Better beef browning: Pat the meat dry with paper towels before cooking so it actually browns instead of steaming in its own juices. This makes a bigger difference than you’d think.

Thicker soup: Smash half the beans with a fork before adding them to the pot. The broken beans will dissolve and make the whole thing thicker and creamier.

Heat control: No jalapeño seeds = mild heat that kids can handle. Keep the seeds = spicy enough to clear your sinuses. I remove about half the seeds to make everyone happy.

Big mistake: Don’t drain the Rotel! That juice has all the flavor. I learned this the hard way when I drained it once and the soup was bland.