Gluten Free Tacos

Try this easy recipe for gluten free tacos, made with perfectly seasoned meat, tomatoes, simple cole slaw, cheese, and spicy sour cream, and get dinner on the table fast!

What makes these gluten free tacos special?

These crispy, crunchy, spicy gluten free tacos are the sort of quick, healthy and satisfying dinner that I couldn't get through the week without. The alternating layers of hot and cool flavors can be dialed up or down, depending on your family's appetite for spice.

I make some version of the seasoned taco meat at least once a week. Sometimes, I make what we call “taco chicken,” and serve it simply, with steamed broccoli over white rice.

We pile it with plenty of shredded cheese and add some tomato salsa or pico de gallo. It's also great just drizzled with some Sriracha, or spicy chili paste.

Can I make these tacos with beef?

Yes! The homemade gluten free taco seasoning used in this recipe is perfect for beef, chicken, or even stir-fried vegetables. In fact, I use this same taco seasoning to make the heartiest, most satisfying gluten free chili recipe.

To replace the sliced chicken with beef, add all the same taco spices plus the cornstarch. The only real difference is the timing.

Instead of letting the mixture sit on the raw meat, begin to cook your raw, unseasoned ground beef in the same hot skillet. Break it up as it cooks, and when it's still pink in spots, add the seasoning mixture.

Mix in the seasoning, and then let the mixture cook, undisturbed, until the beef is no longer pink at all and has begun to brown. The beef mixture will become really fragrant.

To serve, instead of cole slaw, I like shredded romaine or iceberg lettuce. Instead of crumbly, salty Cotija cheese, I prefer shredded cheddar cheese. But it's all a matter of taste.

Does taco seasoning have gluten in it?

Many packaged varieties of taco seasoning are safely gluten free. Be sure to read labels carefully, and only buy a brand that you trust to disclose any potential hidden sources of gluten on the label.

I have my own blend of homemade gluten free taco seasoning that I make in triple batches, so I always have some on hand. It's balanced just right, and since I control the ingredients, I can always add more or less heat.

Below, I've provided the right proportion of ingredients to make only 2 tablespoons of the taco seasoning mix total. I've also added 2 tablespoons cornstarch, since that is necessary to coat the raw chicken pieces before cooking.

If you'd prefer, you can click over to our recipe for taco seasoning, and make a full batch, or even double batches. I keep mine in a small glass jar with a lid, and store it in my pantry.

You would then measure out 2 tablespoons of the blend, add the cornstarch to it, and proceed with the recipe as written.

Are corn tortillas gluten free? Are hard taco shells?

Almost all corn tortillas are naturally gluten free. The same goes for almost all hard taco shells. But there are always exceptions, so it's important to read labels.

There are quite a few brands of gluten free corn tortillas that I recommend. The ones we buy most often are Mission brand, since they're pretty soft, easy to find, and inexpensive.

You can, of course, also make your own homemade gluten free corn tortillas or gluten free taco shells. They're not hard at all, but they're not as easy as opening a package of corn tortillas.

Ingredient substitutions

Dairy free

The  dairy in this recipe is only in the Cotija cheese, and the sour cream. You can use any nondairy cheese you like, and a nondairy sour cream substitute, too.

Cornstarch

The cornstarch helps coat the chicken and keeps it really tender by protecting the moisture in the chicken from escaping too quickly in the heat of the pan. In its place, you can try using another starch, like potato starch or arrowroot.

Sriracha

I use and recommend Huy Fong Foods Sriracha hot chili sauce. It's naturally gluten free, and you can find it many places online, and even in some larger grocery stores.

Instead of Sriracha, which is really just chili paste and spices, you can add some gluten free taco seasoning to sour cream. To thin the sauce a bit, you can try adding some honey, since Sriracha also has some sugar.