For years, a delicious homemade taco sauce has been a staple in my house. It’s incredibly easy to make and tastes far superior to any store-bought taco sauce I've ever tried. This article provides a comprehensive guide to making your own keto-friendly taco sauce, complete with variations, tips, and serving suggestions.
Why Make Your Own Keto Taco Sauce?
There are several compelling reasons to ditch the store-bought stuff and make your own taco sauce:
- Healthier Ingredients: Commercial taco sauces often contain unnecessary additives, chemicals, and excessive amounts of sugar. Making your own allows you to control every ingredient and ensure a healthier, more natural product.
- Customizable Flavor: Adjust the spice level, sweetness, and overall flavor profile to perfectly match your preferences. Whether you like it mild, hot, sweet, or smoky, the choice is yours.
- Cost-Effective: Making your own taco sauce can be significantly cheaper than buying pre-made versions, especially if you use ingredients you already have on hand.
- Keto-Friendly: Many store-bought taco sauces are loaded with sugar and carbohydrates. This recipe is specifically designed to be low-carb, keto, and sugar-free, making it a perfect addition to your ketogenic diet.
The Ultimate Keto Taco Sauce Recipe
This recipe takes only about 15 minutes to prepare and yields a flavorful taco sauce that's perfect for a variety of dishes.
Ingredients
- 1 cup tomato sauce - passata (240 ml/ 8.1 fl oz)
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar (30 ml/ 1 fl oz)
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 1/2 cup water (120 ml/ 4 fl oz)
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder or 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp Mexican chile powder (ancho for mild, chipotle for hot)
- 1 tsp sweet or smoked paprika
- 2 to 3 tsp Erythritol or Swerve or 3 to 6 drops of stevia
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp sea salt, or to taste
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: Place all of the ingredients in a saucepan.
- Simmer: Bring to a boil and cook on medium-low for 7 to 10 minutes until reduced and thickened slightly. If too thick, add a dash of water.
- Cool and Store: Store in the fridge in a sealed jar for up to a week.
Storage Instructions
This taco sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for one to two weeks, provided it is kept sealed. For longer storage, spoon it into an ice tray and freeze. Once frozen, pop the cubes out of the ice tray and store in a freezer bag for up to 6 months. Add to meals while cooking (no need to defrost).
Tips and Variations
- Spice Level: Depending on the desired heat, you can use any ancho chile powder for mild, or spicy chipotle or arbol chile powder for hot.
- Sweetener-Free: You can easily make it sweetener-free if you prefer to avoid all sweeteners. It will be just as delicious! Replace the sugar with Granular Swerve, monk fruit, coconut sugar, or another sweetener replacement you like.
- Thickening: If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can add a pinch of xanthan gum. Very gradually sprinkle the xanthan gum over the sauce and briskly whisk in.
- Flavor Enhancement: For a richer flavor, consider adding a small amount of tomato paste or a dash of liquid smoke.
- Fresh Ingredients: While the recipe calls for dried spices, feel free to use fresh garlic and onions for a more vibrant flavor. Just be sure to mince them finely before adding them to the saucepan.
Serving Suggestions
This keto taco sauce is incredibly versatile and can be used in a wide variety of dishes. Here are just a few ideas:
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
- Tacos: Of course! This sauce is perfect for traditional tacos with your favorite fillings. For a low-carb option, replace the traditional corn shells with shells made of cheese. For this low-carb recipe, the traditional corn shells are replaced with shells made of cheese - and that alone makes your taco Tuesday special and unique.
- Taco Bowls: Create a deconstructed taco by serving your favorite taco fillings in a bowl with a generous dollop of taco sauce. Another recipe featuring my homemade taco sauce is a Mexican-style Ground Beef Taco Bowl, the perfect example of how you can combine various proteins such as ground beef, chicken or pork cooked in taco sauce and served with a simple tomato salsa and sliced avocado. Keto dinner served in just 20 minutes!
- Taco Salads: Add a zesty kick to your taco salads with this homemade sauce.
- Eggs: Spice up your scrambled eggs or omelets with a spoonful of taco sauce.
- Meat Pies: The taco sauce takes no more than 15 minutes to make - and then you are only four ingredients and 30 minutes away from amazing keto meat pies for a packable lunch or keto dinner option.
- Burritos: Use it as a flavor enhancer for frozen burritos.
Keto Tacos (Mini Taco Bowls) Recipe
These Keto Tacos (Mini Taco Bowls) are a great go-to for those who want to forgo the carbs but still enjoy a dish with tons of flavor.
Ingredients
- Lean ground beef
- Smoked paprika
- Garlic powder
- Dried cilantro flakes
- Sea salt
- Black pepper
- Onion powder
- Pico de Gallo
- Sriracha
- White sharp cheddar cheese
- Avocado
- Sour cream
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
- Cover a large baking sheet (paid link) with parchment paper.
- Add 1/4 cup mounds of shredded white sharp cheddar cheese on the parchment paper making sure the mounds are a few inches apart from one another.
- Bake for 5 minutes, then allow the melted cheese mounds to cool for 30-45 seconds.
- While the cheese is cooling, spray the back of a muffin tin with oil or butter, then carefully place the melted cheese over the muffin tin cups using a flat spatula (paid link).
- Allow to sit and set for 10 to 12 minutes.
- Add ground beef, smoked paprika, garlic powder, dried cilantro flakes, sea salt, black pepper, and onion powder to a pan on medium heat.
- Cook beef until slightly browned then add pico de gallo and sriracha stirring until combined.
- In a small bowl, slice open the avocado, remove the seed, then scoop the insides of the avocado into a bowl.
- Add sour cream, cilantro flakes, black pepper, and salt.
Other Tex-Mex Favorites
Looking for other Tex-Mex favorites? You’ll love my Crispy Fish Tacos with Grilled Corn Salsa, Mexican Taco Pizza, Grilled Fish Tacos With Mango Salsa & Avocado Cream, and Braised Beef Short Rib Quesadillas.This light but hearty taco dinner can be enjoyed simply or topped with options like Pico de Gallo, sriracha sauce, and Monterey jack cheese. I’ve also included a quick 5-ingredient recipe for my creamy avocado sauce. It is an excellent addition to this dish.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What other proteins can I use for this taco recipe? Tacos come in all forms. And while this version uses lean seasoned ground beef, you can opt for chicken, seafood, and even a vegetarian taco.
- What type of cheese should I use for the keto cheese shells? I use cheddar cheese. But you can use any other hard cheese that will get crispy when baked, like parmesan. Other softer cheese will never be crisp enough to create a cheese shell. For a crispier cheese taco shell, bake the cheese mounds until their edges bubble and begin to turn dark brown. Don’t wait for your cheese mounds to cool completely. You want them to be warm and pliable enough to form cups on the back of your muffin tin. Cheese does release oil as it bakes. To remove some of the excess oil, you can lightly dab your cheese mounds with a paper towel before placing them on the muffin tin.
The Benefits of Making Your Own Condiments
Making your own condiments, like this keto taco sauce, offers numerous advantages beyond just flavor and health. It's a step towards simplifying your life and taking control of what you eat.
- Eliminate Unnecessary Ingredients: Store-bought condiments often contain a long list of ingredients, many of which are artificial preservatives, stabilizers, and flavor enhancers. When you make your own, you know exactly what's going into your food.
- Reduce Waste: Buying condiments in bulk can lead to waste if you don't use them up before they expire. Making smaller batches at home ensures that you only make what you need, reducing food waste and saving money.
- Embrace Creativity: Experimenting with your own condiment recipes allows you to unleash your culinary creativity and discover new flavor combinations. You can tailor the recipe to your specific tastes and dietary needs.
A Note on Ingredients
- Tomato Sauce: The base of the sauce. When you make this recipe, please comment below and let me know what you think.
- Lean Ground Beef: Lean ground beef is 90 to 95 percent lean. It’s a great way to feed your muscle without the extra fat. The lean ground beef is made using seasonings you may already have in your pantry. You’ll find this recipe to be quite simple and easy to pull together. It is also perfect for a crowd!
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide
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