Low Carb Taco Seasoning Recipe (Keto, Gluten-free)

Name: Low Carb Taco Seasoning Recipe (keto, gluten-free)
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 tbsp ground chile powder; 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin; 1 tsp paprika; 1/2 tsp granulated garlic; 1/2 tsp granulated onion; 1/2 tsp dried oregano, rubbed; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp pepper; 1 tsp low carb sugar ((Swerve Granulated or sugar if not low carb))

By Kim Hardesty

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An easy gluten-free and low carb taco seasoning mix for ground beef that’s perfect for Keto Taco Tuesdays.

I grew up in the Southwest were tacos were a part of life! Of course, authentic tacos back then meant seasoned shredded chicken (or shredded beef) served in soft or fried corn tortillas. That’s quite different than what usually comes to mind when one hears “Taco Tuesday”; thanks in part to elementary school cafeteria lunches and Taco Bell!

What most people know as tacos is ground beef mixed with a taco seasoning packet and stuffed into a yellow preformed taco shell. My mother made tacos this way when she was pressed for time and needed an easy family friendly meal. She browned her ground beef and added a packet of taco seasoning from the store. She layered taco meat, cheese, sour cream, black olives and lettuce into the shells and they were tasty.

Homemade Low Carb Taco Seasoning

The problem with the taco seasoning packets you get in the store, is that they contain sugar and starch and are not gluten-free. You can get a similar flavor with ingredients you already have at home without the sugar, carbs or gluten.

One ingredient I strongly recommend for a more authentic flavor is pure ground chile powder. It’s the ingredient that makes my low carb gluten-free enchilada sauce so good. It’s mandatory in my mind. It’s found in the Mexican aisle in the grocery store. I buy both California Ground Chile Powder and New Mexico Ground Chile Powder and mix them together.

Gluten-free Taco Seasoning Recipe

The ingredients most often found in homemade taco seasoning are chile powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt and pepper. Honestly, I add a little sugar-free sweetener to mine because I think it mellows the sharpness in the chile powder and makes a bridge to pull all of the flavors together. Of course, it can be omitted. If you want your taco seasoning spicy, add some cayenne pepper.

Although this is a low carb taco seasoning recipe, it is not a no-carb recipe. All powdered ingredients like chile powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder and pepper are going to have carbs. But, since this recipe does not contain the milk powder, sugar, or starch (often found in store bought products), it’s much lower in total carbs.

How Much Taco Seasoning To Use Per Pound of Meat or Per Person

The taco seasoning packets you buy in the store are made for 1 pound of meat, contain roughly 2 tablespoons of seasoning and list 6 servings. That equates to 1 tsp per person. My low carb taco seasoning recipe yields about ¼ cup of seasoning and can be used to season 1 – 2 pounds of ground beef (enough to feed 6-12 people). It really depends on how much flavor you want.

Low Carb Taco Seasoning is 1 carb per 2 teaspoons or .5 carbs per 1 teaspoon.

[Recipe and post may contain affiliate links. Purchasing through a link may result in my earning a small consideration.]