Clean Taco Seasoning (Real Food, Paleo, Whole30, Vegan)

Taco seasoning is literally the opposite of authentic Mexican food but what can I say? My kids like it. Mind you, they would not come near standard fast food with taco seasoning flavors, nor can they stomach the smell of a store-bought taco seasoning packet. But this? This they like!

A quick look at the label of a readily available brand of taco seasoning surprised me due to its fairly decent ingredients:

McCormick Taco Seasoning ingredients include:

Spices (including chile pepper, cumin, paprika, onion), onion, whey (milk), salt, garlic, sugar, potato starch. and natural flavor

Due to a dairy allergy, I stay away from foods that contain whey or other by-products and as a general rule of thumb, we stay away from added sugars. Natural flavor can mean a host of things but again, I stay away because I don't know what it is!

Other brands, such as Ortega , contain huge no-no's, such as maltodextrin, modified corn starch, and autolyzed yeast extract. As far as I know, no one actually cooks with maltodextrin and autolyzed yeast extract, so no one should actually eat it!

This recipe is easily doubled or tripled and it will happily wait in your pantry until you are ready to whip up a taco beef omelette (topped with guacamole - yum!) or taco salad. My kids enjoy beef seasoned this way, served over salad greens with my ranch dressing recipe, chopped olives, scallions and tomatoes. And, guacamole. Lots and lots of it, please.

A shredded grass-fed cheddar goes well here, if your family tolerates it!

Clean Taco Seasoning

2 tablespoons ground California chile pepper
2 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons granulated garlic
1 tablespoon sea salt
1 tablespoon granulated onion
1/2 tablespoon ground cumin
1/2 tablespoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cayenne
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flake (optional)

Mix all of the ingredients in a glass mason jar fitted with a lid. Shake well each time before use.

To use: Add 2 tablespoons to a pound of ground meat that is nearly browned all the way through. Add a few tablespoons of water if the mixture looks dry.

Taste the beef before serving and adjust seasonings with additional salt, if needed, or crushed red pepper flake for a little extra kick.

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