Homemade Taco Seasoning
Explaining the invisible
Gluten everywhere
When I first started trying to create a gluten-free recipe this week, I had no idea ALL the things that had traces of gluten. And yep, one of those things was taco seasoning and taco sauce. Now, not all of these products have gluten in it but many do. So I talked to my Mom friends whose children have Celiac Disease and almost all of them make their own seasonings for everything to be safe. Who knew pre-made seasoning would have gluten in it?! Not me. When I think gluten, I think bread, that’s it. So I understand the need to be extra careful.
Make your own in minutes
Also, for some folks it’s just a personal choice. A lot of folks are concerned about preservatives in foods and seasonings as well. I don’t know the all the science behind all of that so I won’t go into it. However, in many cases, it’s really easy to just go ahead and make your own. Plus, it tastes REALLY good. I usually just buy my own seasonings but it’s great to know I can make my own. I loved how the flavor turned out with this too! It’s super yummy and it doesn’t taste exactly like store bought seasoning so it has it’s own unique, homemade flavor!
Ingredients:
1/2 cup chili powder
1/4 cup onion powder
2 tbsp. ground cumin
2 tbsp. garlic powder
1 tbsp. smoked paprika
2 tbsp. kosher (or sea) salt
1 tbsp. black pepper
Directions:
Measure all of the ingredients into a lidded jar (I love my mason jars!) Shake until all ingredients are combined.
It’s a good idea to put a sticker or tag on the jar that identifies the seasoning but also how to use it. So for one pound of meat, you would use 3 tbsp. of seasoning plus about 2/3 cup of water.
Enjoy!
This Homemade Taco Seasoning recipe is the perfect balance of flavors. Control what goes into your food with this easy and delicious seasoning.
- 1/2 cup chili powder
- 1/4 cup onion powder
- 2 tbsp ground cumin
- 2 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- 2 tbsp kosher salt or sea salt
- 1 tbsp black pepper
- Measure all of the ingredients into a lidded jar.
- Shake until all ingredients are combined.
Before each use, give it a good shake.
- 3 tbsp. seasoning = 1 packet
- For one pound of meat, use 3 tbsp. of seasoning plus about 2/3 cup of water.
Here’s a free printable to attach to your jar. Just click HERE or on the photo below to print (double-sided).
Give it a try in these recipes: Easy Taco Mac & Cheese
Dorito Taco Salad
If you enjoy this seasoning, give these a try: Homemade Ranch Seasoning
My daughter has been diagnosed with POTS, which is also an auto-immune disease, but she's always had constipation issues so she recently decided to try gluten free. She tried it for a brief time and then started eating gluten again, she's a big bread lover. After she started back eating gluten she started having pain in her hands and has been told she probably has non-diabetic neuropathy. But anyway, she was looking for something for the pain in her hands until her dr. appointment and someone suggested something that she ordered on-line. In the mean-time she decided to get back off gluten since the hand pain didn't start until she started back on gluten. She received this stuff in the mail, cost sixty something dollars, and discovered it contains gluten. But she said she thinks it is helping, slightly, with her pain, and after spending that kind of money for it she's gonna go ahead and take it.
Also, I made some homemade pumpkin pie spice a few months ago. We like to put it in our breakfast but my granddaughter said she didn't like my homemade pumpkin pie spice.
I would like to know what product she ordered online that helped her with her hand pain. I have peripheral neuropathy in my hands and I’m looking for something that might help.
Pots is no joke. I hope your daughter is doing better.
Sounds DELISH- I can't wait to try it Brandie! Definitely something we would use all the time.
Somehow I had misplaced my recipe for Taco Seasoning so Thank You for sharing your recipes.
Have a wonderful weekend
Thanks so much for sharing.
Pinned
Linda
Hope y'all love it! Michele, praying for your daughter. It is a constant struggle that I totally relate to!
This sounds delicious and I can not wait to try it out. I love all the recipes I found on here and I am tickled pink I found your blog. I can not wait to visit again.
I love making my own seasoning blends – I add a little sugar to my taco seasoning. And each time I make it, its every so slightly different, depending on how heavy handed I am with certain things! Good luck to you in your quest for health!!
I love the recipe.
I love your recipes and this one is no exception. I don't think I will buy the package stuff again. It would work perfectly for your pulled taco beef recipe.
I've been recently diagnosed with Celiacs and am grateful when people make the effort to adjust recipes just for little 'ole me! This recipe is 'da bomb!
I wanted to share a little tip my friend from Mexico shared with me. She says all "REAL" Mexican food has a dash of cinnamon. I understand completely that this is a regional thing, but just a dash does add a little somethin' somethin' to the dish. You don't taste cinnamon but recognize that there is a little something different. We love it – give it a try and see what you think. 🙂
Thanks for the great recipe! I'm using it in your cornbread taco bake tonight. I can't wait to taste that yumminess! Smells divine!
Great tip Tammy!! Thanks so much!!
Thank you for the recipe I'm trying it now. So sorry to hear you have lupus I myself have Hashimoto's. I would recommend definitely researching it as I've been told that being gluten-free is pretty much necessity for most autoimmune disease. Anyway happy cooking and thanks again
Thanks Amanda- much love to you!
Very tasty!
You can certainly adjust the salt content for your tastes.
I would love to use this recipe but I don't make tacos very often. Would you be able to break this down into a single dinner using 1 lb of ground beef?
You sure can, if you look in the post it tells you how to add per one pound of meat. Hope you enjoy!
This was really good – thank you!
Thank you for sharing. I do have Celiac disease and my sister has lupus so I do understand your post completely. Also I wanted to mention that besides your recipe gluten free it is just so much better for you then anything packaged which has added chemicals. Also most packaged items contain gluten.
I know absolutely nothing about the topic of autoimmune illnesses. However I do have a question. The gluten in taco/Mexican seasoning packets might be to help thicken it a bit. What about using Masa? It is a corn product that is used to thicken chili in some recipes. Maybe it is gluten free?
This taco seasoning recipe is so amazingly good & just the right amount of spicy.
Thanks for sharing it!
Hi Marie! Thank you so much for taking the time to come back and leave a review! So very happy you love it!
I’d really love to try this. Do you have the appropriate ratios for smaller amounts? Say, something that makes maybe a quarter cup total?
Hello, I just went gluten free and I wanted to let you know I love your taco seasoning. Also I have the hand issues and wanted to know the name of the medicine.thank you
What size jars are these?
I know this is an older post, I hope all is well. My question: do you have the graphic for the little jar tag? I have about 20 homemade seasoning mixes, and would love to label the jars with that.
Thanks!
Hi Pat! Thanks for asking! Let me see what I can do about that!
Hi there! Did you use to have a different taco seasoning recipe? I have part of on screen shot and it shows a jar with a handwritten label that says 3 TBSP seasoning and 1/3 c H2O. I made that recipe and my family loved! I think it was a little different ratios that what’s is in this recipe. I made this recipe last night and it’s seemed spicier so I was just confused! The screen shot I took shows this is where I got the original recipe from!
Thanks!!
I haven’t tried this but am anxious to. I like that it doesn’t have MSG in it. I get mixed reviews on MSG & if it is gluten-free and/or if it causes a reaction. As I’m reading your blog I’m pushing on the side of my face trying to eat cause my Sjogren’s is acting up. I feel for you. And as you’ve probably learned, since this is an older post, there are LOTS of things that have gluten. I don’t even try anything that has natural flavorings unless it specifies what it is or if it’s gluten-free. Hope you’re doing well.
How long can you keep this taco seasoning mix?