Salt Free Taco Seasoning Recipe
This No Salt Taco Seasoning is made with only 7 spices that you probably already have in your pantry! You can make a big batch and keep it in a mason jar in your pantry for whenever you make tacos!
Taco mix from the store can be made with all sorts of weird preservatives, so I love making my own seasonings at home. It is so simple and can be kept in a mason jar right in your pantry.
If you are on a low sodium diet or watching your sodium intake, this healthy taco seasoning recipe is for you! It's perfect to add to your favorite Mexican recipes or add right to your ground meat on Taco Tuesday or even in a tater tot taco casserole!
Why Make Your Own No Salt Taco Seasoning Recipe
I started making my own taco seasoning years ago when I became a mom and started reading labels. I flipped out over one of those little store-bought packets and seeing how much sodium was packed into it. Once I mixed up my first batch at home, I never looked back. Making your own means you control exactly what goes into it, and you get all that bold, smoky taco flavor without the salt. It’s also cheaper than buying packets every week, and chances are you already have every spice you need sitting in your cabinet right now. Plus, everyone at the table can salt their own plate to taste, which has been a total game changer for taco night at my house.
Jump to:
- Why Make Your Own No Salt Taco Seasoning Recipe
- Low Sodium Taco Seasoning Recipe Ingredients
- Salt Free Taco Seasoning Recipe
- No Salt Taco Seasoning Tips
- No Salt Taco Seasoning Recipe Substitutions
- How to Use No Salt Taco Seasoning
- Storing Salt Free Taco Seasoning
- No Salt Taco Seasoning Recipe FAQs
- More Recipes to Try!
- 📖 Recipe
Low Sodium Taco Seasoning Recipe Ingredients
All these spices can be found right in your local grocery store. One of the best ways to save money is to make is to make your own seasoning. This diy taco seasoning is no exception!
- Chili powder. Ancho chili powder or regular chili powder can be used.
- Ground cumin. A classic ingredient in a lot of Mexican food or spices.
- Black pepper. Fresh ground or pre-ground is great.
- Paprika. Smoked paprika or regular paprika is great.
- Garlic powder.
- Onion powder.
- Oregano. Italian oregano or Mexican oregano will work in this recipe.
- An extra optional ingredient would be red pepper flakes. If you prefer a spicy salt free taco seasoning, feel free to add 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes.
Salt Free Taco Seasoning Recipe
Measure out all the ingredients and add them to a mason jar. Mix the ingredients well and cover the container. Keep the mason jar in the pantry for up to 3 months.
If you do not have a mason jar, use an airtight container to keep this spice blend in your pantry.
No Salt Taco Seasoning Tips
- Use fresh spices. Ground spices lose their punch over time, so if your chili powder has been hanging out in the back of the cabinet since last year, it’s time for a new jar. Fresh spices make a huge difference when you’re not relying on salt for flavor.
- Toast it first. When I’m making taco meat, I like to add the seasoning to the pan and let it cook for about 30 seconds before adding any liquid. It wakes up the spices and makes the flavor so much deeper.
- Add a squeeze of lime. Acid is your best friend in salt-free cooking. A little lime juice at the end brightens everything up and tricks your taste buds into not missing the salt at all.
- Make a double batch. Trust me on this one. I always make extra because it goes fast, and it’s so nice to just grab a jar on a busy weeknight.
- Shake before using. The spices can settle a bit in the jar, so give it a good shake each time to make sure you’re getting an even mix.
No Salt Taco Seasoning Recipe Substitutions
- Chili powder. Most chili powders don’t have salt, but some blends do, so check the label. If you want to skip it altogether, use a mix of smoked paprika and a pinch of cayenne.
- Smoked paprika. Regular paprika works just fine if that’s what you have. You’ll lose a little of the smoky flavor, but it’s still delicious.
- Cumin. This one’s hard to replace, but a little ground coriander will work in a pinch.
- Garlic and onion powder. You can swap these for granulated garlic and onion. Just avoid garlic salt and onion salt, since that defeats the whole purpose!
- Oregano. Mexican oregano is my favorite here, but regular dried oregano works great too.
- Make it milder. Leave out the cayenne or red pepper flakes for little ones. That’s how I make it when my kids are eating.
- Make it spicier. Add extra cayenne, chipotle powder, or red pepper flakes if your family likes some heat.
How to Use No Salt Taco Seasoning
Tacos are the obvious one, but this seasoning goes way beyond taco Tuesday at our house. Here are some of my favorite ways to use it:
- Taco meat. Use about 2 tablespoons per pound of ground beef, turkey, or chicken, plus a splash of water to make it saucy.
- Chicken. Rub it on chicken breasts or thighs before baking, grilling, or tossing in the air fryer.
- Roasted veggies. Sprinkle it over potatoes, cauliflower, or sweet potatoes with a drizzle of olive oil before roasting.
- Soups and chili. Stir a spoonful into taco soup or chili for an extra layer of flavor.
- Dips. Mix it into sour cream or Greek yogurt for a quick taco dip. My kids love this with tortilla chips.
- Rice and beans. Add a teaspoon to rice or black beans for an easy side dish.
- Eggs. A little pinch in scrambled eggs makes the best breakfast burritos.
Storing Salt Free Taco Seasoning
Store your seasoning in an airtight container, like a small mason jar or an old spice jar you’ve cleaned out, and keep it somewhere cool and dark like your pantry or spice drawer. Try to keep it away from the stove, since heat and steam can make it clump and lose flavor faster. It’ll stay fresh and flavorful for about 6 months. After that it’s still safe to use, but you might notice it’s not quite as bold. I like to write the date on a piece of tape on the lid so I always know when I made it.
No Salt Taco Seasoning Recipe FAQs
You will want to use 2-3 tablespoons of this taco seasoning per pound of meat in your taco meat.
This seasoning is great in your favorite taco recipes on taco night! You can also use it in taco stuffed peppers or in Instant Pot chicken fajitas. When you are done cooking your ground meat, add the seasoning and ¼ cup of water to loosen the taco meat a little bit. You can also add a cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce if it is too loose.
Use 2-3 tablespoons of seasoning per pound of ground beef. If you prefer to make your family more healthy recipes, feel free to use this seasoning with ground turkey or ground chicken.
Many taco seasoning packets have so much salt in them. When you make your own your can control that. I like to add the salt when I am cooking the meat. Sometimes, ground turkey or ground chicken already has seasoning it in, so you will want to use less salt. Add sea salt right to your saute pan when you are making the meat.
More Recipes to Try!
- Instant Pot Mexican Rice
- Easy Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
- Salsa Verde Chicken Bake
- Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup
Did you make this recipe and love it?
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📖 Recipe
No Salt Taco Seasoning Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon Chili Powder
- 1 tablespoon Ground Cumin
- 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Ground Paprika
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano
Instructions
- Measure out all the ingredients and add them to a mason jar. Mix the ingredients well and cover the container. Keep the mason jar in the pantry for up to 3 months.
Notes
- Add ¼ cup of water to your pan with the ground meat when making tacos and then add the seasoning. This will help make a sauce in your taco meat.
- Feel free to double or triple this recipe and keep a big batch in the pantry in an airtight container or a mason jar.
