Gluten Free Copycat Old El Paso Taco Seasoning Recipe
Creating a Gluten Free Copycat Old El Paso Taco seasoning can help to include everyone in the taco night fun even those sensitive to gluten.
This seasoning creates my favorite taco filling with Mexican-inspired flavors using simple spices you have in your cupboard!
Not only does this DIY taco seasoning allow you to customize the spice blend amounts to match your taste preferences, but it also enables you to control the ingredients.
When you purchase a pre-made taco seasoning from the grocery store, you have to deal with additives and possible gluten contamination.
It saves you money buying spices in bulk and making your own, plus fresh offers bold flavor that a packet sitting on a store shelf for who knows how long cannot offer.
It is so versatile that you can use this seasoning to add a delicious kick to meats, soups, dips, nachos and other Mexican dishes!
Keep reading as I walk you through making your own spice blend in a few easy steps plus give you tips, substitutions and answer frequently asked questions.
Why make your own taco seasoning anyway when you can buy it?
Old El Paso, a renowned name in Tex-Mex flavor, has crafted a signature taco seasoning mix that has graced kitchen shelves for generations.
It is a spice blend that contains the perfect blend of spices like chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, paprika, but unfortunately contains preservatives and usually tons of salt.
This is directly from the Old El Paso website concerning the ingredients of the seasoning packet as well as their disclaimer for general informational purposes.
“Disclaimer: From time to time, reformulations of products may alter nutrient value, ingredients and/or allergens. Maintaining on-line information accuracy at all times can be difficult. In the event of a conflict between the data that is shown on this site and that which is on the package, the data on the package should be the primary resource for accurate and up to date data for the product in the package.”
And here are the ingredients from the packet of the Original Old El Paso Taco Seasoning: Corn Starch, Chili Pepper, Maltodextrin, Salt, Spice, Onion Powder. Contains 2% or less of: Vegetable Oil (high oleic canola oil and/or soybean oil), Silicon Dioxide (anticaking agent), Natural Flavor, Modified Corn Starch.
Creating your own homemade Old El Paso taco seasoning not only ensures the freshest and boldest flavors but also allows you peace of mind knowing it does not contain any hidden gluten containing ingredients or or ingredients that have gone through genetic engineering.
You can also control the sodium content, omit certain ingredients like natural flavor, silicon dioxide, citric acid, bioengineered food ingredients, and maltodextrin.
It gives you an opportunity to also experiment with organic or homegrown spices for an added touch of freshness, plus add more or less heat with chili pepper or cayenne pepper according to your taste preference.
Ingredients you need for your own Gluten Free Copycat Old El Paso Taco Seasoning
- Chili powder
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Ground cumin
- Sweet Paprika
- Black pepper
- Sea salt (or kosher salt)
- Monk fruit Sweetener or other Granulated Sweetener
- Tapioca Starch or Corn starch (for thickening, if desired)
- Mason Jar with an airtight lid, or airtight container
Let’s make our own DIY Taco Seasoning for the best taco meat
To create a batch of homemade Old El Paso copycat taco seasoning, gather these common yet essential spices and seasonings.
Mixing these ingredients in precise proportions results in a spice blend that mirrors the authentic taste of Old El Paso’s seasoning.
Ensure you have all the spices and seasonings at hand along with some measuring spoons.
Get your airtight jar you will be storing your seasoning in and measure right into it.
This I found is the easiest way to reduce extra dishes and also reduce a mess.
Start at the top of the list and measure each ingredient into the jar in order.
This is the best way to ensure you do not miss an ingredient when you follow it from the top to the bottom.
Tapioca starch or Corn starch is optional and you CAN make tasty taco meat without it, but like the Old El Paso Original Taco Seasoning Mix, it helps make it thicken up.
If you want to avoid starches altogether, you will just need to simmer the meat longer to get the thickened taco meat you are used to.
Once you have everything measured into your jar, put the lid on and shake well.
You can alternatively stir it with a spoon, but I find shaking it easier and more fun!
Now you can use it to make your favorite taco meat!
Let’s make some seasoned taco meat with our homemade seasoning
In a large 10-inch skillet, brown and crumble 1 pound of ground meat with some vegetable oil like avocado oil.
Beef, turkey, chicken or pork will work here.
You can also opt to use shredded meat, or meat that has been cut into slices.
After it is browned, add in 2 tablespoons of your Gluten Free Copycat Old El Paso Taco Seasoning and 1/2 cup water.
Stir everything well and let it simmer for 5-10 minutes.
It will naturally thicken up with the simmering.
If you find it is too thick, simply add up to an additional 1/2 cup water or broth that matches the meat you used.
Spoon beef or chosen seasoned meat into tasty soft tortillas, or a variety of crispy hard taco shells available.
It is best to warm up the tortillas or heat taco shells in a warm oven for best taste.
I love to make my own from A LA MADRE Low Carb tortillas to avoid excess carbs and gluten.
There are endless options you have available to use this seasoning in any type of Mexican food recipe.
If you want to make extra taco meat for quick dinners and lunches throughout the week, follow The Best Guide for Reheating Leftover Taco Meat I created just for this purpose!
Tips, Substitutions, and FAQs
- If you do not want to use the starch suggested, just leave it out and simmer your meat for longer until it has thickened.
- Check out my recipe for my Low Carb Mexican Chicken Casserole where you can use this seasoning in place of the ones called for. You can also replace the chicken in the recipe with ground beef if you want!
- The sweetener used in the recipe is monk fruit sweetener. It is a sugar free alternative that provides a bit of sweetness to counter balance the heat in the spices and adds 0 total sugars to the recipe. If you want to use regular sugar or coconut sugar you can. The amount called for, 1/4 tsp serving, is such a trivial amount of sugar that it will not impact your blood sugar. You can also just leave it out if you want, but it does add a secret ingredient level of flavor though.
- If you need to make this salt free, you can. The homemade version does contain considerably less sodium than the store bought ones, but it can be omitted if you have to. This recipe as written contains 240 mg sodium for 2 tablespoons.
- Skip buying the Old El Paso Taco Bake Kit next time and make your own! You need an 8×8 pan, 1 lb ground meat, 6 tortillas, one recipe of my Gluten Free Copycat Old El Paso Taco Seasoning, and about 2 cups of shredded cheese. Make the taco meat as I did here in my post on How to Reheat Taco Meat, then layer it on your baking dish with the tortillas and cheese. Start with the tortilla, then meat, then cheese, repeat ending on cheese. Cover with foil and bake at 350F for 20 minutes.
Why opt for homemade taco seasoning over store-bought ones like Old El Paso?
Homemade seasoning empowers you to control the ingredients, omit additives like silicon dioxide, and cater to specific dietary needs, including lower sodium content or organic ingredients.
Can this spice blend be adjusted to reduce sodium levels?
Absolutely! Adjusting salt to half of the amount called for or using a salt alternative like potassium magnesium chloride instead can significantly reduce sodium levels.
What are the benefits of making your own Old El Paso copycat seasoning?
The benefits include customization to personal taste preferences, avoiding unnecessary additives or allergens, and creating a fresher blend with higher nutrient value. You know that making fresh spice blends will far exceed the packets since your spices have not sat on a shelf for a long time.
How much homemade seasoning should I use per pound of meat for taco preparation?
Generally, 2-3 tablespoons of seasoning mix per pound of ground beef or chicken should suffice. Brown the meat first, then add in the seasoning then 1/2-1 cup water.
How can I store the homemade taco seasoning to maintain its freshness?
Store your spice mix in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 months. I prefer using a mason jar with an airtight lid stored in a dark cupboard as sunlight will decrease the flavors of spices.
What if I want to make it vegetarian and not use ground meat, will it still work?
Yes, it will still work. Follow the instructions on the amount of “meat” or “filler” you need and add the seasoning accordingly. For example, 1 (15oz) can of drained and rinsed black beans can take the place of 1/2 lb of ground meat. Add in chopped veggies and mushrooms to add bulk into the meat replacement. Use as you would ground meat in casseroles, sub in tacos whether soft or hard as well as nachos.
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Serving size: 2 Tablespoons | |
| Servings: 2 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 36 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 0g | 0% |
| Saturated Fat 0g | 0% |
| Cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
| Sodium 240mg | 10% |
| Total Carbohydrate 9.7g | 4% |
| Dietary Fiber 0.2g | 1% |
| Total Sugars 0g | |
| Protein 0g | |
| Vitamin D 0mcg | 0% |
| Calcium 6mg | 0% |
| Iron 0mg | 2% |
| Potassium 6mg | 0% |
From crunchy hard taco shells to soft tortillas or the seasoning in your favorite Mexican dish, the versatility of this seasoning blend makes Taco Tuesday or any Mexican food night an enjoyable and flavorful event for family and friends.
This DIY spice mix unlocks new traditions and delicious recipes while providing a healthier, more natural alternative to store-bought options.
As always, remember to tweak the spice proportions based on your taste preferences to make taco night a celebration of flavorful seasonings and great-tasting taco spices.
Gluten Free Copycat Old El Paso Taco Seasoning Recipe
Equipment
- Small Jar with an airtight lid
- small bowl
- Small Whisk or spoon
Ingredients
- 1 tsp Chili powder
- 1 tsp Garlic powder
- 1 tsp Onion powder
- 1 tsp Ground cumin
- 1 tsp Sweet Paprika
- 1/4 tsp Black pepper
- 1 tsp Sea salt or kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp Ground Oregano
- 1/4 tsp Monk fruit Sweetener or other Granulated Sweetener
- 2 Tbsp Tapioca Starch or Corn starch for thickening, if desired
Instructions
- Ensure you have all the spices and seasonings at hand along with some measuring spoons.1 tsp Chili powder, 1 tsp Garlic powder, 1 tsp Onion powder, 1 tsp Ground cumin, 1 tsp Sweet Paprika, 1/4 tsp Black pepper, 1 tsp Sea salt, 1/2 tsp Ground Oregano, 1/4 tsp Monk fruit Sweetener or other Granulated Sweetener, 2 Tbsp Tapioca Starch or Corn starch
- Get your airtight jar you will be storing your seasoning in and measure right into it.
- You can alternatively whisk it up in a small bowl then add to the jar or container.
- Start at the top of the list and measure each ingredient into the jar in order.
- This is the best way to ensure you do not miss an ingredient when you follow it from the top to the bottom.
- Tapioca starch or Corn starch is optional and you CAN make tasty taco meat without it, but like the Old El Paso Original Taco Seasoning Mix, it helps make it thicken up.
- If you want to avoid starches altogether, you will just need to simmer the meat longer to get the thickened taco meat you are used to.
- Once you have everything measured into your jar, put the lid on and shake well. You can alternatively stir it with a spoon, but I find shaking it easier and more fun!
Notes
- If you do not want to use the starch suggested, just leave it out and simmer your meat for longer until it has thickened.
- Check out my recipe for my Low Carb Mexican Chicken Casserole where you can use this seasoning in place of the ones called for. You can also replace the chicken in the recipe with ground beef if you want!
- The sweetener used in the recipe is monk fruit sweetener. It is a sugar free alternative that provides a bit of sweetness to counter balance the heat in the spices and adds 0 total sugars to the recipe. If you want to use regular sugar or coconut sugar you can. The amount called for, 1/4 tsp serving, is such a trivial amount of sugar that it will not impact your blood sugar. You can also just leave it out if you want, but it does add a secret ingredient level of flavor though.
- If you need to make this salt free, you can. The homemade version does contain considerably less sodium than the store bought ones, but it can be omitted if you have to. This recipe as written contains 240 mg sodium for 2 tablespoons.
- Skip buying the Old El Paso Taco Bake Kit next time and make your own! You need an 8×8 pan, 1 lb ground meat, 6 tortillas, one recipe of my Gluten Free Copycat Old El Paso Taco Seasoning, and about 2 cups of shredded cheese. Make the taco meat as I did here in my post on How to Reheat Taco Meat, then layer it on your baking dish with the tortillas and cheese. Start with the tortilla, then meat, then cheese, repeat ending on cheese. Cover with foil and bake at 350F for 20 minutes.
Nutrition
Whether you’re a seasoned cook or just starting, the joy of making your own taco seasoning mix and indulging in delightful gluten free tacos is unparalleled.
You will be assured that your Mexican dishes will not be laced with hidden gluten when you make your own Gluten Free Copycat Old El Paso Taco Seasoning!
Don’t forget to PIN the printable recipe card with full instructions to your Pinterest board or print out the complete recipe card.
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Check out these other low carb recipes you can use your seasoning in
Low Carb Mexican Chicken Casserole
Use this Gluten Free Copycat Old El Paso Taco Seasoning as the seasoning called for in this recipe. It will give it a great flair beyond the simple spices called for.
Easy Gluten Free Low Carb Tortilla Pizza Recipe
Turn a tortilla into a taco pizza when you spread some salsa, then taco meat, then cheese. Bake in the oven as directed in the pizza instructions.
Gluten Free Cheesy Green Chile Chicken Skillet
Use this seasoning in place of the spices called for in the recipe. Having the additional spices in it will add so much flavor!
2 responses to “Gluten Free Copycat Old El Paso Taco Seasoning Recipe”
Ooo, love making my own spice blends to avoid unnecessary additives. Thanks for the great recipe!
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