This Gluten-Free Taco Seasoning is made with common pantry staples. Save money and make your own delicious taco seasoning at home.
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Making your own taco seasoning is so easy and adaptable! Don’t like spice? Make sure you use a mild chili powder and leave out the chipotle powder.
Love spice and think food should burn a little (:fist bump:)? Add a bit of cayenne to the mix and rock on with your bad self.
If you’re a fan of homemade seasoning blends, check out our Best Seasoning for Burgers blend.
What Ingredients are in Gluten-Free Taco Seasoning?
All good stuff. See below!
The arrowroot powder is optional. Many storebought versions contain cornstarch or other thickeners to help the seasoning adhere to the meat and veggies. Arrowroot powder is a Whole30 compliant thickener that is also paleo-friendly.
Looking for other recipes to use arrowroot in? Check out Whole30 Beef Stew, Spicy Sweet Potato Fries, and Instant Pot Paleo Beef and Broccoli.
How to Use Keto Taco Seasoning
Our favorite recipe is these Pressure Cooker Chicken Tacos. Super delicious and adaptable for the various taste in your family.
It can also be used for fajitas (try it on Chicken Fajita Casserole, Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas, or Sheet Pan Pork Fajitas), to season rice Instant Pot Mexican Rice.
You can also use it as a seasoning for Air Fryer Shrimp Tacos, Air Fryer Taquitos, Air Fryer French Fries, Whole30 Potatoes – Skillet Fried Potatoes, or Spicy Sweet Potato Fries.
And if you’re a soup fan (aren’t we all??), use it to flavor up Instant Pot Tortilla Soup.
How Long Will Homemade Taco Seasoning Last?
It will stay fresh in an air-tight container (I use a mason jar) for up to six months. It will lose some potency after that time but will still be safe to eat.
How Much Water Do I Add to Homemade Taco seasoning?
This is personal preference – I don’t usually add any at all. But my husband is a fan of water or broth and so we’ll add about 2 tbsp of liquid per pound of meat when we add the seasoning.
Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
- Chili powder flavor and intensity can mean very different things throughout the world. In some countries, chili powder is what we would call cayenne pepper (which is very hot!) in the states. I used a mild chili powder in this recipe.
- If you don’t have smoked paprika, you can use sweet (or regular) paprika. You won’t get the same smoky flavor, but you’ll still have a delicious mix.
- Vegetarian or Vegan? Check out these Sheet pan Cauliflower Tacos With Halloumi and Black Beans.
- Mix this seasoning with some cooked lentils for these Lentil Nachos.
- You can pump up the flavor by adding a few tablespoons of homemade tomato powder.
WEIGHT WATCHERS POINTS
One serving has 1 WW Freestyle SmartPoints.
Gluten-Free Taco Seasoning
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp mild chili powder {see note below about labeling}
- 1 tbsp chipotle powder
- 1 tbsp arrowroot powder {optional}{or cornstarch}
- 2 tbsp cumin
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp dried onion
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp coriander {optional}
Equipment
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a jar fitted with a lid and shake to combine.3 tbsp mild chili powder, 1 tbsp chipotle powder, 1 tbsp arrowroot powder, 2 tbsp cumin, 1 tsp sea salt, 2 tsp dried oregano, 1 tbsp smoked paprika, 2 tsp garlic powder, 2 tsp dried onion, 1 tsp ground black pepper, 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, 1/2 tsp coriander
- Use 1 tbsp of seasoning per 1 pound of meat or veggies.
- Optional: add 2 tbsp – 1/4 cup of water or broth per pound of meat.
Notes
- Chili powder flavor and intensity can mean very different things throughout the world. In some countries, chili powder is what we would call cayenne pepper (which is very hot!) in the states. I used mild chili powder in this recipe.
- If you don’t have smoked paprika, you can use sweet (or regular) paprika. You won’t get the same smoky flavor, but you’ll still have a delicious gluten-free taco seasoning.
- Will last in an air-tight container for 6 months.
This is my go to recipe for taco seasoning and I’m constantly refilling our jar.
This is mainly because my husband – genius or monster, not quite sure which – will HEAP it onto our meat of choice while cooking. One tablespoon? Only for the faint of heart. Two tablespoons. Minimum. Although, it might be a case of man hearing where I said, “three teaspoons” and he heard, “three” and “spoons” and filled in the middle with table. Now he goes “easy” on me with the two.
Either way, hands down a delightful seasoning mix. Highly recommend!
I’m laughing because this is 100% something that would happen in the Cook household. 🙂
So glad you like the seasoning!
This is just the right level of spice and so much less salty than a packet mix and so easy to make a big batch to keep in the cupboard.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Heather! And once you make your own, you can REALLY taste the salt in the packaged stuff. It’s way too much!
I make a very large batch of this every few months, it has become a staple in my pantry. I don’t use the arrowroot powder and haven’t noticed any problems with not having it.
Emma and I are planning to keep taco meat on had at all times. I considered looking on your site for a recipe, but went the lazy route and bought some pre-made stuff today (I also didn’t want a ton of half used spices that I’d need to re-home in a few months). But now that I see this post… I’ll be ordering all the spices next round of groceries.
Thanks!
I bet Thrive has a great version too if you’re placing an order soon. Might save you from hauling multiple kinds of spices back and forth across the country! 🙂
“Make tacos. Doy.” hahahahaha! laughing. This looks really great!
On a 1 to 10 scale, about how spicy would you say this baseline recipe is?
Thanks, M
My tastebuds have burned off over the years so I’m a terrible judge of “normal people” level of spicy. I use a very small amount when making tacos that the boys will be eating. And then I add hot sauce to mine. 🙂
Thank you for this recipe! We are avoiding extra grocery store trips and I didn’t have enough seasoning to finish making dinner. Sustainable Cooks to the rescue! I will continue making this in the future!
Update: If you survived college by eating Taco Bell but the only location nearby is a 30 minute drive, add some of this seasoning to your egg, cheese, tortilla breakfast quesadilla and relive the glory days, only better and more delicious.
Ha!!!!