Easy Taco Soup

Taco soup makes a quick Mexican meal! You don’t need to get takeout; you can make this soup faster than you can get in your car, go to the drive-through, and come back home. If you are looking for one of those easy soup recipes that is filling, this taco soup recipe is the one you want to try!

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Original taco soup recipe

Soup is good food, and when a bowl of it tastes as great as this taco soup with ground beef, you’ll want to cook it often. Thankfully, this recipe is quick and easy and uses common ingredients you probably already have in the kitchen. If you know how to use a can opener and brown ground beef (and if you don’t know how to cook ground beef, see below), you can do this.

Enjoy this extremely hearty beef taco soup as a light meal, or pair it with a sandwich or salad when you are really hungry. It’s a snap to customize, simple to cook in bulk, and stores wonderfully. Give this simple taco soup a try.

What makes taco soup so good?

With this recipe, it feels as if you are taking a bite of a delicious loaded taco! The only difference is that it is in the form of a satisfying soup. The combination of browned ground beef, succulent sweet corn, creamy kidney beans, and flavorful stewed tomatoes blend together in harmony, making a highly palatable meal.

Why you should try this recipe

• Faster than takeout and just as satisfying
• It uses pantry staples you likely already have
• Perfect for meal prep and freezer meals
• Kid-friendly and easily customizable
• Better on day two, making leftovers a treat

Ingredients

Here’s a list of what you need:

• Ground beef – Provides protein and rich flavor foundation; fat content helps create a satisfying mouthfeel
• Taco seasoning – Delivers authentic Mexican flavor profile; helps season the entire pot evenly. You may want to try our homemade taco seasoning
• Canned corn – Adds sweet crunch and texture; liquid contributes to broth
• Canned kidney beans – Provides protein, fiber, and hearty texture; helps thicken the soup
• Canned stewed tomatoes – Creates base flavor and adds chunks of tender tomatoes
• Tomato sauce – Thickens soup and provides smooth tomato flavor throughout
• Water – Creates proper soup consistency; helps blend all flavors

Optional Toppings

• Shredded cheddar cheese – Adds creamy richness and traditional taco flavor
• Sour cream – Provides cooling contrast and creamy texture
• Diced avocado – Adds healthy fats and creamy texture
• Tortilla strips – Brings crunch and authentic taco element
• Fresh cilantro – Adds fresh flavor and color
• Lime wedges – Brightens flavors and adds acidity

Equipment Needed

• Large pot or Dutch oven
• Wooden spoon or spatula
• Can opener
• Colander for draining beef
• Measuring spoons
• Ladle for serving

How to make taco soup

1. Brown ground beef and drain off the excess grease.

2. Dump all ingredients in a large pot or skillet.

3. Simmer for approximately 20 minutes or until thoroughly heated.
4. Serve and enjoy!

How to make taco soup in a slow cooker

• Keeps well on warm setting
• Brown meat first
• Then add the remaining ingredients to the slow cooker
• Cook on low 4-6 hours
• Perfect for busy days

3 tips for cooking ground beef for soup

Cooking ground beef is a frequent kitchen task that is a little more complicated than it may initially seem. Sure, you can plop a bunch of ground beef in the middle of a hot pan and stir it now, but that’s not going to give you the best results. If you want great taste and texture, try these tricks.

Start with room-temperature ground beef. Thaw ground beef slowly in the fridge overnight. Don’t use the microwave or frozen meat. This helps the meat reabsorb juices and taste better.

Cook the ground beef in a large sauté pan with a thick bottom. This distributes the heat better. No additional oil is needed for cooking ground beef unless it is very lean. Evenly crumble the meat and use low heat to prevent drying and shrinking.

Use a wooden spatula to turn the meat over every few minutes. Cook slowly until the ground beef is no longer pink. If you notice liquid collecting in the pan, drain it to keep your beef from simmering. When done, drain the meat in a colander. If you want to reduce the fat and calories drastically, you can briefly rinse the ground beef.

Dietary Modifications

Lower Fat Version

• Use lean ground turkey or chicken
• Drain and rinse beans
• Use reduced-fat cheese
• Skip sour cream

Vegetarian Option

• Replace meat with extra beans
• Use vegetable broth instead of water
• Add diced mushrooms for meaty texture
• Include extra vegetables

Tips for serving this quick and easy taco soup

• Make it a day before. This soup actually tastes better the second day after cooking, so plan ahead.
• This soup is made for topping. Be creative and add what you love. See some topping ideas below.

If you plan to use garnishes, make sure to wait until the last minute before serving to do so. Only top the soup you will eat to keep the crispy toppings from getting soggy.

Sometimes, I will heat fresh flour tortillas and dig into this soup instead of using tortilla strips; it is entirely up to you!

Troubleshooting Tips

Too Thick

• Add water or broth gradually
• Stir between additions
• Keep track of amount added

Too Thin

• Simmer uncovered longer
• Add tomato paste
• Let stand 5 minutes before serving

Too Mild

• Add extra taco seasoning
• Include diced green chilies
• Offer hot sauce on the side

Recipe Success Tips

• Start with room-temperature meat
• Don’t overcook the ground beef
• Taste before adding salt (taco seasoning contains salt)
• Add toppings just before serving
• Make ahead for better flavor

Scaling Tips

To Double

• Use larger pot
• Increase simmer time by 5-10 minutes
• Keep seasoning proportional

To Halve

• Use smaller pot
• Keep cooking time the same
• Store extra opened cans separately

How to store and reheat taco soup

This soup makes a lot of soup. To refrigerate your leftovers, store the leftover soup in an airtight container for up to five days. To freeze the soup, store it in a freezer-safe container or a vacuum-sealed bag.

I recommend reheating the soup by placing the portion you want in a pot and reheating it over medium heat until the soup has been heated through.

If you want to reheat frozen soup, pull it out of the freezer the night before and thaw it in the refrigerator before reheating it on the stovetop.

More soup and chili recipes

Favorite taco recipes

Be sure to check out more of my hearty soup recipes and the best Mexican food recipes here on CopyKat.com!

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Easy Taco Soup

Make a quick and easy Mexican taco soup that is tasty and ready in just a few minutes.