A low carb keto taco seasoning! Because have you ever seen the ingredients list on a taco seasoning packet? In addition to all of the lovely herbs and spices, there is starch and sugar. No thanks. I've always preferred to make my own homemade taco seasonings and spice mixes, but eating a clean keto diet has given me another reason to go the DIY route. Today, I'm sharing the spice combo I use to whip up a big batch of keto taco seasoning.
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Why not use taco seasoning packet on keto?
Well, aside from the starch and sugar in the ingredients list, let's take a look at the carb count on the nutrition label for one of the most popular packets on the shelf: McCormick Original Taco Seasoning Mix.
Nutrition label from McCormick Original Taco Seasoning Packet
Upon first glance, you'll notice that there are three grams of carbohydrates. One might assume that would mean only three grams of carbs for the entire packet, but you'd be wrong. This number is the amount per serving, and according to the label, there are six servings in the package.
That means there are 18 grams of carbohydrates in the seasoning packet (3g carbs x 6 servings = 18). Seriously. It's ridiculous, right? Sneaky AF. Depending on how you use said seasoning and how big your meals were, this could have a pretty significant impact on your daily carb count.
You'll be happy to know that my keto taco seasoning recipe only has 2.5 grams of carbohydrates per tablespoon, which can be used as an equivalent amount for the entire seasoning packet!
What seasonings make taco seasoning?
The main ingredients in taco seasoning are ground cumin, chili powder, garlic, onion, paprika, and salt. You can also add oregano if you prefer the extra herb and color.
Taking a peek at the ingredients list of a taco seasoning packet reveals some of the key spices (and additives that you're probably trying to avoid), but it doesn't give you a solid handle on the quantities of each. Don't worry; I got you!
[columns_row width="half"]
[column]Batch Prep
- ¼ cup ground cumin
- ¼ cup chili powder
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
[/column]
[column]Single Serving
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1/12 teaspoon paprika
[/column]
[/columns_row]
The two main ingredients are ground cumin and chili powder. I use equal amounts of both, and since I like to prepare the keto taco seasoning in large batches for convenience, I use ¼ cup of each. If you would rather make a single serving at a time, use one teaspoon of each instead.
Next on the list is garlic powder, which I use half the amount of the ground cumin or chili powder. For the larger batch, two tablespoons will be the perfect amount, but for a single serving only use half a teaspoon.
Onion powder and salt are both a tablespoon each for the batch prep, but just a quarter teaspoon for the single serving. I usually use sea salt or pink Himalayan salt, but you can use whichever salt you prefer. So many options!
Finally, I add a little bit of paprika. In the batch preparation, one teaspoon will do the trick, but for a single serving, you just need a decent sized pinch. I have been obsessed with smoked paprika lately, so of course, that's what I used here. You can use regular old paprika for a more traditional flavor.
Store it in a mason jar or other airtight container until you're reading to use. I use a wide-mouth mason jar to mix all the ingredients and store the seasoning, so I have one less dish to wash when everything is said and done. Man, I hate doing dishes.
How do I use homemade keto taco seasoning?
If you are making the bigger batch, you'll end up with about 12 tablespoons of the keto taco seasoning. A single serving is a tablespoon, so just scoop out a tablespoon and use it in your low carb dish. It's a pretty versatile seasoning, and just a tablespoon of this spice combo can be used to replace the taco seasoning packet in any recipe that calls for it.
My guess is that you are making taco meat, though. You'll want to brown your meat first and remove any excess fat that renders. Add in one tablespoon per pound of meat, add ¾ cup of water, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for a few more minutes, then use your taco meat however you so choose. I love to use this in a healthy taco salad or low carb burrito bowl. Enjoy your keto taco seasoning!
Ingredients
- ¼ cup ground cumin
- ¼ cup chili powder
- 2 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1 tsp paprika
Instructions
- Combine cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and salt in a small mixing bowl. Transfer to an airtight container for storage until ready to use. A mason jar, Ziploc bag or Tupperware would work well.
Notes
Nutrition
Hi, I'm Tasha–nutritionist, recipe developer, and multi-published author dedicated to helping people thrive and succeed using low carb and keto dietary patterns.
This is so great thank you! Just getting started on my keto journey and this will definitely help to get Hubby on board!!
Great! I will never go back to the packs if taco seasoning! Saved taco night! I use Cream cheese pancakes as a wrap. 1 carb per pancake. Family used low carb wrap. 6 carbs each.
Can this be used for chili instead of chili seasoning packs?
Trying to make this tonight but I can’t believe I have no cumin! Can you recommend a substitute?
This was just okay for me. Needed something else. Had to use 3 tablespoons to get anywhere near the same flavor of the packet. Maybe it needs oregano and pepper? I added extra cumin to the meat. When I calculated the carbs for this recipe, It was 3.8 total per tablespoon and 1.33 fiber so 2.5 net carbs per tablespoon. I made the big batch so I will add some extras to it next time. Overall not bad.
You literally never say how much seasoning to use for how much meat. What. The. fuck.
"My guess is that you are making taco meat, though. You’ll want to brown your meat first and remove any excess fat that renders. Add in one tablespoon per pound of meat, add 3/4 cup of water, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for a few more minutes, then use your taco meat however you so choose." F me, right?
I'll add a note to the recipe too. Thanks for the feedback.
You did have that in there already
No need for that Bob, you need to say sorry.
You literally never read the entire article before making an ass of yourself, boob.
Yes she does 1 tablespoon per pound of meat. Adjust to taste
Classy, bob. Maybe read the entire directions before demonstrating your lack of education with obscenities.
Fabulous! I prepared the single-serving batch. I like a lot of spice so after I mixed the seasoning into the beef I added 1/3 more of everything. I love that there's no thickener. I just simmered it until all the liquid reduced, about 10 minutes.
Hi. Tried this with 1 lb of hamburger.
Used 1 tbsp and 3/4 cup water, etc.
Bland. Added more chili powder and it was doable. I think I'll knock the cumin down to 2/3 of however much chili powder I use. Oh yeah...Bob you need to watch your mouth and try thinking about how much YOU would like to use.
Pretty weak saying that to a woman that is just trying to help people with a simple recipe.
This is great taco seasoning. I’ll never use the packaged stuff again. Thanks!
No need for that Bob, you need to say sorry.
We made this tonight, but used closer to 3TBS of the seasoning per pound of ground beef! Turned out delicious. Thank you!
Thank you Tasha for providing me with a reasonable Taco Seasoning recipe. Unlike knuckleheads like bob, I have enough sense to adjust your great base recipe to my own liking. I think your production of this page was great along with your ingredients! bon appétit, y'all !
So I used 2 Tbls per lb of meat and found it just a tad too salty. Otherwise it was excellent so i ate it any way. Next time I'll halve the salt since I'm doubling the spice. Nice recipe, thank you.
What if we don’t have onion powder?
You can still give it a go if you don't have onion powder--I would suggest mixing the small batch amount together instead of the large batch first, just to test it out. And if you use onion in your dish, that could help bring the onion flavor as well. Hopefully, that helps!
GREAT RECIPE, I JUST LOVE TACOS, HOW ABOUT A KETO TACO SAUCE RECIPE.
Thank you so much! I’ll never buy a pack of taco seasoning again...it came out great.
Great recipe
Thanks for such an easy recipe. I did add more garlic powder, salt, and 2 packs of truvia. Delish!
I just added this recipe into MyFitnessPal and it claims the seasoning is 102 calories and 13.4g carbs per serving. I added the large batch and set the serving number to 12. That's can't be right, can it?
Hi Stephanie, I'm not sure where the nutrition info is sourced on MyFitnessPal but it sounds a bit off. I much prefer Cronometer for their database accuracy and detailed micronutrient information. I've updated the recipe card with a link to the nutrition info in Cronometer so you can see a detailed breakdown.
Hope it helps!
Thank you so much, this is excellent! Most of the commercial taco seasonings have weird additives and/or too much salt, so this is perfect. I also really appreciate that you included a single serving recipe, so I could see if I liked it before making a big batch.
Started Keto a couple months back and I've been craving tacos or taco salad so I was so happy to find your recipe! It worked out wonderfully! I used two tblsp per pound of meat and it was good. We made taco salad with it and it was great! Definitely cured the taco cravings and was pretty healthy overall especially without the chips!
I love your recipe and I will be using it only without the salt because of congestive heart failure! Thank you!❤
Thank you just started Keto and taco are favorite of mine! Was so worried that I would never get to have that taste again. Made my first batch LOVED IT! My grandkids never knew the difference. They had their shells and I had my salad. Thank you for giving me a great start and proof that flavorful food can still be a part of my life. Now I am driving into the program and excited to do so.
So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for taking the time to leave such positive feedback!
I’ve been using this recipe for months for low carb eating and I love it. More cost efficient to make it myself instead of buying packaged seasoning with sugar in it.
Heck yes! DIY spice mixes are super cost effective and honestly, they taste way better!
So happy you have been enjoying the recipe. Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment and positive feedback. We always appreciate it! ❤️
This was great, I lowered the amount of chili powder for personal tastes but this is perfect. I'll be making this repeatedly. Thanks!
Awesome work T, have you ever tried adding in a touch of xantham gum to thicken?
I also like to add a little chipotle powder for some extra smokiness!
I add the seasoning straight to the raw meat, 1 TBS per pound, then cook it. I think it tastes great!
Thank you for the recipe!
You're welcome! Thank you for taking the time to comment and leave feedback! I think it's super helpful for other readers to get alternative ways of cooking, tweaking the recipes, and insight into how it will turn out for them.
Very good. I increased the chili powder. Add some xanthine gum if you want it to thicken up like the packets do. Nice alternative to the overprice packets you can buy.