How to Make Low Sodium Taco Seasoning at Home
This Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe is healthy, low sodium, customizable and cheap!
If you’ve been following along for a while now, you know I love Mexican food! There’s just something comforting about it that makes me want to never stop eating it. The one thing I can’t stand is store-bought taco seasoning. There are lots of reasons why you should whip yourself up a batch of this taco seasoning recipe. You can control everything you put into it. If you don’t like the taste of one of the ingredients, use less of it or just get rid of it all together. By making your own blend of spices, you can ensure the seasoning is customized to your personal preferences.
Another thing to keep in mind is that you’ll know exactly what you’re putting into your body. You can rest assured knowing exactly what you’re consuming because as people say, you are what you eat! Many times, store-bought seasoning blends can be unnecessarily high in salt and sodium. By using the spices you usually have lying around in your kitchen, you will notice that your meals will have a flavor profile more tailored to your liking. This will add to that homely and comforting feeling that you just can’t find from a pre-packaged seasoning. You can even buy good-quality spices to ensure the taste enhances your recipe. A great investment would be to buy whole spices and herbs and grind them up at home yourself. This is completely optional but it is an amazing way to take your recipes up a notch!
What You Will Need
Most of the spices you will need to make this simple yet rich taco seasoning are staples that you can find in your kitchen! If you are missing anything, a quick run to your local grocery store can fix that. You will need:
- Chili Powder
- Ground Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Paprika
- Cayenne
- Black Pepper
- Oregano
- Cinnamon
Why these ingredients?
Taco seasoning is the perfect blend of spices and herbs that can set up any dish for success. There is a nuanced flavor to it that is not just an I-need-water-NOW kind of heat. It is a build-up of unique flavors that are tied together into a beautiful harmony. As you most likely know, most Mexican recipes rely heavily on garlic. Its distinct flavor adds a deep taste that will take any food it’s added to up a notch, as does onion powder. Oregano is a grounding spice with a distinct scent that adds an earthy kick. Cayenne obviously brings the immediate spice but it is also a little sweeter than some other peppers in its family such as the habanero. Cumin is a flavorful classic that does wonder when paired with the sweet cinnamon that ties all the spices together. In all honesty, cinnamon is my secret ingredient in this fantastic mix. It beautifully ties all the flavors together while adding in its own little kick as well.
Ways to Use Taco Seasoning
I just threw a lot of information at you , but the most important part – what do you use it for? Many mainstream Mexican inspired recipes call for taco seasoning or this similar combination of spices and herbs. You can use this taco seasoning in any of those recipe! Here are of my favorite ways to use it:
- Cheesy Baked Jalapeno Poppers
- Chunky Guacamole
- Super Simple Black Bean Dip
- Creamy Baked Mini Peppers
- Enchilada Sauce, Quesadillas and Marinades!
Low Sodium Taco Seasoning Recipe
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 13 teaspoons 1x
- Diet: Low Salt
Description
Making Homemade Taco Seasoning is healthy, low sodium, customizable and cheap!
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp cayenne
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp oregano
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Mix everything together and store in an airtight container.
- Prep Time: 5
- Category: Spice Blends
- Cuisine: Mexican