FREE 5-Ingredient Recipe EBook

• Why You Need My Chorizo Recipe
• What Is Chorizo?
• Ingredients & Substitutions
• How To Cook Chorizo
• My Recipe Tips
• Ways To Use It
• Chorizo Recipe (Easy) Recipe card
• Recipe Reviews

My husband loves spicy meats and we both love Mexican food, so this chorizo recipe was right up our alley. It turned out smoky with a little heat and so much flavor! While I do buy it pre-made sometimes, I love the flexibility of making this at home — and the cleaner ingredients. With Cinco de Mayo around the corner, it was the perfect time to remind you about this chorizo sausage. Make it with me, and I promise there’s no shortage of ways to enjoy it!

Why You Need My Chorizo Recipe

• Browned, juicy meat with spicy, warm chili flavor – You’ll taste paprika, chili powder, and cumin, along with herbs and aromatics. If you like my taco seasoning or fajita seasoning , you’ll love this Mexican chorizo as well — but the flavor is a little different.
• Super easy to make – Traditional chorizo recipes involve soaking chilies, grinding the meat, and stuffing it all into casings… way too much work for me. Mine is infinitely easier with common ingredients, takes just 20 minutes, and you get a ground meat with the same flavor you (and I) love.
• Perfect for all kinds of Mexican dishes – I’ve used this chorizo recipe in so many ways! You can stuff it into tacos, serve it with eggs for breakfast, and more. See my serving ideas below.

What Is Chorizo?

Chorizo is a Spanish or Mexican sausage with lots of spices, garlic, and herbs. The Spanish variety is cured and dried, and my recipe is more like Mexican chorizo, which is cooked fresh. It’s often stuffed into casings, but I skipped this step — and used a shortcut for the peppers to make it even faster.

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for my homemade chorizo recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .

• Ground Meat – I used ground pork, but you can also use ground beef. Even ground chicken or ground turkey is fine. This recipe is essentially chorizo sausage (minus the casing), but I don’t recommend actually buying sausage for it, because that’s preseasoned and we’re going to season it ourselves.
• Spices – Traditional chorizo recipes rehydrate ancho and guajillo chiles and puree them, but I just use a spice blend that’s so much faster. You’ll need paprika , chili powder , cumin , dried oregano , coriander , sea salt, and cinnamon . If you can get your hands on Mexican oregano and ancho chile powder , those taste even closer to authentic versions.
• Aromatics – Onion and garlic! I much prefer fresh ones here, but you can substitute a tablespoon of onion powder and 3/4 teaspoon of garlic powder if you want it extra easy.
• Olive Oil – For your skillet. Avocado oil works well, too.
• White Vinegar – Spanish chorizo has this to help with curing, but I just add it to my Mexican chorizo recipe for flavor.

How To Cook Chorizo

I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card .

1. Mix the spices. Just combine the paprika, chili powder, cumin, dried oregano, coriander, sea salt, and cinnamon in a small bowl or jar. I’ve done this in advance, too!
2. Season the meat. Place the pork in a large bowl, add the spice mixture, and stir by hand.

1. Cook the aromatics. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and onions, and cook until onions are translucent and starting to brown on the edges.
2. Cook the chorizo sausage. Increase the heat to medium-high, add the pork mixture, and fry until fully cooked. Break apart as you go.
3. Stir in the vinegar. At this point you can adjust salt to your taste, too.

My Recipe Tips

• Don’t overmix the meat. You want to mix just until combined. If you overwork it, the fats in the pork will start to melt and your chorizo will turn out less tender.
• This tool is super handy for breaking up the meat. I use it for taco meat , too!
• Get the heat high enough for nice browning. I keep it on medium for the garlic and onions to avoid burning them, but it’s not really an issue after adding the pork. And higher heat helps prevent your chorizo from swimming in grease.
• Want extra heat? My chorizo recipe is mildly spicy from the chili powder, but you can add 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper if you want more spice. Using ancho chile powder will also be hotter than a regular chili powder blend.

Ways To Use It

This chorizo recipe can work pretty much anywhere that you’d use ground meat and have Mexican flavors happening. Here are the ways I’ve used it so far:

• Tacos – I love chorizo tacos! In my picture above, I stuffed the meat into tortillas with homemade salsa , shredded cheese, avocado, cilantro, and lime wedges. You can also swap this meat into my taco stuffed peppers , zucchini taco boats , or taco salad .
• Breakfast – My favorite ways to make chorizo and eggs is to either scramble them together or add the meat to my sweet potato hash . You can also tuck it into an omelette or my egg sausage muffins for more flavor.
• Dips – Swap the meat in my Rotel dip or taco dip , or even mix it into queso dip .

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

• 3 tbsp Paprika ▢
• 1 1/2 tbsp Chili powder ▢
• 2 tsp Cumin ▢
• 1 1/2 tsp Dried oregano ▢
• 1 1/2 tsp Dried coriander ▢
• 1 tsp Sea salt ▢
• 1/4 tsp Cinnamon ▢
• 1 1/2 lb Ground pork (or ground beef) ▢
• 1 tbsp Olive oil ▢
• 1 small Onion (sliced thinly) ▢
• 3 cloves Garlic (minced) ▢
• 1 tbsp White vinegar ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

1. In a small jar or bowl, stir together the paprika, chili powder, cumin, oregano, coriander, salt, and cinnamon.
2. In a large bowl, combine the pork and spice mixture. Mix well until just combined, but be careful not to over-mix.
3. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the olive oil, until shimmering. Add the garlic and onions. Cook for about 5 minutes, until the garlic is fragrant and the onions are translucent.
4. Add the pork and increase the heat to medium-high. Cook for 7-10 minutes , breaking apart with a spatula, until cooked through.
5. Stir in the vinegar. Adjust salt to taste, if needed.

LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1/4 pound chorizo

• Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you get juicy, tender meat with nice browning, a shortcut for breaking it up, and a variation for extra heat.
• Ways to use it: You can use chorizo in any Mexican dish. See my serving ideas above!
• Storage & meal prep: This Mexican chorizo stores well! After cooking, keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days.
• Reheat: It tastes best reheat on the stove, but the microwave works, too.
• Freeze: It freezes well, too. Store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Just thaw before reheating.

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

Add Your NotesYour Notes

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.

Chorizo Recipe

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• The Basic Keto Meal Formula
• Understanding Macros
• Keto Food Swaps
• Keto Food List
• Electrolyte Basics
• Keto Diet Types
• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• Recipe Reviews

Even though I have a great guide to starting a keto diet , people often ask me for a quick keto cheat sheet they can use. That’s why I created this simple keto diet cheat sheet , so that you can have all the info you need handy. We’ll cover the basic keto formula for building meals, foods to eat and to avoid, delicious keto swaps for high-carb foods, electrolyte basics, and 4 ways to follow the keto lifestyle.

You can keep reading to view this info, or download my keto cheat sheet printable pdf to print out or save ad-free on any device (plus the pdf has more details!).

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ foods) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

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The Basic Keto Meal Formula

Eating keto doesn’t have to be complicated! While there are plenty of delicious easy keto recipes to choose from, you don’t even have to cook from a recipe to get started.

Simply follow the keto cheat sheet formula of protein + veggie + fat for your meals.

Be sure to choose a moderate amount of protein, only low carb vegetables (mostly ones that grow above ground), and generous fat to attain an optimal macro ratio. That’s approximately 60-75% of calories from fat, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates. The table below will give you ideas for what to choose.

Understanding Macros

Macros are macronutrients for short. They include fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

You can calculate your own macros using the macro calculator , but the macro keto cheat sheet below will explain how to look at macros when following a keto lifestyle.

Carbs Are A Limit.

Keeping carbs low is what gets you into ketosis and keeps you there. Ketosis means that you’re using fat as your primary energy source instead of sugar, and requires keeping carbs very low.

A good starting point is 20-25 grams net carbs per day, but you can experiment after a few weeks to see if your body stays in ketosis at higher levels. People who are very active may be able to do more and stay in ketosis, up to around 50 grams per day.

“Carbs are a limit” means that you set a limit for how many carbs to eat per day and don’t exceed it. You don’t have to hit that limit, so if you’re under that’s okay, just don’t go over. Ideally most of your carbs would come from low carb vegetables, and if you’re eating enough veggies, you’ll usually get close to the limit naturally.

A common misconception is that reaching ketosis requires a certain macro ratio, but it’s really only restricting your carb intake that gets you there [ * ]. In the absence of sufficient carbs to use as energy, the body will switch to using fat as fuel. This is called the metabolic state of ketosis.

Protein Is A Goal.

Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of all our cells. It’s a crucial for keeping our muscles strong and for many cellular functions [ * ].

“Protein is a goal” means that you always want to eat enough protein to reach the goal each day, but not exceed it too much. You want enough for your needs, but excess protein can trigger gluconeogenesis, which is protein being converted to sugar [ * ] and can kick you out of ketosis.

Fat Is A Lever.

Fat is the primary macronutrient in a keto lifestyle, because being in ketosis means that fat is your primary fuel source. Fat as a fuel source will come from your food, and if you are losing weight, from your body.

A big advantage of a keto lifestyle is the high fat intake. It keeps you full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to, and using it as the primary fuel source makes it easier on your body to burn body fat, with a lower chance of breaking down your muscle (provided you get enough protein).

Aside from reaching your protein goal and limiting your carbs, the remainder of your calories on a keto diet comes from fat.

Don’t fear fat – it’s your main energy source on keto, and getting enough of it trains your body to use fat for fuel instead of sugar. That means that as long as you are not overdoing your overall calorie intake, you’ll efficiently burn your body fat for fuel as well.

“Fat is a lever” means that you can increase or decrease your fat intake depending on your goals and hunger levels. Increase it (along with exercise) to gain muscle, or decrease it to lose weight.

Keto Food Swaps

One of my favorite challenges is creating recipes, or just discovering, keto food swaps. These are delicious keto replacements for traditionally high-carb or high-sugar foods.

So, I created this keto diet cheat sheet with all the swaps in one place! I also have more keto food swaps in my Easy Keto Cookbook .

Keto Swaps For Breakfast

Keto Swaps For Bread

Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes

Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces

Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking

Keto Swaps For Drinks

If you’re looking specifically for keto alcohol options, browse the full keto alcohol guide .

Keto Food List

When looking for a keto cheat sheet printable, the most-requested information is a keto food list.

The great thing is that keto doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s incredibly satisfying and there’s such a wide variety of foods you can eat!

Foods To Eat On Keto

• Leafy greens – Such as spinach, chard, and lettuce.
• Above-ground veggies – Such as peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower.
• Full-fat cream & cheese – Such as heavy cream, sour cream, and full-fat hard cheeses.
• Natural meats – Such as beef, lamb, and pork.
• Berries – Such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
• Avocados
• Unsweetened nut milks – Such as almond milk and coconut milk.
• Almond flour and coconut flour
• Eggs
• Healthy fats – Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter.

Foods To Avoid On Keto

• White flour & sugar
• Rice & grains – Such as barley, wheat, and corn.
• Milk & yogurt – Such as fruit on the bottom yogurt, sweetened Greek yogurt, and all milk.
• Cereal
• Processed food – Such as granola bars, candy
• Most fruit – Such as apples, bananas, and grapes
• Hydrogenated fats – Such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and margarine
• Sweetened beverages & condiments – Such as soda, ketchup, and sweet dressings
• Starchy veggies – Such as peas, carrots, and beets.
• Potatoes – Such as sweet potatoes and white potatoes.

That’s the short keto diet cheat sheet version of all the keto food categories, but I recommend downloading the full Keto Cheat Sheet System. It includes a super detailed printable keto food list with over 100 items, including 2 color-coded pages with net carb counts, along with 6 more pages of keto cheat sheets:

Get The Keto Cheat Sheet System PDF (Only $37)

Electrolyte Basics

Getting enough electrolytes is crucial for anyone, but especially so on a keto diet. The reason is that ketosis has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of water and electrolytes, especially sodium [ * ]. This is often the cause of the keto flu.

For more details on electrolytes and avoiding keto flu, check out the full keto flu guide here .

The important thing to know about electrolytes is that replenishing them will keep keto flu away and keep your body functioning well. I always recommend an electrolyte drink and whole food sources of anything your body needs before resorting to supplements, so I made a list of what to eat to get each of the 3 major electrolytes – sodium, magnesium and potassium.

Here’s your keto diet cheat sheet for getting electrolytes from food:

Keto Diet Types

People follow a keto lifestyle for different reasons. Some do it just to lose weight, others are after better overall health, increased energy, and reduced inflammation.

Strictly speaking, the defining factor of a keto diet is the metabolic state of ketosis, which is achieved by restricting carbs. However, many people (myself included) also reduce or eliminate processed, inflammatory, or low-nutrient foods.

Below is your keto cheat sheet summary of the different ways that people follow keto. You choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle!

• Strict Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, count all calories and macros, and eat clean, unprocessed foods.
• Lazy Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, and track only net carbs OR eat keto foods without tracking.
• Dirty Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, with “if it fits your macros” approach including processed foods.
• Low Carb – Up to 50-100g net carbs daily, less strict.

For a more detailed listing of these different types of keto with pros and cons, grab the Easy Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF below!

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ swaps) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System (75 pages, Only $37!)

Chorizo Recipe (Easy)

My Mexican chorizo recipe is easy to make in just 20 minutes, with spices, onions, and garlic. Use this sausage for tacos, eggs, and more!

Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera for the full recipe, including tips, step-by-step photos, and storage, or to save it to your account. You can also find it at: https://www.wholesomeyum.com/mexican-chorizo/

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp Paprika
• 1 1/2 tbsp Chili powder
• 2 tsp Cumin
• 1 1/2 tsp Dried oregano
• 1 1/2 tsp Dried coriander
• 1 tsp Sea salt
• 1/4 tsp Cinnamon
• 1 1/2 lb Ground pork (or ground beef)
• 1 tbsp Olive oil
• 1 small Onion (sliced thinly)
• 3 cloves Garlic (minced)
• 1 tbsp White vinegar

Instructions

1. In a small jar or bowl, stir together the paprika, chili powder, cumin, oregano, coriander, salt, and cinnamon.
2. In a large bowl, combine the pork and spice mixture. Mix well until just combined, but be careful not to over-mix.
3. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the olive oil, until shimmering. Add the garlic and onions. Cook for about 5 minutes, until the garlic is fragrant and the onions are translucent.
4. Add the pork and increase the heat to medium-high. Cook for 7-10 minutes , breaking apart with a spatula, until cooked through.
5. Stir in the vinegar. Adjust salt to taste, if needed.

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1/4 pound chorizo

• Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you get juicy, tender meat with nice browning, a shortcut for breaking it up, and a variation for extra heat.
• Ways to use it: You can use chorizo in any Mexican dish. See my serving ideas above!
• Storage & meal prep: This Mexican chorizo stores well! After cooking, keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days.
• Reheat: It tastes best reheat on the stove, but the microwave works, too.
• Freeze: It freezes well, too. Store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Just thaw before reheating.

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. :)