Low Sodium Taco Seasoning
This low-sodium taco seasoning is bold, smokey, and much healthier than the packets. If you’re tired of paying premium prices for packaged taco seasoning with loads of salt, poor vegetable oils, sugar, and fillers, then make this recipe today.
This low sodium taco seasoning is made with healthy and simple ingredients that you can whip up in less than 5 minutes.
Related: Deconstructed Taco Bowls
Related: Mexican Caviar
This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.
What is Low Sodium Taco Seasoning
Low-sodium taco seasoning is a blend of spices combined to provide a Mexican flavor used in all kinds of dishes. Most popularly, low sodium taco seasoning is used for ground beef.
Specifically, low-sodium taco seasoning has a lower, or no, salt ratio and is used by people trying to lower their salt intake.
Equipment You’ll Need
No special equipment is necessary for low sodium taco seasoning; in fact, you likely already have everything on hand. These are my favorites to make this recipe.
Optional tools:
Recipe Highlights
- Best flavor – the spice blend in this recipe is unmatched. No need for salt when the spices pack all the flavor!
- Cost-effective – cheaper than buying packet after packet from the store.
- Healthier – no sodium, fillers, anticaking agents, or vegetable/seed oils in this taco seasoning.
- You control the heat and salt – you can add more cayenne pepper to make this taco seasoning spicier, and you can even add some salt if you want a little sodium. Although, I recommend doing that while cooking the meat.
How to Make Low Sodium Taco Seasoning
This bold and smokey low sodium taco seasoning recipe is healthy and will give you the best taco meat! You’ll spend less money on taco seasoning by using basic ingredients that you likely already have in your pantry.
Taco Seasoning Ingredients
- Chili powder – be sure your chili powder contains no added salt or other nasty ingredients. This is the one I use – basic ingredients that add great flavor.
- Onion powder
- Cumin – the traditional flavor of Mexican cuisine.
- Smoked paprika – seriously, go for smoked, not regular paprika. The result will be much more flavor!
- Garlic powder – get the powder, not the garlic salt.
- Ground cinnamon – my secret ingredient to the most flavorful low sodium taco seasoning.
- Cayenne pepper – use more or less to control the spice.
Step by Step Instructions (with photos)
- Measure out all the spices into a jar, add the lid and shake to blend.
- Store and use for all recipes that need a Mexican flare.
How to Store Low Sodium Taco Seasoning
Store homemade low-sodium taco seasoning in an airtight container or bag at room temperature for up to 6 months.
Tips for storing low sodium taco seasoning
- This taco seasoning will last longer if you use fresh spices (be sure not to use stale spices).
- Keep away from high moisture areas (like near the stove).
Low Sodium Taco Seasoning Tips
- Quadruple this recipe so you have to make it less often. The base recipe makes 6 tablespoons, so if you quadruple it you’ll be left with 1.5 cups of low sodium taco seasoning which should make about 12 lbs of meat.
- Use the same jar you’re storing the seasoning in to mix it up. Simply put all the spices into a lidded jar, put the lid on the jar then shake up.
- Make sure the spices aren’t stale. Do this by rubbing the spices you’re using between your fingers – if no aroma is released then they have gone stale.
Low Sodium Taco Seasoning Variations
- Spice it up: Add more cayenne pepper or even some red pepper flakes to make it spicer
- Tone it down: Leave out the cayenne pepper completely
- Jazz it up: Use 1/2 tsp coffee grounds to give it more flavor and wake it up a bit!
- Extra flavor: use more cinnamon, or even add some clove or nutmeg.
- Toast it up: toss the spices in a skillet over low-medium heat and toast up until fragrant (should only table a minute or so) this will add tons more flavor if you have the time!
- Make it a marinade: want to turn this dry rub taco seasoning into a marinade in 2 seconds? Simply add some oil to it and pour it over the meat!
Does low-sodium taco seasoning have less flavor?
Low sodium or no sodium, taco seasoning like the one in this recipe does not have less flavor. In fact, since it’s homemade, you don’t have to add all the fillers and anticaking agents and can make up for that by adding more spices to give the seasoning an even bolder flavor.
How to give low sodium taco seasoning more flavor?
To give the dish you’re using low sodium taco seasoning even more flavor, try adding sea salt apart from the taco seasoning, at the very beginning of the cooking process and then finishing with acid at the end.
For example, if you’re making taco meat, salt the ground beef, then add it to the skillet. Brown the beef then add the taco seasoning. Then finish off with a squeeze of lime; the acid in the lime will pull out the flavors in the meat and taco seasoning.
When to add salt during cooking?
You should add salt early in the cooking process rather than at the very end. However, when using taco seasoning, you should add that at the very end. So it’s actually best to keep the salt out of taco seasoning anyway.
Low Sodium Taco Seasoning Serving Suggestions
- Deconstructed Taco Bowls
- Mexican Caviar
- Pumpkin chorizo chili
- Burgers
- Tacos
- Quesadillas
- Fajitas
- Chicken wings
- Carnitas
- Soups (taco soup, tomato soup, etc.)
Low Sodium Taco Seasoning FAQ
You should add about 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning per pound of meat. Most taco seasoning packets come with about 2 tbs of seasoning, but if you make your own, use 2 tbs.
Most taco seasoning packets come with about 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning. So, if you’re making your own taco seasoning, use 2 tablespoons.
You should add about 1 cup of water per every pound of meat after adding your taco seasoning.
You should cook your meat prior to adding taco seasoning. For example, if you’re using ground beef, you should brown the beef, then add taco seasoning and water and continue cooking until its well combined.
Shop This Post
(These affiliate links help to support this blog at no extra cost to you. Your support means the world to me!)
- Thrive Market – 25% off & free gift! (where I get a ton of my ingredients)
- Azure Standard: $25 off your order. Code kyrieluke1
More Healthy Recipes
Honey Jalapeno Chicken tenders
Steak arugula salad with salsa gremolata
Shop my Six Month Meal Plans
Shop for my six month meal plans here. These will help give you a restful dinner-time routine by giving you all your recipes laid out in a weekly meal plan format for 6 months.
Pin it For Later – Low Sodium Taco Seasoning
Print the Low Sodium Taco Seasoning Recipe
Low Sodium Taco Seasoning
Ingredients
Method
- Measure out all the spices into a jar, add the lid and shake to blend.
- Store and use for all recipes that need a Mexican flare.
Video
Notes
How to Store Low Sodium Taco Seasoning
Store homemade low-sodium taco seasoning in an airtight container or bag at room temperature for up to 6 months.Tips for storing low sodium taco seasoning
- This taco seasoning will last longer if you use fresh spices (be sure not to use stale spices).
- Keep away from high moisture areas (like near the stove).
Low Sodium Taco Seasoning Tips
- Quadruple this recipe so you have to make it less often. The base recipe makes 6 tablespoons, so if you quadruple it you’ll be left with 1.5 cups of low sodium taco seasoning which should make about 12 lbs of meat.
- Use the same jar you’re storing the seasoning in to mix it up. Simply put all the spices into a lidded jar, put the lid on the jar then shake up.
- Make sure the spices aren’t stale. Do this by rubbing the spices you’re using between your fingers – if no aroma is released then they have gone stale.
Low Sodium Taco Seasoning Variations
- Spice it up: Add more cayenne pepper or even some red pepper flakes to make it spicer
- Tone it down: Leave out the cayenne pepper completely
- Jazz it up: Use 1/2 tsp coffee grounds to give it more flavor and wake it up a bit!
- Extra flavor: use more cinnamon, or even add some clove or nutmeg.
- Toast it up: toss the spices in a skillet over low-medium heat and toast up until fragrant (should only table a minute or so) this will add tons more flavor if you have the time!
- Make it a marinade: want to turn this dry rub taco seasoning into a marinade in 2 seconds? Simply add some oil to it and pour it over the meat!
About Me
thanks so much for trying out this low-sodium taco seasoning recipe! Let me know what you think below.