This is the BEST Taco Soup Recipe! A little spicy and delicious, this soup that's made with pantry staples! If you can open a can - you can make this fabulous soup!
Next time try the Taco Salad Casserole - it's so good!
Why you'll love this recipe
This is a recipe to keep in your back pocket for busy days or if you're trying to stretch a buck.
✔️ It's great for a beginning cook because if you can brown ground beef and use your can opener .....you can make this soup!
✔️ This is a simple soup packed with flavor.
✔️ It freezes great and tastes even better on day two!
This is my Mom's recipe, and she's been making it for years. It's a recipe I make probably once a month because it's easy, good and pretty good for you too! That's the trifecta in my opinion!
Ingredients
For the exact measurements, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- ground beef - for meatiness in the soup, you can also use ground turkey.
- onion - I like the sweetness of a yellow onion.
- pantry items - canned olives and corn, kidney and pinto beans, hominy and/or green beans, canned chopped jalapenos, fire-roasted tomatoes.
- mild taco seasoning - use a packet or your own homemade spice mix.
Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. For the complete directions just scroll down to the bottom!
- Brown ground beef.
- Add the chopped onion and taco seasoning packet and saute.
- Open the cans - DO NOT drain.
- Add all of the remaining ingredients in with the taco meat and onions.
- Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil, stir well. Reduce heat to low, stirring occasionally.
- Simmer for an hour - serve and enjoy!
Crock Pot Instructions
- Brown the meat in a sauce pan and drain well.
- Add it to the slow cooker.
- Top with the remaining ingredients - stir to combine.
- Cover & cook on low for 4 hours.
Equipment
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- Ladle – this one is on my wishlist because it's so whimsical! Plus it comes in a variety of colors and makes eating a great soup that much more fun!
FAQ's
Black Beans, kidney beans and pinto beans would be my first choice. However, if all you have in the pantry was cannellini or
Absolutely! Just brown the meat first. Then add all of the ingredients to the slow cooker.
Dairy is the best way to tone down spiciness. Serve with a big dollop of sour cream! A touch of sugar or honey will help tame the heat of chiles as well.
Things to know
If desired, serve this soup garnished with;
- chopped tomatoes
- jalapenos
- Monterey jack or cojita cheese
- sour cream
- chips
But seriously, this soup can stand on its own without any garnish - it's just delicious!
Variations
- Don't forget this soup freezes great, so freeze a quart for later. Then on day two....
- Easy Nachos! Just drain the excess liquid and top your favorite chips, add some cheese and toss it into the oven to get the cheese all melty.
- Top off a baked potato.
- Delicious on a big salad
Want all my tips and tricks for making the BEST soups and stews? Click here for Homemade Soup; A Complete Guide
Related recipes
I love all of the big hearty flavors in Mexican cuisine and soup? That definitely brings it! Some of my favorites include Mexican Meatball Soup, Authentic Posole and Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Soup.
A few more include:
- Chicken Posole Verde - tender chicken, onions and hominy combined with earthy spices to make this amazing stew.
- Chicken Chipotle Soup - a quick 30 minute hearty stew.
More hearty soups
- Potato Soup Recipe - this creamy soup is a great family meal for busy weeknights!
- Navy Bean Soup with Ham is a slow cooked delicious meal. With rich flavor it's an easy to make, affordable meal that tastes even better on day two!
- Rich and tender beef is the star of this recipe for Crockpot Beef Stew - did I mention it has dumplings? It's just SO GOOD!
A few more to try are Wild Rice Chicken Soup, Supreme Pizza Soup or this recipe for 30 Minute Chicken Tortellini Soup has all the flavor of a slowly simmered meal but only takes 30 minutes to make. It's hearty and satisfying too!
Serve with
Are you wondering what to serve with Taco Soup? Here are my favorites!
- Tortilla chips, corn chips or warm tortillas.
- Serving it with a Chopped Salad is delicious!
- Make a batch of these easy yeast rolls - yum!
- Start the evening with a Blood Orange Paloma or Mexican Martini - make it a party!
Don't forget to check out my Amazon storefront for some of my favorite products! 🛍️
If you love this recipe please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating!
Easy Taco Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 1 can sliced olives
- 1 14.5 oz can kidney beans
- 1 14.5 oz can pinto beans
- 1 14.5 oz hominy don't like hominy? substitute a can of green beans
- 1 14.5 oz can corn
- 2 tablespoons canned jalapeños chopped *
- 1 package taco seasoning
- 2 14 oz cans fire roasted tomatoes
- ½ cup water
Instructions
- Brown hamburger meat and drain well.
- Add the chopped onion and taco seasoning packet. Sauté for a couple of minutes. Open all of the cans - do not drain - and dump everything (juice and all!) in with the taco meat.
- Increase the heat to high and bring everything to a boil, stir well.
- Reduce heat to low, stirring occasionally. Simmer for one hour covered. Serve with chopped cilantro, sour cream & tortilla chips.
Notes
- Brown the meat in a sauce pan and drain well.
- Add it to the slow cooker.
- Top with the remaining ingredients - stir to combine.
- Cover & cook on low for 4 hours.
Robert
Great sounding and great looking soup
Larry
This looks very good and easy to make but you only mention adding 1/2 cup of water. Even if you don't drain the liquid from any of the canned vegetables I would think you'd have to add beef broth.
Bowl Me Over
Nope, I don't add any beef broth Larry - just dump and go. You can certainly add it if you'd prefer a more soupy soup!
Liza
My husband loves Mexican flavors! And I'm always nervous about making Mexican because I'm not familiar with this cuisine! But this recipe sounds so doable! I HAVE to make it! Thanks!!
Michelle Turner
I know what's for dinner tonight. Perfect after TOO MUCH TURKEY.
Angela @marathonsandmotivation.com
Soup season is here...can't wait to try this, Pinned 🙂
Bowl Me Over
Awesome - let me know what you think Angela!
christine
My son just discovered his love for tacos. This will be an awesome way for me to switch up taco night. I can only eat tacos so many nights - this will be a great way for him to still have the flavors but in a soup!
Bowl Me Over
Thanks Christine - I just love this soup, my Mom has made it for years. It's so good!
Healing Tomato
This looks so hearty and delicious. I have always wanted to make a taco soup. I think I will try using some homemade sofritos in place of the beef.
Psychic Nest
Hi Debra,
What a full of flavor recipe! I do it as well to my mom's recipes, I change them so as to fit my taste. Your taco soup looks really easy to make and I can't wait to try it. Thank you for sharing!
Zaria
Bowl Me Over
Wonderful, thanks Zaria - we've enjoyed this soup for many years, I hope you do too! Thanks for stopping by!!