This delicious homemade low sodium taco seasoning will elevate your taco game. Reduce the sodium and customize the flavors to suit your taste preferences. Say goodbye to store-bought packets and hello to guilt-free, flavorful tacos!

A small glass jar on a white counter filled with homemade low sodium taco seasoning.

Spice Up Your Tacos with Homemade Low-Sodium Taco Seasoning

When it comes to flavoring our favorite dishes, we often turn to store-bought seasoning blends without realizing the hidden ingredients they contain.

I am on a personal journey to reduce my sodium intake, and while there are lower sodium taco blends available, it’s incredibly easy to mix up at home.

Making a DIY taco seasoning lets you tailor the taste to your liking. Want it spicy? Go for it! Dislike paprika? Leave it out!

And let’s be honest…we all have a jar of some spice in the rack that is way past its shelf life. There’s a good chance it’s part of some blend. One of the best ways to prevent those spices from growing old is to make your own seasoning blends and use them in their prime.

An oval olive wood bowl on a white counter filled with taco seasoning spices.

Why Make Your Own Taco Seasoning?

Store-bought taco seasoning packets are undeniably convenient, but they often contain ingredients that may not align with your way of eating.

Regular packets of taco seasoning range roughly from 1800 to 2280 mg of sodium (or 330 to 380 mg per serving). The less sodium varieties range from about 1320 to 1500 mg sodium (or 220 to 250 mg per serving).

Add meat, tortillas, and toppings and before you know it those numbers can creep up quick.

By making homemade taco seasoning, you have full control over the ingredients, allowing you to remove what you don’t want and customize the flavors to suit your preferences. It’s a simple and rewarding way to elevate your taco game.

A piece of white parchment with piles of different spices used to make taco seasoning.

Gather Your Ingredients

To create this delicious low sodium taco seasoning recipe, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Chili powder — many chili powders are actually a blend of ingredients, including coriander, cloves or allspice. I’m not mad at that at all! But, they may also contain salt (as well as other additives). Look at the label to know what you’re getting. If you want straight up chili powder, look for labels that identify a single chili pepper variety, like Ancho Chili Powder or Chipotle Chili Powder.
Smoked paprika — I like the smoky flavor this brings, but you can also use regular paprika.
Onion powder
Garlic powder
Ground cumin
Dried oregano — Mexican oregano has notes of citrus and anise. If you can’t find it, it’s ok to use ‘regular’ oregano with hints of mint.
Granulated sugar — just a bit to elevate and enhance all the spices.

To give your seasoning more heat, add cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes, 1/4 teaspoon at a time until it reaches the level of spice you like.

Individual spices, as well as chili powder blends, may contain trace amounts of sodium. That’s why this is called ‘low sodium’, not ‘no sodium’.

A small glass jar with a label that reads low sodium taco blend filled with spices.

Using Your No Salt Added Taco Spice Mix

Use your homemade low-sodium taco blend in all your favorite taco recipes for bold Mexican-inspired flavor!

For an easy Taco Tuesday meal…

Brown ground beef, chicken, or turkey in a skillet until it’s fully cooked.
Sprinkle 2 to 3 tablespoons of the homemade taco seasoning per pound of meat. (Adjust the amount based on your taste preferences.)
Pour in a small amount of water or low-sodium chicken broth to help the spices evenly coat the taco meat and simmer until the liquid has evaporated.

{Try your homemade taco seasoning in these recipes: Tater Tot Nachos, Baked Crispy Ground Turkey Tacos, or Sweet Potato + Black Bean Tacos!}

This simple homemade low-sodium taco seasoning recipe is a great alternative to grocery store options, and let’s you take control of the flavors in your tacos.

So, get creative in the kitchen and spice up your next taco night with your perfect blend of spices. Your taste buds will thank you!

More Taco Night Recipes to Enjoy!

Low Sodium Taco Seasoning

Linda Feller

This low-sodium taco seasoning lets you control the flavors, ingredients, and use up those spices lingering in your spice rack!

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Seasoning

Mexican

yields about 6 tbsp

11 kcal

Ingredients

3 tablespoon chili powder, see notes
2½ teaspoon onion powder
2 teaspoon smoked paprika, or regular paprika
1½ teaspoon garlic powder
1½ teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano, or regular Mediterranean oregano
½ teaspoon granulated sugar

Instructions

Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl. Transfer to an airtight container and store at room temperature in a cool, dark spot.
Use 2 to 3 tablespoons of this blend for every one pound of ground meat anytime a recipe calls for a packet of taco seasoning.

Notes

Chili powder: many chili powders are actually a blend of ingredients, including coriander, cloves or allspice, and may also contain salt (as well as processed additives). Read the ingredients to know exactly what’s in it, or look for labels that identify a single chili pepper variety, like Ancho Chili Powder or Chipotle Chili Powder.
Customizing: adjust the amounts of each spice to create a blend that suits your taste. Add cayenne or red pepper flakes for a spicier version.

Nutrition

no cook

Drop a comment or question!Have a question about recipe variations or techniques? Did this recipe make your taste buds do a happy dance? Let me know in the ratings and comments! Your feedback keeps our kitchen sizzling and helps us cook up more free, mouthwatering recipes for you.