• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Get my free Meal Prep Quick Start Guide

Get my free Meal Prep Quick Start Guide

  • New? Start Here
  • Contact

Sweet Peas and Saffron

meal prep recipes for busy people

  • All Recipes
    • Course
      • Breakfast
      • Lunch
      • Dinner
      • Sides
      • Salad
      • Soups & Stews
      • Drinks
    • Method
      • Air Fryer
      • Instant Pot
      • Slow Cooker
      • Grill
      • One Pot Meals
    • Diet
      • Dairy-Free
      • Gluten Free
      • Low Carb
      • Vegan
      • Vegetarian
      • Nut Free
    • Protein
      • Beans
      • Beef
      • Chicken
      • Lentils
      • Seafood
      • Pork
    • Recipe Index
  • Air Fryer
  • Instant Pot
  • Shop
    • Shop Meal Plans
    • Shop Favorites
  • Get my free Meal Prep Quick Start Guide

    Get my free Meal Prep Quick Start Guide

Home Meal Type Seasoning Blends
5
/5
5 minutes minutes

Homemade Taco Seasoning

Dairy Free Dairy-Free Gluten Free Gluten Free Low Carb Low Carb Nut Free Nut Free Vegan Vegan Meal Prep Meal Prep
Jump to Recipe
By: Denise Bustard3 Comments
Posted: 1/9/19 Updated: 10/14/20

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This homemade taco seasoning is gluten-free, low carb and free from chemicals and preservatives.

It's about time I post my favorite homemade taco seasoning, considering all the other spice blends I've already shared with you!

homemade taco seasoning in white ramekin

Making your own taco seasoning is a good way to save money, and not only that but YOU get to control the ingredients.

Have you read the ingredients on that package of taco seasoning? There are some crazy sounding ingredients in there including 'anti-caking' and 'preservative' ingredients.

Not only that but there are sneaky carbs hiding in your taco seasoning. If you are not watching your carbs, no biggie. But if you are following a keto diet, they can quickly add up.

Don't forget to pin this post to save it for later!

We love this homemade taco seasoning because

  • it's made with simple pantry spices
  • it's GF, low carb and free from chemical additives
  • it keeps for up to a year!

storebought versus homemade taco seasoning recipe

How to make it

To make your own taco seasoning at home, you just need simple pantry spices (these spices are all on my Pantry Staples for Meal Prep Checklist!) and 5 minutes to measure them out.

Want to make a big batch? Slide up the 'servings' section of the recipe card and make enough for a whole bunch of Taco Tuesdays!

  1. mix together chili powder, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, cumin and either arrowroot starch or corn starch
  2. store in a sealed container for up to a year, OR use it right away!

how to make taco seasoning- cooking the taco meat

How much of seasoning do I use for a batch of taco meat? One batch of this seasoning works out to roughly 2 tablespoons, and is the perfect amount to use on 1 lb of ground meat. We enjoy it on ground beef or ground turkey but I'm sure it would also be great on ground chicken and even crumbled tofu!

Why do I need to add water with the DIY taco seasoning? This just helps all the spices dissolve in so you get even coverage on the ground meat. Otherwise it can end up kind of gritty. It also helps create a bit of a sauce when the arrowroot starch thickens the water.

What can I use this seasoning on? Other than ground meat or crumbled tofu, you could use it on:

  • baked chicken breast
  • sprinkle on veggies before roasting or grilling
  • roasted chickpeas
  • Taco Stuffed Acorn Squash
  • Meal prep: Turkey Taco Lunch Bowls, Low Carb Meatball Burrito Bowls, or Santa Fe Low Carb Chicken Meal Prep
  • Instant Pot Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers or Crockpot Stuffed Peppers
  • Baked Beef Taquitos
  • Taco Salad Recipe

diy taco seasoning on taco meat

Tips & equipment

  • I cook my taco meat in a non-stick pan (this is my basic Non-Stick Pan)
  • and store my spices in a half pint mason jar
  • Looking for more DIY spice blends? Check out this Homemade Fajita Seasoning, this Jamaican Jerk Seasoning and this Easy Greek Seasoning

Did you make this? Tag me on social @sweetpeasandsaffron and be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe!

overhead shot of taco seasoning in white bowl on gray background

Homemade Taco Seasoning

5 from 3 votes
Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
Cook Time: 0 minutes mins
Total Time: 5 minutes mins
Print Rate
This homemade taco seasoning is gluten-free, low carb and free from chemicals and preservatives.
4

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons mild chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • ½ teaspoon arrowroot starch (or 1 teaspoon corn starch)

Instructions 

  • Mix together all ingredients. One batch works with 1 lb of ground meat.

To cook taco meat

  • Cook 1 lb of ground meat over medium heat, breaking it up with a spatula until no pink remains.
  • Drain the pan if there is a lot of grease, then return meat to the pan.
  • Add ⅔ cup of water and taco seasoning. Cook, stirring frequently, for 3-5 minutes, until seasoning is well mixed in and most of the water has absorbed.
  • This makes enough taco meat for 4 people.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 0.25of the recipe, Calories: 8kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 0g, Fat: 0g, Saturated Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 0mg, Sodium: 307mg, Potassium: 19mg, Fiber: 0g, Sugar: 0g, Vitamin A: 420IU, Calcium: 3mg, Iron: 0.3mg
Author: Annie Holmes
Course: Spice Blend
Cuisine: Mexican

© Sweet Peas & Saffron - Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.

Did You Make This?Don't forget to leave a review below, and tag us on Instagram using @SweetPeasAndSaffron or #sweetpeasandsaffron
Tag Me On Instagram Rate Recipe
Denise Bustard

Denise Bustard is the creator of Sweet Peas and Saffron, a meal prep-focussed food blog. With a PhD in biochemistry, Denise takes a scientific approach to perfecting her recipes. You can find Denise's work featured on Huffington Post, MSN, Self and more.

  • Share
  • Flipboard
  • Email

Meet Denise Bustard

Denise Bustard is the creator of Sweet Peas and Saffron, a meal prep-focussed food blog. With a PhD in biochemistry, Denise takes a scientific approach to perfecting her recipes. You can find Denise's work featured on Huffington Post, MSN, Self and more.

Read more...

You May Also Like...

  • image graphic with text reading: 41 dairy-free meal prep recipes
    Dairy-Free Recipes for Meal Prep
  • image graphic with text reading: 28 gluten free meal prep recipes
    28 Gluten-Free Meal Prep Recipes
  • ingredients for homemade ranch seasoning on white background and labeled
    Homemade Ranch Seasoning
  • Close up of a hand holding a tofu taco
    Easy Tofu Tacos
overhead shot of variety of chopped veggies on wood cutting board with text overlay 35 meal prep tips from readers
Previous Post
35+ meal prep tips from readers
spoon scooping up quinoa over a large pot
Next Post
How to Cook Quinoa (3 Easy Steps!)

Reader Interactions

5 from 3 votes (3 ratings without comment)

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Have a question? Submit your question or comment below.

Recipe Rating




  1. Ruth says

    Posted on 2/5/25 at Posted on 2/5/25

    What is the importance of the Arrowroot starch (or cornstarch)?

    Reply
    • Annie says

      Posted on 2/10/25 at Posted on 2/10/25

      It serves to thicken the taco seasonings.

      Reply
  2. Sam says

    Posted on 5/4/20 at Posted on 5/4/20

    I was wondering what purpose does the starch have in this recipe? I don't normally notice startch having too much of a flavor.

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

photo of annie meal prepping ingredients

Hi, I'm Annie

Meal prep took me from feeling constantly stressed out about meals to cool, collected and in control. I want to share this amazing and transformational habit with you, so you can feel in control, too! Read more ...

Meal Prep

Instant Pot

Air Fryer

Freezer Meals

Slow Cooker

Breakfast

Popular

overhead shot of sweet potatoes lined up with text showing number of minutes to cook each

PERFECT Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes

overhead shot of 7 easy stir fry sauces on gray background

7 Easy Stir Fry Sauce Recipes

overhead shot of a variety of seven easy rice recipes with text description

7 Easy Rice Recipes (Stove Top & Rice Cooker)

5 minute asian salad dressing in a mason jar on gray background

5 Minute Asian Salad Dressing

Get my free Meal Prep Quick Start Guide

Get my free Meal Prep Quick Start Guide

Reader Faves

overhead shot of blue mason jar filled with crispy chickpeas

ULTRA Crispy Air Fryer Chickpeas

a stack of fluffy protein pancakes with blueberries on top and syrup being drizzled over them

Perfect Fluffy Protein Pancakes (no banana!)

ingredients to make greek seasoning blend with labels on white background

Easy Greek Seasoning Blend

collage image that says 25 popular meal prep ideas

25 Most Popular Lunch Meal Prep Ideas

As seen on:

Wondering where to start?

Get my Meal Prep Quick Start Guide

Join My Free Meal Prep Challenge!
  • Browse Recipes
    • Dinner
    • Lunch
    • Breakfast
    • Snacks
    • Drinks
    • Air Fryer
    • Instant Pot
    • Freezer
  • Meal Prep 101
    • Shop Meal Plans
    • Meal Prep Basics
    • Meal Prep Challenge
    • Quick Start Guide
Back to Top

Privacy Policy

Disclaimers

Contact

Accessibility

Causes

About

© 2025 Sweet Peas and Saffron
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled Logo by Wooden Spoons

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.