Taco Soup is a hearty Tex-Mex–inspired dish that combines the bold flavors of tacos with the comfort of a warming soup. This versatile recipe uses pantry staples like beans, corn, and tomatoes, along with ground beef and taco seasoning, creating a robust and satisfying one-pot meal. It’s an easy weeknight dinner that can be dressed up with toppings like shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado, or tortilla chips. Popular across the U.S., especially in the Southwest, taco soup is beloved for its simplicity, affordability, and crowd-pleasing taste that works well for family dinners, potlucks, or game-day gatherings.
Ingredients
- 3 cans cans beans (any variety such as black beans, kidney beans, or pinto beans, drained and rinsed)
- 29 oz diced tomatoes (2 cans)
- 1 oz taco seasoning mix (about 1 oz)
- 1 can corn (drained)
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 onion (medium, chopped)
- 2 ribs celery (chopped)
- 1 red bell pepper (chopped)
- 1½ cups water (use an empty bean can for measure)
Instructions
Step 1: Brown the Beef
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned. Drain excess fat.
Step 2: Sauté Vegetables
- Add onion, celery, and red pepper to the pot. Cook for 5–7 minutes until softened.
Step 3: Combine Ingredients
- Stir in beans, diced tomatoes, corn, taco seasoning, and water. Mix well to combine.
Step 4: Simmer
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20–25 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
Step 5: Serve
- Ladle into bowls and garnish with toppings such as shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado, or tortilla chips if desired.
Tips
- Use any mix of beans (pinto, black, kidney) as written on the card.
- Substitute ground turkey or chicken for a leaner version.
- Add chopped green chiles for extra heat.
- Stir in diced zucchini or bell peppers for more vegetables.
- Top with shredded cheese, sour cream, or tortilla chips if desired.
- Use low-sodium beans and tomatoes to reduce sodium.
- Make it in a slow cooker after browning beef for hands-off cooking.
- Add extra water or broth to make it thinner; simmer uncovered to thicken.
- Freeze leftovers in portions for easy future meals.
- Replace taco seasoning with homemade spice mix to control salt and heat.
Nutrition
Calories: 290kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 19gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 890mgPotassium: 720mgFiber: 8gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1200IUVitamin C: 28mgCalcium: 85mgIron: 4.8mg
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