Taco Seasoning

Everyone in my house loves taco night. We eat tacos often and used to always make them with Old El Paso taco seasoning, without even considering it could be bad for us. Once I started reading labels, I realized the first ingredient in Old El Paso Taco Seasoning is maltodextrin, meaning there is more of this in the product than any other ingredient. Maltodextrin along with modified cornstarch, dextrose and corn oil are corn products and should be avoided, as they are all ingredients derived from corn. The percentage of genetically modified corn is just far too high — more than 85% of the corn now consumed in the U.S. is genetically engineered. The corn grows its own pesticide within the kernels so that insects won’t eat it.

Here is the ingredient list for Old El Paso Original Taco Seasoning versus the ingredients in homemade taco seasoning:

Maltodextrin, salt, chili pepper, onion powder, spice, monosodium glutamate, corn starch, yellow corn flour, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, silicon dioxide (anticaking agent), natural flavor, ethoxquin (preservative) vs. Chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, crushed red pepper flakes, oregano, paprika, cumin, salt, pepper.

The last ingredient, ethoxquin, is used as a pesticide!

I didn’t tell anyone that this was homemade and no one knew the difference. I tried a few different recipes and I feel this one has the most authentic taste. You can double, triple or quadruple this recipe and save for later use. It takes less than 5 minutes to make.

We ate our tacos with bibb lettuce as the shell and topped them with organic tomatoes, avocados and organic jalapeños (jarred). My son made a salad out of his because he thought eating the lettuce as a shell was too messy. If you prefer a traditional taco shell, Garden of Eatin’ Taco Shells are a good choice because they are organic and non-GMO. Again, taco shells are a corn product, thus it is very important to purchase these organic. If they are organic, they are non-GMO.

Taco Seasoning

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

See Detailed Nutrition Info on

Taco Seasoning

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Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  1. Brown ground beef (preferably grassfed, organic)
  2. Drain the fat.
  3. Add 3 tbsp of seasoning per pound of meat.
  4. Add 2/3 cup of water and combine.
  5. Let simmer for approximately 5 minutes.

Notes:

If you prefer a non-spicy seasoning, you can omit or half the red pepper flakes. Recipe courtesy of Allrecipes.com. You can double, triple or quadruple this recipe and save for later use. It takes less than 5 minutes to make.

1 tablespoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon black pepper

1. Brown ground beef (preferably grassfed, organic)
2. Drain the fat.
3. Add 3 tbsp of seasoning per pound of meat.
4. Add  2/3 cup of water and combine.
5, Let simmer for approximately 5 minutes.

Note: if you prefer a non-spicy seasoning, you can omit or half the red pepper flakes.

Taco Seasoning

~ “You don’t have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces – just good food from fresh ingredients.” – Julia Child

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