Have you ever taken a look at the ingredient list on the back of that oh-so-yummy packet of taco seasoning?
No? Let me just lay it out for ya…
Chili pepper, salt, maltodextrin, spice, onion powder, corn starch, yellow corn flour. Contains less than 2% of: partially hydrogenated soybean oil, silicon dioxide (anticaking agent), sunflower and/or cottonseed oil, natural flavor, ethoxyquin (preservative).
THAT is all taken directly from the website of a popular brand of Taco Seasoning. There’s so much NO happening in this list. Uh…thanks, but no thanks.
We actually began making our own taco seasoning way before we changed up our diets. It came as an act of desperation. One night, I was looking through our bare pantry and fridge, trying to decide on what to make for dinner, when I realized we had some ground beef that NEEDED to be cooked and eaten. We were out of spaghetti fixin’s, and had most of what we needed for Taco Salad. Chips – check! Salsa – check! Lettuce – check! Ranch – check!
But none of those little handy packets of seasoning. I began a quick google search for a homemade version. So. Many. Options.
I was able to sift though all the options, and finally stumbled upon one that didn’t call for any crazy spices. At that time, I wasn’t big into cooking, so my spice selection was…limited, to say the least.
We have never looked back, since.
Not only is this seasoning easy, it’s better for you, and in my opinion…it tastes better. I know exactly what is in my food. NO crazy ingredients that are hard to say, much less, hard for our bodies to digest.
So grab your spices, measuring spoons, and a small jar with a lid, and let’s make the only taco seasoning you will ever use again!
- 1 part ground Cumin
- 1 part Chili Powder
- 1 part Garlic Powder
- 1 part Onion Powder
- 1/4 - 1/2 part Red Pepper Flakes, depending on how much kick you want it to have.
- Combine all ingredients in an airtight container. Use as needed to season tacos, nachos, or to spice up any bland dish!
- Use 1 1/2 - 2 Tbls. of mixture per 1lb. of ground meat...or more, if you like it spicy! 😉
