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Steaming bowl of hearty taco soup topped with shredded cheese, diced avocado, and tortilla strips on rustic wooden table

Taco Soup Recipe


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  • Author: Amelia
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 10½ cups

Description

This hearty Taco Soup recipe combines seasoned ground beef, beans, and bold spices in one comforting bowl. Ready in 45 minutes with endless topping possibilities!


Ingredients

The Flavor Base:

  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • pounds lean ground beef
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped (about 1½ cups)
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped (optional — can swap for ⅓ cup bell pepper for milder flavor)

The Liquid Gold:

  • 2 (14.5 oz) cans diced tomatoes with green chiles
  • 1 (14 oz) can tomato sauce
  • 1 (14 oz) can low-sodium beef broth (or chicken broth)

The Spice Magic:

  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ¾ teaspoon paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1½ tablespoons dry ranch dressing mix or ⅓ cup chopped cilantro with 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

The Hearty Goodness:

  • 1½ cups frozen corn
  • 1 (14.5 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 (14.5 oz) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed


Instructions

Step 1: Brown the Meat

Heat oil in your biggest pot. Chuck in beef and onion, break it up with spoon. Takes maybe 8 minutes. Kitchen smells amazing when done.

Step 2: Add Aromatics

Toss in garlic and jalapeño. Stir one minute. Don’t burn garlic or you’ll hate yourself.

Step 3: Drain Fat

Nobody likes greasy soup. Drain it off.

Step 4: Build the Base

Everything else goes in now – tomatoes, sauce, broth, all spices, ranch packet. Salt and pepper good. Cover, bubble 30 minutes. Stir sometimes.

Step 5: Add the Good Stuff

Corn and beans go in last. Heat through maybe 5 minutes.

Step 6: Final Touch

Taste it. Need more salt? Add it. Too thick? Splash water. Using cilantro instead of ranch? Now’s the time.

Step 7: Serve and Enjoy

Ladle up hot. Set out toppings, watch people go nuts.

Notes

Don’t rush browning the meat. Those brown bits stuck to bottom of pot? That’s flavor gold.

Want it richer? Use half beer instead of half the broth. Sounds nuts but my brother does this and it’s amazing.

Frozen corn straight from freezer. Don’t thaw first or it gets mushy.

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Category: Soup
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Mexican-American