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Taco Soup

A hearty, one-pot dish that combines all your favorite taco flavors into a filling soup that's perfect for cold weather.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Main Course, Soup
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 350
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Components
  • 1.5 pounds ground beef (or ground turkey) Use lean ground beef for less fat or ground turkey for a lighter version.
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 packet taco seasoning (or 3 tablespoons homemade)
  • 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (15 oz) pinto beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (15 oz) corn, drained
  • 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes with green chiles
  • 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
  • 2 cups beef broth (or chicken broth)
  • 1 cup water
Optional Toppings
  • shredded cheddar cheese
  • sour cream
  • crushed tortilla chips or Fritos
  • fresh cilantro
  • diced avocado
  • sliced jalapeños
  • lime wedges
  • green onions

Method
 

Browning the Meat
  1. Heat your large pot over medium-high heat. No oil needed—the beef has enough fat.
  2. Add ground beef and break it up with your wooden spoon. Let it brown for about 6-8 minutes.
  3. Once the beef is mostly browned, drain excess fat if there’s a lot, but leave a little for flavor.
Building the Flavor Base
  1. Add diced onion directly to the browned beef and cook together for 4-5 minutes until the onion softens.
  2. Toss in minced garlic and cook for another minute.
  3. Sprinkle in taco seasoning and stir everything together, letting the spices toast for 30 seconds.
Adding the Canned Goods
  1. Add black beans first, followed by pinto beans, stirring them into the beef mixture evenly.
  2. Pour in the corn, followed by diced tomatoes with green chiles, and then add tomato sauce.
Creating the Broth
  1. Pour in beef broth and water, stirring everything together thoroughly.
  2. Bring the pot to a boil over high heat, which usually takes about 5 minutes.
  3. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and let it simmer uncovered for 20-25 minutes.
Final Adjustments
  1. Taste your soup and adjust seasoning if needed. Let it simmer longer if you prefer a thicker consistency.
Topping Your Soup
  1. Ladle hot soup into bowls, starting with a generous handful of shredded cheese.
  2. Add a dollop of sour cream and crush tortilla chips over everything.
  3. Garnish with avocado, lime juice, cilantro, and jalapeños if desired.

Notes

Perfect for meal prep, this Taco Soup can be made in large batches and freezes beautifully.