since our homemade seasoning doesn’t contain any fillers some people still want their taco mixture on the thicker side. How can we do that? 

That’s an easy fix! Add ¼ tsp of xanthan gum to the meat right before the taco meat has finished cooking. That should thicken it up enough.

Different Variations 

One of the great things about making homemade seasonings is that you can change it up depending on your tastebuds. Here are a few ideas for some variations:

• For a smokey flavor – Add smoked paprika instead of regular paprika. It will make the flavor really pop.
• Spicy Taco Seasoning – If you are like the rest of my family and prefer spicy dishes, then a good addition to this seasoning is some red pepper flakes. Don’t go crazy at first, add in 1-2 tsp to start with. 
• Watching your salt intake – If you are concerned about your salt intake either lower the amount or leave it out altogether.
• Cumin – The cumin can be left out if you don’t like the taste of it. But keep in mind that the flavor of the seasoning won’t be exactly the same. 
• Replace the Oregano – You can use Coriander or dried Cilantro instead.
• More Complex Flavor – Add only a pinch of cocoa powder or cinnamon.

Gluten-Free Taco Seasoning

You have to be careful when using store-bought seasoning because they can contain gluten in them. I don’t know why they add so much stuff to these seasoning packets, it’s so unnecessary.

Our homemade taco doesn’t have any extra fillers and it 100% GLUTEN-FREE! So if you are allergic or have a sensitivity to gluten then look no further, this taco seasoning is perfect for you.

How Much Do I Need for One Pound of Meat?

How much seasoning you need for one pound of meat can vary depending on how much flavor you want to add to your meat. 

1 packet of store-bought taco seasoning is enough for about 1 pound of ground beef or 1 pound of any other meat of your choosing. 

So rather than using that store-bought stuff use our homemade taco seasoning instead. For 1 pound of meat, you will want to use 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning. That is equivalent to one packet of store-bought. 

Feel free to add more if you want a stronger flavor, that’s totally up to you. 

How Much Homemade Taco Seasoning Equals One Packet?

You may be wondering how much homemade taco seasoning equals 1 store-bought packet of taco seasoning. No need to wonder anymore…it takes about 2 tablespoons of homemade taco seasoning to equal the amount of 1 taco packet. 

According to the nutrition label for a packet of taco seasoning it says the serving size is 2 tsp and it contains 6 servings per packet. So that is 12 tsp or 4 tbsp. I was a bit confused as to why everyone says that only 2 tbsp is equivalent to 1 packet.

I’ve come to learn that the reason for that is because taco seasoning packets contain other fillers in them that take up some volume. As you know our seasoning doesn’t contain any fillers so 2 tbsp is equivalent to 1 packet. 

How to Store Taco Seasoning

Just like any other spice whether it’s homemade or not, it should be stored in a cool, dry place. Most people choose to store their taco seasoning with the rest of their spices in a spice cupboard or in a pantry. 

I bought these great glass jars on amazon and strictly use them for all my spices. It’s great to always have a jar of taco seasoning on hand for whenever I’m in the mood for tacos. 

How Long is Taco Seasoning Good For?

Another wonderful reason to make your own homemade low carb taco seasoning is that it will last up to 6 months! Making a nice big batch will mean you don’t have to worry about it going bad. This is the best part in my opinion. 

It Makes for a Great Gift Idea

Homemade taco seasoning makes such a great gift idea! Well, actually all homemade seasonings make great gifts. I bought these super cute little jars on Amazon and filled them up and gave them to several people as gifts. These little jars come with chalkboard stickers so you can easily write what it is. 

Can You Freeze Taco Seasoning?

So to be honest you don’t really need to freeze your taco seasoning because when stored in a cool, dry place, like a spice cabinet or pantry it will last up to 6 months. Now that being said, if you still want to go ahead and freeze it you can. But something to keep in mind is that if your seasoning is exposed to the air then you may have to worry about it freeze-drying. 

I’ve already made 2 batches of this taco seasoning and we have gone through them. So in my case, it hasn’t lasted anywhere near 6 months to have to worry about freezing it. 

Other Spice Mix Recipes:

If you’re in the mood for some other homemade spice mixtures then try our:

• Pumpkin Spice Recipe
• Onion Soup Mix
• Everything Bagel Seasoning

You and you’re family will love them!

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