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    Home » Recipes » Dinner

    Gluten-Free Taco Seasoning For Kids

    Published: Mar 25, 2021 · Modified: Jan 12, 2022 by Kristi · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This homemade gluten free taco seasoning for kids has the traditional and addictive taco flavors that kids love without much spice. It's so versatile and your kids will love it!

    Taco Seasoning in a glass container with a measuring spoon

    Whether you have a child that has to follow a gluten free diet (per a doctor's instruction) or not, this taco seasoning is for you!

    Make this homemade gluten-free taco seasoning mix once and you will have 'Taco Tuesday' set for weeks! It's our favorite!

    Jump to:
    • Why This Recipe is so Great
    • Dietitian Tips
    • Ingredient Notes
    • Steps To Make This Incredible Taco Seasoning
    • Expert Tips
    • What to Make Using This Taco Seasoning
    • More Tex-Mex Inspired Recipes
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Gluten-Free Taco Seasoning For Kids

    Why This Recipe is so Great

    • This is the best 'do it yourself' taco seasoning mix recipe. In fact, it's easy enough that your kids can measure out the ingredients and make this seasoning themselves!
    • No added sugar, unlike many store-bought taco seasonings.
    • Easy gluten-free recipe.
    • Dairy-free.
    • This is made with traditional taco flavors that kids like: garlic powder, chili powder, and cumin.
    • Made using Tajin which gives the flavor a slight tropical twist.
    • Tajin's FAQ page states that their products "do not contain gluten. In fact, TAJIN® meets FDA regulations for 'gluten free' products." For more information on the FDA's regulation of 'Gluten-Free" claims, please refer to their website.
    • For kids who like spice, red pepper flakes can be added to give this taco seasoning some heat.

    Dietitian Tips

    Many kids dislike foods that are heavily seasoned. If you can relate to this, either remove a portion of the cooked meat before you add the seasoning and set it aside for whoever really dislikes seasoned meat or just use a very small amount of seasoning. You can always serve hot sauce as a side for those who like more seasoning.

    Save time and money: this homemade taco seasoning makes a perfect gift for teachers, family, and friends. Simply layer all of the ingredients in a small glass jar (similar to what you see in the image in the step-by-step section of this recipe) and put a small, personalized label on it telling them what it is with a few ideas of how they can use it.

    Ingredient Notes

    • Tajin A delicious tropical spice made from ground chili peppers, sea salt, and dehydrated lime juice. I was first introduced to this in Costa Rica and can now find it in Aldi!
    • Chili Powder For traditional taco flavor.
    • Garlic Powder Because garlic makes everything taste better, ha!
    • Paprika A brightly colored (red) spice. This recipe calls for regular paprika but for a more smokey flavor, try using smoked paprika instead.
    • Dried Oregano A versatile herb that adds nice flavor to a variety of dishes (including Tex-Mex and Italian).
    • Cumin Some refer to cumin as a spice while others call it an herb. Call it what you want, haha!
    • Salt Use either sea salt or iodized table salt. Sea salt contains more minerals than table salt, but offers the same amount of sodium. For more information on the differences between sea salt and table salt, check out this article from the Cleveland Clinic website.
    Tajin
    My pick for adding a twist to traditional taco seasoning.
    SHOP NOW

    Photo Credit: amazon.com

    Image of Tajin taken from amazon.com.

    Steps To Make This Incredible Taco Seasoning

    Six spices and pink sea salt layered in a small glass jar.

    Here’s a quick overview of the steps to make this easy taco seasoning. For the full list of ingredients and instructions, scroll down to the recipe

    1. Measure all ingredients and put them in a small jar or other airtight container. Mix them up and store in a cool dry cabinet. That's it!

    Expert Tips

    • If your kids don't like foods that are heavily seasoned, start by using just a small amount. Get their feedback and adjust as needed the next time you make it.
    • Tajin is becoming more popular and easier to find in grocery stores. Aldi even carries it.
    • If you don't have Tajin, you can substitute an equal amount of chili powder.
    • For the kiddos who need to follow a strict gluten free diet (as guided by a doctor), be sure to purchase spices that do not contain gluten. Check the product label to be safe. If the "gluten-free" claim is not on a label, you may need to check the company website or call customer service to verify. For more information, check out this article written by a dietitian, Are Spices Safe for a Gluten-Free Diet. Cross contamination is real, so don't be afraid to ask questions.

    What to Make Using This Taco Seasoning

    We are a huge taco family! Here are some ideas for meals that you can make using this taco seasoning blend in 30 minutes or less!

    • Tacos Of course! Taco meat can be made with lean ground beef or turkey, textured vegetable protein, a mixture of lentils and walnuts, or black beans and sweet potatoes. Chicken tacos and fish tacos are always a big hit, too! Get creative!
    • Taco Salad My kids love taking all of their favorite taco ingredients and turning it into a delicious salad! Often times there is enough flavor and moisture added from the toppings that you don't need a dressing.
    • Chicken fajitas Typically made with roasted bell pepper, onion, garlic, and lime. You can make these sheet pan style or cook the chicken separate from the vegetables.
    • Nachos Made with tortilla chips and cheese as the base. Can add black beans or chicken and a sprinkle of taco seasoning to change it up.
    • Homemade tortilla chips You can dust just a little bit of this taco seasoning on to corn tortillas and air fry them to make flavorful tortilla chips.

    More Tex-Mex Inspired Recipes

    • Easy Rice and Beans Recipe
    • Incredible 4 Ingredient Guacamole Recipe
    • Tortilla Chips (Air Fryer) For Kids
    • Salsa Verde Chicken Enchilada Bake

    Did your kids love this incredible taco seasoning? Please leave a 5-star rating below or a review in the comments section!

    Don't forget to snap a pic of their taco or burrito bowl and tag @carrots.and.cookies on Instagram so I can see it. Enjoy!

    Recipe FAQs

    Can you use taco seasoning in place of fajita seasoning?

    Absolutely. The only difference that I am aware of is that fajita seasoning usually contains onion powder. If you are using onions in your recipe, you likely won't be able to tell the difference. If this concerns you, simply, sprinkle a small amount of onion powder in when you add this taco seasoning when making fajitas.

    How much taco seasoning should I add for tacos?

    The first time you make your own taco meat, I suggest adding 1-2 tablespoons of taco seasoning per pound of meat or meat substitute. The amount you add will depend on how much your kids like seasoned food. For kids just getting used to seasoned meat, start by adding less taco seasoning and adjust according to your family's preference the next time you make it.

    How do I store this taco seasoning?

    Store taco seasoning in an airtight container. You can reuse a small used jelly jar that has been washed or buy a small mason jar with a lid to store it in.

    Up close image of taco seasoning in a small glass container being scooped up using a tablespoon.

    Gluten-Free Taco Seasoning For Kids

    Kristi
    Taco meat has never tasted so good! This homemade gluten-free taco seasoning is super easy to make and is an absolute kid favorite! This seasoning offers the traditional taco flavors with the added twist with Tajin.
    5 from 8 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Total Time 5 mins
    Course Recipes
    Cuisine Tex-Mex
    Servings 5 servings
    Calories 18 kcal

    Equipment

    • measuring spoons
    • 1 mason jar

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 tablespoon Tajin
    • 3 tablespoon chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • 1 teaspoon oregano
    • 1 teaspoon cumin

    Instructions
     

    • Mix all ingredients together in a small jar.
    • Store in an airtight container.

    Notes

    The number of servings this makes will depend on how 'seasoned' your kids like their food.
    I'd suggest adding 1-2 tablespoons per pound of meat. I usually use 1.5 tablespoons when cooking up a pound of meat mixed with a can of black beans.
    The amount of sodium per serving will seem high but keep in mind that one serving (two tablespoons) can be used to season one pound of taco meat. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 18kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 1001mgPotassium: 112mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 1463IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 25mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jackie

      September 15, 2022 at 2:26 pm

      5 stars
      love this taco seasoning! the tajin makes it!

      Reply
      • Kristi

        September 16, 2022 at 2:23 pm

        100% Tajin for the win!

        Reply
    2. Leigh

      October 20, 2021 at 9:28 pm

      5 stars
      Tajin adds such a nice twist-my kids loved it!!

      Reply
      • Kristi

        December 01, 2021 at 7:57 pm

        I'm so glad! My son has been adding Tajin to everything lately, haha!

        Reply
    3. M

      August 19, 2021 at 7:41 pm

      5 stars
      so easy and delicious!!

      Reply
      • Kristi

        September 06, 2021 at 12:17 am

        Yay!

        Reply

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    Kristi Ruth wearing a green long sleeved blouse and jeans, holding tri-colored carrots plated on a white oval platter with one hand and leaning on the counter with the other hand in a kitchen.
    Welcome! Kristi is a Registered Dietitian and busy mom of three, ages 7-15. After being displaced from a housefire in 2021, Kristi decided to say 'goodbye' to her long commute so she could turn her passion for sharing easy recipes and tips to help you learn what it means to feed your family well with less stress into a reality. Let's get cooking!

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