Low Sodium Taco Seasoning

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

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

low sodium taco seasoning in a jar tipped over and spilling onto a plate of spices used to make low sodium taco seasoning

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

spices piled up on a white plate showing what to use to make diy 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.

Measuring spoons

Optional tools:

Mason jar

No rust mason jar lid

Recipe Highlights

low sodium taco seasoning with all the spices to make the recipe on a white plate

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.

all the ingredients to make homemade low sodium taco seasoning on a white plate with labels saying what they are

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.

low sodium taco seasoning in a mason jar with more spices in the background

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

a spoon with low sodium taco seasoning on it above a plate with all the spices to make the recipe

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

plate with all the spices for low sodium taco seasoning in piles

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?

low sodium taco seasoning in a jar spilling out over a plate of spices - all of which are used to make the taco seasoning

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 tacos with tortilla chips dipped into them with avocado on the side

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

How much taco seasoning per pound of meat?

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.

How much taco seasoning in a packet?

Most taco seasoning packets come with about 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning. So, if you’re making your own taco seasoning, use 2 tablespoons.

How much water do I add to taco seasoning?

You should add about 1 cup of water per every pound of meat after adding your taco seasoning.

Do you add taco seasoning before or after cooking meat?

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

Ancho aioli

Deconstructed taco bowls

Honey Jalapeno Chicken tenders

Steak arugula salad with salsa gremolata

Shop my Six Month Meal Plans

spring and summer meal plan healthfully rooted home 6 month meal plan

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

Kyrie | Healthfully Rooted Home

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.

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 2

Total Time 2

Course Appetizer, condiment, Main Course

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 6 tbs low sodium taco seasoning

Calories 8 kcal

Ingredients

2 tbs chili powder be sure your chili powder contains no added salt or other nasty ingredients.
1 tbs onion powder
1 tbs cumin
2 tsp smoked paprika
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

Instructions

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