Best Taco Soup Recipe - The Carefree Kitchen (2024)

By Jill Baird · Published July 25, 2023 · Updated August 21, 2023 · 1 Comment

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

This Easy Taco Soup Recipe is a healthy soup recipe loaded with ground beef, beans, and corn.It can be made in just a few minutes, with simple ingredients, is protein-packed, hearty, and filling.

Jump to:
  • Best Taco Soup Recipe
  • Best Taco Soup Video Tutorial
  • Easy Taco Soup Ingredients
  • How to Make Taco Soup
  • Simple Taco Soup Recipe Tips
  • Easy Taco Soup Recipe
  • More Quick and Easy Soup Recipes

Best Taco Soup Recipe

This is the Best Taco Soup recipe - full of all of the southwest flavors you love and thick and hearty enough for a meal. Load it up with corn chips, cheese, salsa, and sour cream and you have a one-pot meal the entire family can agree on.

This one-pot meal can be made in just under 30 minutes. It's also versatile enough you can make it in the slow cooker for those days when the family can't seem to eat at the same time and you need a meal that can stay warm for several dinner shifts.

And if you love all things tacos, be sure to try our crispy beef tacos, taco pizza, and of course, our homemade taco seasoning.

Best Taco Soup Video Tutorial

Easy Taco Soup Ingredients

  • Oil: You’ll need just a couple of tablespoons of cooking oil to caramelize the onions. Avocado oil or another mild-tasting oil will work great.
  • Ground Beef: It’s best to use a lean cut of ground beef for this taco soup recipe so you don’t have to drain the fat off the cooked meat. I like to use 85/15 ground beef. It makes for juicy ground meat without a lot of extra fat.
  • Onions: To get the taste of fresh onions without having to cut them up is to purchase diced onions in the freezer section at the supermarket. This small detail is a game-changer in so many recipes. Yellow onions, white onions, or even red onions work great in this taco soup with ground beef.
  • Garlic: The jarred, pre-minced, garlic works great in this recipe. Add it to the pan when you’re browning your meat so it has a chance to cook and sweeten.
  • Taco Seasoning: You can use a homemade taco seasoning, packets from the spice isle, or the bulk taco seasoning. Pretty much any of those will work great.
  • Beans: You can make this taco soup with black beans, kidney beans, or pinto beans. I like to add a mixture but any variation of these beans will work great.
  • Corn: The best corn for this recipe is super sweet white corn from the freezer section. Seriously, use freezer corn. It’s so fresh and will add a sweetness you don’t get with canned corn. If you’re in a pinch, canned corn will work too.
  • Peppers: Sometimes I have a bunch of pepper from my garden. If you like to “hide” veggies from your kids or have some peppers in your fridge you’d like to use up, this is a great option. Just dice them small and throw them into the pot when you add the minced garlic.
  • Crushed Tomatoes: You can also use diced tomatoes or tomato chunks for this recipe. My kids really dislike chunks of tomatoes so I use crushed tomatoes. It gives the soup a deep rich tomato flavor.
  • Water: You may need to add some extra water to this recipe.Just add a half cup at a time until it reaches your desired consistency. We like a thick and hearty soup at our house (kind of like the consistency of chili).
Best Taco Soup Recipe - The Carefree Kitchen (1)

How to Make Taco Soup

  1. In a large pot, add a couple of tablespoons of oil and the diced onions. Cook on medium heat stirring occasionally until the onions are transparent and then turn a caramel color.
  2. Add the ground beef and brown the meat and a cup of water. (This will help the meat cook evenly while it cooks) Use a spoon and break up the chunks of meat until it’s in fine pieces. And almost all the meat is no longer pink.
  3. Add the minced garlic and cook for a couple more minutes until the garlic is transparent.
  4. Add peppers if desired, then add the beans, crushed tomatoes, frozen corn, and taco seasoning. Continue to cook on medium heat until the taco soup is hot and bubbly.
  5. Serve with a dollop of sour cream, shredded cheese, and your favorite corn chips. Enjoy!
Best Taco Soup Recipe - The Carefree Kitchen (2)

How to Make Crockpot Taco Soup

  1. In a pan on the stove, caramelize your onions. Add the minced garlic.
  2. Brown the ground beef until there is just a little pink showing, then add the prepared meat and the rest of the ingredients to the slow cooker/crockpot.
  3. Turn the slow cooker on low and cook for about 3 hours or until the ingredients are hot.
  4. Set the slow cooker to warm until you're ready to eat.Serve with shredded cheese, sour cream, and your favorite corn chips
Best Taco Soup Recipe - The Carefree Kitchen (3)

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best way to reheat Taco Soup?

If you're wanting to reheat the taco soup after it's been in the fridge, simply put it in a pan on the stovetop, add a little water (It will probably be really thick at this point. The beans and the corn absorb the liquid). Stir frequently until warmed through.

Can you freeze Taco Soup?

Yup! Taco Soup is a great freezer meal. Just store completely cooled soup in freezer bags or another airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. To thaw, transfer to the fridge overnight.

Best Taco Soup Recipe - The Carefree Kitchen (4)

Simple Taco Soup Recipe Tips

  • You can sub ground turkey or ground chicken for the beef in this recipe.
  • You can also use chicken breast like this chipotle chicken.
  • Use canned or frozen corn.
  • Add more veggies-green beans, shredded carrots, or diced red peppers.
  • Top with your favorites, sour cream, diced tomatoes, diced avocados, Guac, or fresh salsa.

Best Taco Soup Recipe - The Carefree Kitchen (5)

Print

Easy Taco Soup Recipe

This Easy Taco Soup Recipe is a healthy taco soup recipe, and bonus, it freezes great. It can be made in just a few minutes, with simple ingredients, and is a dinner recipe the entire family will love.

Course Soup

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 8 people

Calories 205kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 med Onion yellow, white or red onions work great
  • 2 Tablespoons Avocado Oil any mild flavored cooking oil will do
  • 1 Tabelspoons Garlic
  • 1 lb Ground Beef recommend 85/15
  • 1 28 ounce Crushed Tomatoes canned
  • 1 4 ounce Green Chilies
  • 2 15 ounce Bean canned, with liquid
  • 8-12 ounces Frozen Corn, Super sweet white corn Canned Corn will work too
  • 3 Tablespoons Taco Seasoning homemade, packaged, or bulk
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • In a large pot, add a couple tablespoons of oil and the diced onions. Cook on medium heat stirring occasionally until the onions are transparent and then turn a caramel color.

  • Add the minced garlic and cook for a couple more minutes until the garlic is transparent.

  • Add the ground beef and a cup of water. (This will help the meat cook evenly while it cooks) Use a spoon and break up the chunks of meat until it’s in fine pieces. And almost all the meat is no longer pink.

  • Add the beans. (It’s not necessary to drain the beans, just add the beans to the pot, juice and all)

  • Add the crushed tomatoes, frozen corn, and taco seasoning.

  • Continue to cook on medium heat until the taco soup is hot and bubbly.

  • Serve with a dollop of sour cream, shredded cheese, and your favorite corn chips. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 205kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 40mg | Sodium: 482mg | Potassium: 225mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 110IU | Vitamin C: 3.7mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1.3mg

More Quick and Easy Soup Recipes

  • Lasagna Soup
  • Vegetable and Beef Soup
  • Bean Soup
  • Potato Soup
  • Turkey Enchilada Soup
  • Turkey and Rice Soup
  • Roasted Tomato Soup
  • Potato Broccoli Cheese Soup
  • Chicken Noodle Soup
  • Broccoli Potato Cheese Soup
  • Creamy Chicken Taco Soup
  • More Soup Recipes

Great Bread Recipes to serve with Taco Soup

If you’ve tried this recipe, please rate it and leave a comment on this post. I love hearing feedback from you. It helps me and other readers too! If you love Pinterest, feel free to leave a comment and photo there too. Also, if you like to share, use the hashtag #thecarefreekitchen on Instagram and tag me @thecarefreekitchen so I can find you and give your post some love. You can also find me on Facebook at The Carefree Kitchen. Thank you!!

Best Taco Soup Recipe - The Carefree Kitchen (6)

This Easy Taco Soup Recipe is a hearty and healthy homemade soup recipe loaded with ground beef, beans, and corn.It can be made in just a few minutes, with simple ingredients.

« Rustic Cheddar Cheese Bread

Bacon and Jalapeno Stuffed Peppers »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Debra

    I used beef broth instead of water and I doubled it. Turned out great!!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Best Taco Soup Recipe - The Carefree Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

What can I use to thicken taco soup? ›

How do you thicken taco soup? You shouldn't need to thicken this taco soup—the meat and vegetables make it pretty chunky. If needed, you can add refried beans, other mashed beans or rice to thicken it up.

What is taco soup made of? ›

What's in taco soup? It's filled with ground beef, pinto beans, black beans, corn, fire-roasted tomatoes, and green chiles, plus some onion, garlic, and jalapeño.

How long is taco soup good for in the fridge? ›

To Store: Store soup in the refrigerator for 3-4 days after making. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.

How do you thin soup without losing Flavour? ›

Ok, this may be a little obvious, but just adding water is going to make your soup go a little further. If you stick to a 50/50 ratio between water and whatever flavoured liquid you're using in your soup (be it tomatoes, a stock type, or a cream), you're unlikely to dilute it to the point of making it unpalatable.

Is it better to thicken soup with flour or cornstarch? ›

The most classic and surefire way to thicken a broth-based soup is with a cornstarch slurry. Whisk together equal parts cornstarch (or arrowroot) and water or broth, then whisk it into the pot of soup. A good ratio to get to a pleasant thickness without your soup tasting goopy or heavy is one tablespoon.

How do you fix bland taco soup? ›

Maybe experiment with a little enchilada sauce. Or mess with the seasoning. Maybe rather than a seasoning packet, use a mix of seasonings and adjust a bit depending on your taste. I use a mix of cilantro, cumin, onion, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper.

Why is my taco soup so watery? ›

There are several reasons why taco soup may turn out thin and watery. One common reason is using too much broth or liquid in the soup. Additionally, not simmering the soup for long enough can lead to a thin consistency.

What do you eat with taco soup? ›

The best sides and toppings for a cozy pot of Taco Soup! Mexican rice, cornbread, homemade tortilla chips, crisp salads, and cool, sweet fruit pairings. Plus guac and salsas, too. Even dessert!

Can I freeze leftover taco soup? ›

How Long Does Taco Soup Last? Once cooked, you can store your taco soup in the refrigerator for an additional 3-4 days. Just make sure that it is stored in an airtight container. For the best tasing soup, properly frozen soup will last 4-6 months in the freezer.

Is it OK to leave taco soup out overnight? ›

Food should not be at room temperature for more than two hours. Shallow containers or small amounts of hot food can be placed directly in the refrigerator or rapidly chilled in an ice or cold water bath before refrigerating.

Can you eat soup that is 5 days old? ›

Originally Answered: How long can you keep a soup in the fridge? According to the FDA food code you should keep prepared foods for no longer then 4 days and manufactured foods for 7 days. If you prepare the soup at home and cook and cool the ingredients I would recommend 4 days at 41 degrees F or below.

Can taco soup sit out overnight? ›

So, yeah: Toss that soup that sat out overnight. Now, to the question of whether or not boiling it will kill off these bugs -- that might be technically true, but it comes with a big caveat. To be completely safe, you'll have to boil the soup vigorously for 10 minutes.

What gives soup the best flavor? ›

Herbs and spices add aroma, flavor, and intensity to soup broth. "Use fresh or dried basil in tomato-based recipes or fresh parsley to add freshness to clear broth soups," says Sofia Norton, RD. You can also go with more heat and spices.

How do you make soup taste richer? ›

Go Bold. A punch of flavor at the end of cooking can make your soup a standout. Mix herbs like parsley, thyme, and oregano, or spices such as cumin, coriander, and cardamom, into some olive oil, and let it infuse for at least an hour or two. Pour it over soup just before serving.

What spices are good in soup? ›

To season it, we recommend starting with our Vegetable Soup Mix. It contains celery salt, parsley flakes, garlic powder, sea salt, summer savory, marjoram, thyme, black pepper, turmeric and sage, which are all excellent with root vegetables, so you can incorporate things like carrots or potatoes into the soup.

How do you thicken taco soup without cornstarch? ›

Beans are not only a great addition to taco soup for their taste but also for their thickening properties. Mash a portion of the beans with a fork or potato masher and then add them back to the soup. The mashed beans will act as a natural thickening agent, making your taco soup heartier and more substantial.

What can I use instead of thickening agent in soup? ›

Rice, bread, potatoes and beans are great for natural thickeners. If you don't count them as extra since they are already in the soup, this would be the cheapest option since you don't add anything. How's this for cheap: Save the water you boil your pasta in. Not much thickening power, but you could reduce it too.

How do you thicken taco filling? ›

A typical 12-serving taco seasoning mix recipe uses about 1 ½ tablespoons of cornstarch. If you want to skip the cornstarch in your homemade seasoning to use it for other purposes, just sprinkle ⅓ to ½ teaspoon of cornstarch per pound of browned, spiced meat before adding ¾ cup of water and heat until thickened.

Can you thicken soup without cornstarch? ›

There are any number of starches besides corn starch: Arrowroot, potato, rice flour, tapioca, seaweed, pureed beans etc. Simply reducing the liquid portion of a soup will serve to thicken it.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Kimberely Baumbach CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 5612

Rating: 4 / 5 (41 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kimberely Baumbach CPA

Birthday: 1996-01-14

Address: 8381 Boyce Course, Imeldachester, ND 74681

Phone: +3571286597580

Job: Product Banking Analyst

Hobby: Cosplaying, Inline skating, Amateur radio, Baton twirling, Mountaineering, Flying, Archery

Introduction: My name is Kimberely Baumbach CPA, I am a gorgeous, bright, charming, encouraging, zealous, lively, good person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.