How to Make Gluten Free Taco Seasoning

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Making your own gluten free taco seasoning at home is as easy as combining a few staple spices you likely already have in your pantry. Ditch the packets and have your own on hand at all times!

This Gluten Free Taco Seasoning Recipe is a game changer

While I spend a lot of time baking up cakes, cookies, and brownies, savory food has my heart, especially anything involving chips, cheese, and a little spice. As someone who lives in an allergy-conscious household, I’m always looking for ways to make our favorite meals safer, simpler, and just as flavorful without relying on store-bought blends that can include mystery ingredients or cross-contamination risks.

That’s exactly why I created this easy, gluten-free taco seasoning recipe. It’s been a pantry staple in our home for years, and once I shared it in my recipe collection, I quickly realized many of you felt the same way. I’ve heard from so many readers who’ve ditched the pre-made packets in favor of this homemade version and haven’t looked back.

This “recipe” is more of a practical kitchen hack: just a handful of everyday spices you probably already have on hand, mixed together in the right ratios so you always have a flavorful, allergy-friendly taco seasoning ready to go. No hidden gluten, no unnecessary additives, just bold, balanced flavor you can trust.

I originally developed this recipe as part of my baked taco casserole (still one of our go-to dinners), and it’s continued to earn its spot in our weekly rotation. Whether you’re working around dietary restrictions or just want to skip the grocery store run, this homemade taco seasoning is the kind of everyday recipe that makes home cooking easier, and safer, for everyone at the table.

Is taco seasoning gluten free?

So this is a great question. Not all brands have gluten, but many do. Other common ingredients are oils, anti-caking agents, sugar, and other preservatives.

And yes, even sometimes milk products (so this “recipe” can also be classified as dairy free taco seasoning).

Pre-made food can be really great, but it can often be a place for “sneaky ingredients” that would surprise you.

There are absolutely gluten free taco seasoning brands, but making your own and keeping it in a cool dry place in your spice cabinet is so handy for so many reasons.

And my favorite part about this stuff is that I can use it on a meal-to-meal basis.

We are big on making a lots of meat at the beginning of the week and having it on hand for salads, to put in a wrap, to eat with eggs/rice/veggies, and we frequently season the meat with just salt and pepper and we flavor the meat with spices as we see fit for our tastes that day.

That’s where this homemade taco seasoning comes in super handy!

Not only can you use this seasoning like you would a typical taco seasoning packet when you’re browning a large skillet of meat for taco night, but you can also use it on a much smaller scale.

When I was still working outside of the home, I liked to make a big salad with all sorts of veggies, cheese, and salsa. I’d bring along a small container of meat sprinkled with 2-3 teaspoons of homemade taco seasoning and a little water to help soak it all into the meat.

Chicken, beef, turkey– you name it– it can be seasoned with a little sprinkle of the homemade stuff. Heat that up, toss it onto your salad, and in no time, you’ve got yourself a taco salad!

Crushed tortilla chips (or even better– DORITOS) optional, but of course, highly recommended!

What you’ll need to make Gluten Free Taco Seasoning

This recipe only uses 9 spices that you probably have in your pantry right now.

You’ll need:
• chili powder
• ground cumin
• sea salt
• black pepper
• garlic powder
• onion powder
• paprika
• red pepper flakes
• dried oregano

That’s it.

Gluten-Free Taco Seasoning variations

And of course, you can (and should!) adjust the seasoning amounts to fit your tastes (side note: this is not too spicy at all, so if you really like heat, turn up the volume on the red pepper flakes).

How to use Taco Seasoning (Gluten Free)

Then you brown your meat, add the seasoning, a little water, and allow it to simmer on low for a few minutes. Tadaaaaa!

Use this taco seasoning substitution whenever you make tacos next, or use it in my beloved baked taco casserole. No matter how you choose to use it, I think you’ll be impressed enough to keep your own stash available at all times.

So there you go, friend… Get to browning your favorite taco meat! Because tacos (or something like it, like taco zucchini boats!) is what’s for dinner tonight.