Homemade Low Sodium Taco Seasoning Recipe
This delicious homemade low sodium taco seasoning will elevate your taco game. Reduce your sodium intake while customizing the flavors to suit your taste preferences. Say goodbye to store-bought packets and hello to guilt-free, flavorful tacos!
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 salts and preservatives 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 while keeping the sodium levels in check. 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.
Why Make Your Own Taco Seasoning?
Store-bought taco seasoning packets are undeniably convenient, but they often contain high levels of sodium and other processed additives (like silicon dioxide and maltodextrin) that may not align with your dietary goals.
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).
That’s just the seasoning. Add meat, tortillas, and toppings and before you know it those numbers are creeping close to recommended daily values.
By making homemade taco seasoning, you have full control over the ingredients, allowing you to reduce sodium and customize the flavors to suit your preferences. It’s a simple and rewarding way to elevate your taco game while following a low sodium diet.
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 processed 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’.
How to Mix Your Own Taco Seasoning
- In a small mixing bowl, combine all the spices until they are evenly blended together.
- Taste the seasoning and adjust the amounts of spices to suit your taste.
- Store the seasoning mix in an airtight container or small mason jar for future use.
This recipe makes about 6 tablespoons. Use 2 to 3 tablespoons per pound of meat.
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 this Tater Tot Nachos recipe or for these Baked Crispy Ground Turkey Tacos…o yummy!}
This simple homemade low-sodium taco seasoning recipe is a great way to take control of the flavors in your tacos and enjoy a healthier alternative to grocery store options. By customizing the spices to your liking, you’ll infuse your tacos with great flavor while reducing your sodium intake.
So, get creative in the kitchen and spice up your next taco night with this guilt-free, perfect blend of spices. Your taste buds will thank you, and your body will appreciate the healthier choice!
More Taco Night Recipes to Enjoy!
- Creamy Mushroom + Wild Rice Enchilada Skillet
- Charred Corn Salad with Black Beans + Poblano
- Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Brown Rice
- Grilled Adobo Chicken Thighs
- Charred Tomato Salsa
- Pink Cadillac Frozen Margaritas
Low Sodium Taco Seasoning
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
Pin for Later! Low Sodium Taco Seasoning
I make my own taco seasoning too (very similar to this) that I also leave salt-free. It tastes amazing on so many things and is so versatile. Love this!
It’s so easy to throw together blends…and use up the tons of spices in the rack, right?!