“Going Keto” doesn’t have to mean you giving up your favorites, like spicy Mexican tacos. And while those little seasoning packets are mighty convenient, they’re often not Keto-friendly – so make this tasty homemade Keto taco seasoning to enjoy tacos without breaking ketosis!

Keto diets became and remained uber-popular over the past few years for two simple reasons: they’re relatively easy to stick to, and they work. Although removing most sugar and starch from your diet can be a tough transition at first, Keto allows you to eat high-fat foods that keep you feeling satisfied – a rarity in the diet world! 

What’s in taco seasoning?

You wouldn’t think a simple packet of spices in taco seasoning could sabotage your Keto diet. Still, those packets often contain sugar, cornstarch, or cornmeal, along with some unhealthy MSG and a load of sodium.

Our easy, homemade Keto taco seasoning mix is here to make all your taco dreams come true, even on a low-carb diet. Better yet, it takes just a few minutes or less to stir it up, meaning you don’t need to prepare too much ahead of taco time. 

Below, you’ll learn how to season taco meat and make your own taco seasoning mix, but the biggest carby culprit in most tacos are the tortillas. Look in our FAQs for our favorite Keto-friendly tortilla recipe.

Keto Taco Seasoning

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Servings

6

Prep Time

10 minutes

Ingredients

• ¼ c. chili powder

• 2 Tbsp cumin

• 2 Tbsp smoked paprika

• 2 Tbsp fine sea salt

• 1 Tbsp garlic powder

• 1 Tbsp onion powder

• 2 tsp oregano

• 1/2 tsp cayenne, to taste

Directions

1. Place all spices in a small-sized mixing bowl, including chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, sea salt, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, and cayenne. Use a big spoon to stir until the mixture is well-combined. You can also place all ingredients in a small jar with a few inches of space at the top and shake until combined.

2. Place the Keto-friendly taco seasoning into a jar and seal well. Store the homemade taco seasoning in your spice drawer until your next use!

Keto Taco Seasoning Recipe - FAQ

Is taco seasoning Keto?

While you’d think a simple spice blend would be fine for a Keto diet, most packaged spice blends contain sugars and starch, so they’re not a carb-free taco seasoning. 

How can I make Keto tacos?

Now that you have some low-carb taco seasoning, it’s time to find a good Keto tortilla alternative. 

Most tortillas are all carbs, so traditional corn and wheat flour-based tortillas are out. There are plenty of recipes to make Keto-friendly wraps with alternative, low-carb flours. We’ve included our favorite recipe below. 

If you don’t feel up to making your own Keto wraps, many specialty grocery stores sell low-carb wraps that you can buy instead. You can also make a wrap-less taco salad on a bed of greens that’s super delicious, too. 

Gluten-Free Keto Tortillas

Makes 8 tortillas

Ingredients 

• 96 g almond flour
• 24 g coconut flour
• 2 tsp xanthan gum
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp kosher salt
• 2 tsp raw apple cider vinegar
• 1 whole egg, lightly beaten
• 3 tsp water

Directions

1. Place almond flour, coconut flour, xanthan gum, baking powder, and kosher salt into a food processor. Place the lid on top, then pulse until thoroughly combined. If you don’t have a food processor, mix the ingredients in a large-sized mixing bowl with a hand mixer instead. 
2. Pour in the raw apple cider vinegar while the food processor runs on low. Once it’s mixed well, pour in the beaten egg, then the water. Stop the food processor once the tortilla dough forms into a ball that’s sticky to the touch. 
3. Wrap the tortilla dough in plastic wrap and knead for 1-2 mins. Once kneaded, allow the dough ball to rest for 10 mins or up to 3 days in your fridge. 
4. Heat a large cast-iron skillet on your stovetop over medium heat. Test the heat by dropping a few water droplets into the skillet. The pan is well-heated when the drops “run” through the skillet. If the water evaporates immediately, turn down the heat slightly and wait a few minutes to cool down.
5. Break your tortilla dough into eight 1-inch balls. Roll each tortilla ball out with a rolling pin between two parchment paper sheets or in a tortilla press. 
6. Transfer the pressed dough to the heated skillet and cook for 3-6 secs, then immediately flip with a thin spatula or knife. Cook until the tortilla is lightly golden on each side, 30-40 secs total. If you overcook the tortillas, they will become too firm and split when you try to wrap them. 
7. Place each tortilla in a warm kitchen cloth until serving. Repeat the process until all tortillas cook. 
8. For best results, eat these tortillas immediately with some meat and your homemade taco seasoning. If you aren’t going to eat the Keto tortillas right away, don’t cook them – the dough stays in the fridge for ~ 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. 

How to store your keto taco seasoning

Your Keto-friendly taco seasoning stays well in the cupboard for up to 6 months, depending on the freshness of your spices used in the recipe. The blend is safe to eat for a long time, but the flavors will fade over time. 

You’ll likely have this blend for at least a few taco nights – the spice blend recipe makes enough to season 4 lbs of ground meat. 

Taco seasoning instructions

Now that you have your healthy taco seasoning ready to go, here’s how to mix it in and perfectly flavor your taco meat or filling of choice.

First, brown your chicken, turkey, or beef and drain any extra grease from the pan. Then, simply add 3 Tbsp of our Keto-friendly taco seasoning along with 2 Tbsp of water into the pan. Stir until the mixture fully coats the meat, simmer until the excess liquid evaporates, and serve up your delicious taco wraps in a taco holder. 

Can I make this seasoning spicier?

Our easy, homemade taco seasoning contains a little heat, but you can make it pack a lot more of a punch with a few simple adjustments. Try upping the cayenne to 1 full tsp, or swap the cayenne altogether for spicier chipotle powder, which adds some extra heat and smoky flavor.

If you aren’t a fan of any heat, omit the cayenne powder from your blend to tone down the spice.

Can I cut down the salt?

We added a decent dose of salt to our keto taco seasoning recipe, but you by no means need to include it if you’re trying to cut down your salt intake. Cut the salt measurement in half, or add none if you prefer to salt each dish to taste.

Be mindful that you’ll notice more of the spices' natural bitterness as you lower the salt content. 

Final Notes: Enjoy Your Keto Taco Seasoning Without the Tacos

While it tastes great in tacos, our low-carb taco seasoning recipe is so much more than that!

Try adding the spice blend to stuffed bell peppers, chicken fajitas, meatballs, or even baked chicken breasts.

We hope you enjoy finding plenty of ways to experiment with this Keto-friendly blend that makes flavorful cooking on a diet simple!

Enjoyed this recipe? Check out our recipe for keto tacos and gluten-free taco seasoning!