5 Scary Good Taco Hacks

Who doesn’t love a good taco? This crave-worthy dish is so widely regarded that we look for every excuse to enjoy it—from National Taco Day on October 4th to weekly indulgences every Taco Tuesday.

Whether you prefer your tacos soft-shelled or crunchy, vegan or traditional, there are plenty of ways to elevate your taco game. Here are five scary good taco hacks to take your taco night to the next level.

1. Make Your Own Taco Seasoning

While that store-bought packet of taco seasoning may get the job done, making your own is even better. Fresh is always best because it allows you to skip fillers and preservatives, and control the sodium content.

Traditional taco seasoning utilizes spices you likely already have on hand, and you can tailor the flavors to your liking! Here are two recipes to try.

Easy Homemade Taco Seasoning¹

• 2 teaspoons organic chili powder
• 1 teaspoon organic paprika
• 1 teaspoon organic cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon organic garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon organic onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Cuban Taco Seasoning

• 1 teaspoon organic allspice
• 1 teaspoon organic cumin
• 1 teaspoon organic thyme leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Simply mix the spices together in a small container, and you’re good to go! Season your preferred taco filling to taste. Traditional taco seasoning works great on beef, chicken, tofu, pork, and more. Cuban seasoning is especially great for pork tacos.

Pro Tip: Double your recipe and save the extra in an airtight container for next time.

2. Freshen Up Your Toppings

Tired of the usual taco toppings? Mix it up! Skip traditional add-ons like salsa, cheese, and plain shredded lettuce and add more color, flavor, and nutrition with a fresh take.

Try thinly-sliced radishes, roasted zucchini, mushrooms, romaine slaw, chard & feta, pickled red onions, lime wedges, salsa verde, even kale! Thinly sliced kale makes a great topping for beef tacos or black bean tacos.

Better yet, set up a taco bar with plenty of variety so your family or dinner guests can choose their own taco adventure.

Here’s a delicious recipe for romaine slaw using healthy apple cider vinegar.

Romaine Slaw with Apple Cider Vinegar

• 1/4 cup certified organic extra virgin olive oil
• 1/8 cup certified organic apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon of agave nectar or organic raw wildflower honey
• 2 small radishes, thinly-sliced or slivered
• 1 large carrot, shredded
• 1/4 cup small red cabbage, shredded
• 1/4 cup of pumpkin seeds
• 1-2 romaine hearts, thinly sliced
• Salt to taste

Whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, and salt in a large bowl. Add the red cabbage, carrot, romaine, and pumpkin seeds then toss to combine.

Find more great ways to use apple cider vinegar both in and outside of the kitchen in 30 Ways to Use Apple Cider Vinegar.

3. Try Greek Yogurt Instead of Sour Cream

Plain, whole-milk Greek yogurt is very close in flavor and texture to sour cream, and it contains about half the calories of sour cream and 3 1/2 times more protein.² You can also get creative and whip up some chipotle yogurt sauce for a delicious alternative that is big on flavor but light on calories.

Chipotle Yogurt Sauce

• 5 ounces of plain Greek Yogurt
• 1/2-1 teaspoon of organic chipotle powder