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Simmer a pot of this easy taco soup on the stovetop or in the Crock Pot for a cozy, one-pot dinner with just 10 minutes of prep!
Table of Contents
If you’re looking for even more soup recipes, be sure to try our popular Crock Pot vegetable soup, this bean soup (for the slow cooker or stovetop), this slow cooker cabbage soup, and a pot of easy chicken noodle soup, too!
Perfect soup! We tried it this year during the World Cup and it was a big hit.
– Lorin
How to Make this Easy Taco Soup Recipe | 1-Minute Video
A Few Notes Before You Get Started
- While we call this taco soup, it definitely resembles chili. In fact, you might consider it “taco chili,” depending on how thick you it. Just like chili, this easy taco soup has a fairly thick texture, plenty of ground beef, and lots of corn and beans. The seasoning is a little bit different than chili, however. This recipe calls for a store-bought packet of taco seasoning mix and a packet of Ranch dressing mix — convenient shortcuts that add major flavor to your pot of soup!
- Pick two cans of your favorite beans — no need to drain them first. The liquid in the cans help to flavor the broth. Try black beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, white beans, pink beans, or even garbanzo beans. Any combination will work!
- Start with just 1 cup of water, and then gradually add more at the end of the simmering time, if necessary, until the soup reaches your desired consistency.
- Stir the pot occasionally while it simmers in order to prevent sticking or scorching on the bottom.
- Wait to season the soup with additional salt and pepper until the end of the cooking time. The seasoning packets include plenty of salt, so you probably won’t need too much more.
Directions
Each hearty, satisfying bowl of this easy taco soup recipe tastes like a plate of tacos in scoopable form! I prefer the stove top method, which allows me to control the thickness of the broth and the simmering time; however, the Crock Pot instructions are included below as well. Best of all, you only need a handful of pantry staples to bring this meal together.
- Brown the ground beef and onion in a Dutch oven or other large soup pot until the meat is no longer pink. Drain off the fat.
- Stir in the remaining ingredients.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low.
- Simmer gently, uncovered, for 30-45 minutes. This simmering time allows the flavors to come together and helps to thicken the soup. If you’re using a Crock Pot, you have less control over the thickness of the soup. That said, you can remove the lid towards the end of the cooking time to allow your slow cooker soup to release some extra liquid through evaporation. Another great way to thicken the taco soup is to add an extra can of beans. Using three cans of beans, rather than two, will give it a texture that’s even more like chili.
- Taste and season with additional salt and black pepper, if desired.
- Ladle into bowls.
- Garnish with your favorite taco toppings, or set up a “toppings bar.” The options are endless, including: sour cream or Greek yogurt, sliced green or pickled red onions, grated cheese (like sharp cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack, Cheddar Jack, Colby, or Pepper Jack), sliced black olives, fresh cilantro, guacamole or diced avocado, and corn chips.
Serving Suggestions
If you’re looking for some additional sides to round out the meal, pair this easy taco soup recipe with tortilla chips or Fritos with salsa, guacamole, or queso. It’s also delicious with tostada de tinga, jalapeño cheddar cornbread or Jiffy Mexican cornbread, a loaf of homemade jalapeño cheddar bread, simple cheese quesadillas, or pico de gallo.
Storage
- How to Store: Leftover soup will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. The flavors just get better as the soup sits!
- How to Freeze: Allow the soup to cool completely. Package in a freezer-safe container or large Ziploc freezer bag. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- How to Reheat: Thaw the soup in the refrigerator overnight. Reheat gently on the stovetop over low heat until warmed through. You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
This was easy & delicious. I will definitely make this again.
– EG
More Easy Soup Recipes to Try
Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup
3 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
Grandmother’s Hamburger Soup
50 minutes mins
Chicken Corn Chowder Crock Pot Recipe
3 hours hrs 45 minutes mins
Did you make this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
Watch How to Make It
Easy Taco Soup
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 (15.25 ounce) cans of beans of your choice, not drained (try a combination of pinto beans, white beans, kidney beans, pink beans, black eyed peas, or garbanzo beans)
- 1 (15 ounce) can corn, not drained
- 1 (10 ounce) can Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies, not drained
- 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 (1 ounce) packet taco seasoning (use a reduced-sodium variety if desired)
- 1 (1 ounce) packet Ranch seasoning and salad dressing mix (such as Hidden Valley brand)
- 1 cup water
- Optional garnish: sour cream, diced avocado, grated cheddar cheese, sliced green onion; fresh cilantro; Fritos or tortilla chips
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef and onion in a large Dutch oven or other heavy bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Drain off the fat.
- Add the remaining ingredients to the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Simmer gently, uncovered, for 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Ladle into bowls and garnish with toppings of choice.
Notes
Nutrition
Easy Taco Soup Recipe Variations
- Substitute ground turkey for the ground beef.
- Add 1-2 minced garlic cloves to the pot with the ground beef and onion. Garlic powder and onion powder are also nice options.
- Chicken Taco Soup: sauté the onion as instructed, and add 2 cups of cooked, shredded, or diced chicken to the soup pot along with the rest of the ingredients.
- Add an extra cup of water if you like a thinner soup (this soup has a thicker, chili-like consistency).
- Make it thicker by adding an extra can of beans, or by simmering the soup uncovered for a little bit longer.
- For a less-spicy flavor, use a can of regular diced tomatoes rather than the Rotel diced tomatoes with green chiles. If you like more spice, include a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- For a richer flavor, swap out the water for low-sodium beef broth.
- Use a homemade taco seasoning mix and some dried herbs in lieu of the prepared seasoning packets.
This post was originally published in September, 2018. It was updated in September, 2024.
1st taco soup recipe tried, very easy and good with tortilla chips dipped in. Just the right amount of ingredients too. I added green onions, and shredded cheese too!
Thanks, Laura!
Perfect soup! We tried it this year during the World Cup and it was a big hit.
Thank you, Lorin! We’re so happy to hear this!
Hi Blair, I’m looking for the Easy Taco Soup that had bell peppers, cumin, 7oz of green chili’s and 8oz cream cheese added, no mention of beans. I am going too try these on page but finally have all ingredients for the other. Do you by chance have that recipe available to send me? My printer only printed half the instructions. Thank you kindly
Hi, Mike! I’m not sure exactly which recipe that might have been. Was it definitely on my website? I don’t think that I have any taco soup recipes with cream cheese in them. I have this white chicken chili with cream cheese — does that sound right? https://www.theseasonedmom.com/slow-cooker-white-chili/ Otherwise, I’m stumped!
This was easy & delicious. I will definitely make this again.
Thank you so much! We’re happy it was a hit.
Thanks for this great idea for a delicious & easy taco soup! Will definitely be trying this this week, already hav all the ingredients! Still a big fan of the creamy fiesta crockpot chicken:)
Thanks, Mel! We hope you enjoy.
I added a quart of home-grown canned tomatoes and it was quite tasty. My go-to recipe.
We’re so glad you enjoyed it!
Delicious and easy to make! I did a few changes – drained and rinsed the beans and added chicken broth for the liquid. So good!
Thank you, Tina! We’re glad you were able to make it work for you!
Thank you.. freest recipe!
We hope you enjoy!
Boy, the cooking worries I have which I’m still dealing with at 63, lol. I’m glad you’re so nice. I think ” Just tell Blair. She won’t laugh at you!”
It’s my crock pot this time. I’m afraid of the darn thing! I bought one almost two years and it’s all digital. They used to be so simple! On and Off. Low Heat and High Heat. Not anymore!
The long and the short of it is that I need to get past the fear factor. What do you recommend in terms of super simple, inexpensive dishes which will still taste good if my timing is off. Dishes where I can slowly gain experience. This taco soup looks like a good choice. Are there others among your site which you particularly recommend for my situation? They all look . I just don’t want to get over my head.
Thanks so much!
This or any other soup would be a great start! Most crockpots sets to warm after cooking, so it shouldn’t be much of an issue. We would just recommend avoiding recipes with noodles/pasta/delicate ingredients until you’re more comfortable. Hope this helps!
Could I add a can of carrots,I did add celery to onions and ground beef
Absolutely! That should work well. 🙂
Sounds delicious. I’m not a fan of ranch dressing mix though. Do you think it would seriously alter the taste if I left it out?
It does add nice flavor, but you could probably replace it with another taco seasoning packet.
Awesome
Thank you, Vicki!
Easy and good! Used ground beef, rinsed and drained all cans except the tomatoes or rotel. Added a can of water plus. Topped with plain Greek yogurt, shredded cheese, and tortilla chips.
Sounds perfect! Thanks, Suzy!
Made this today and it was really good. I made it exactly as recipe states… tasted like a taco.
Thank you Blair. Love your site & photos!
Thank you, Tricia! We’re so glad you enjoyed it.
Very easy to make and so very good. Flavorful and Delicious.
Awesome! I’m glad to hear that, Regina. Thank you for taking the time to let me know!
First time making the taco soup-
It’s family meal hit!
Flavors are distinct n I used a combo of a 2-meat combo (beef n turkey), skillet cooked separate n then added, it worked out sensationally well.
The recipe gets a 5 rating from us.
Thank you so much, Rosetta! We’re glad you enjoyed it.
Just wanted to say that this recipe got me through the hardest two years of my life. No contact with family, all my money went to tuition, skipped eating every other day to afford gas to go to work. This recipe is inexpensive and amazingly flavorful. The only taco soup recipe I will ever use. Thank you so much for sharing it. Literally saved my life a few times. ❤️
Thank you for sharing, Kendal. We’re honored and hope you’re in a much better place. Thank you for giving it a chance and continuing to enjoy the recipe. Sending lots of love!