Hearty Taco Soup Recipe: The Cozy Comfort Food You’ll Adore

Hearty taco soup bursts with vibrant flavors that dance across your palate like a culinary fiesta.

Layers of spices mingle beautifully, creating a comforting dish perfect for chilly evenings.

Protein-packed and simple to prepare, this recipe promises a delightful meal in under an hour.

Home cooks adore how quickly ingredients come together with minimal fuss.

Beef, beans, and aromatic seasonings blend seamlessly in one pot, making cleanup a breeze.

Zesty and satisfying, each spoonful delivers a warm embrace of Mexican-inspired goodness.

You’ll want to savor every bite of this soul-warming soup that brings excitement to dinner time.

Why This Taco Soup Is Always a Favorite

• Crush Flavor Complexity: Packed with bold spices like taco seasoning, cumin, and chili powder, this soup delivers a robust taste experience that transforms simple ingredients into a mouthwatering meal.
• Simplify Meal Prep: One-pot cooking method means minimal cleanup, making it perfect for busy weeknights or when you want delicious food without complicated kitchen work.
• Boost Nutritional Power: Loaded with protein from ground beef and beans, plus vegetables like corn and tomatoes, this soup provides a well-rounded, satisfying dish that keeps you full and energized.
• Customize Toppings Galore: Flexible serving options with shredded cheese, sour cream, and cilantro let everyone personalize their bowl, making it a crowd-pleasing choice for family dinners or casual gatherings.

What Goes Into a Hearty Taco Soup

• Ground Beef: A hearty and flavorful meat that provides the main protein for the soup.
• Onion: Adds depth and aromatic base to the soup's flavor profile.

• Kidney Beans: Provides additional protein and a creamy texture to the soup.
• Black Beans: Adds extra protein and a rich, earthy flavor to the dish.
• Corn: Brings a sweet and fresh element to the soup's overall taste.

• Diced Tomatoes: Creates a rich, tangy base for the soup.
• Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies: Adds a spicy and zesty kick to the soup.
• Green Chilies: Provides a mild heat and vibrant flavor.
• Beef Broth: Serves as the liquid base that helps blend all the flavors together.

• Taco Seasoning, Cumin, Chili Powder: Delivers authentic Mexican-inspired flavor and warmth to the soup.
• Salt, Pepper: Helps to enhance and balance the overall taste of the dish.

How to Make Taco Soup the Easy Way

Step 1: Brown Beef and Onions

In a spacious cooking pot, sizzle ground beef and diced onions over medium heat. Cook until the meat transforms into a rich brown color and onions become translucent, approximately 6-8 minutes.

Carefully drain any excess grease to keep the dish light and delicious.

Step 2: Spice It Up

• Taco seasoning
• Cumin
• Chili powder

Stir and toast the spices for one minute, releasing their incredible flavors and creating a mouthwatering base for the soup.

Step 3: Add Hearty Ingredients

• Kidney beans
• Black beans
• Corn
• Diced tomatoes
• Green chilies
• Beef broth

Mix everything together until well combined, creating a vibrant and colorful mixture.

Step 4: Simmer and Develop Flavors

Allow the soup to gently simmer for 15-20 minutes.

This slow cooking process helps blend all the incredible flavors, making the soup rich and deeply satisfying.

Step 5: Perfect the Seasoning

Taste the soup and adjust with salt and pepper to enhance the overall flavor profile.

Make sure each spoonful is perfectly balanced.

Step 6: Serve and Garnish

• Shredded cheese
• Sour cream
• Chopped cilantro

Enjoy this hearty and comforting meal that’s sure to warm both body and soul.

Tips for the Best Ever Taco Soup Flavor

• Drain ground beef thoroughly to prevent a greasy soup and ensure a clean, rich flavor profile.
• Customize heat levels by adjusting chili powder or adding jalapeños for spice lovers who enjoy extra kick.
• Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a lighter, healthier alternative that keeps protein intact.
• Create a meal prep-friendly version by storing soup in airtight containers, which stay fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
• Boost nutritional value by adding extra vegetables like bell peppers or zucchini during the simmering process for added texture and vitamins.

Ways to Change Up Your Taco Soup Routine

• Southwestern Chicken Swap: Replace ground beef with shredded rotisserie chicken for a lighter protein option, maintaining the same zesty spice profile.
• Vegetarian Bean Bonanza: Eliminate meat entirely, double the bean varieties, and add extra bell peppers for hearty plant-based nutrition.
• Spicy Jalapeño Kick: Incorporate fresh diced jalapeños and use hot taco seasoning to elevate the heat level, perfect for spice enthusiasts.
• Slow Cooker Strategy: Transfer all ingredients to a crockpot and cook on low for 6-8 hours, creating a hands-off preparation method with deep, developed flavors.

Great Pairings for a Bowl of Taco Soup

• Complement Mexican-Style Margaritas: Craft zesty lime margaritas that echo the soup's spicy profile, balancing the rich beef and tangy tomato flavors with refreshing citrus notes.
• Pair with Crispy Tortilla Chips: Select homemade or restaurant-quality corn tortilla chips with sea salt to provide delightful crunch and textural contrast against the soup's soft ingredients.
• Match with Creamy Avocado Salad: Prepare a light avocado salad dressed with lime juice and cilantro to cut through the soup's warmth and add fresh, cool elements to the meal.
• Choose Robust Red Wine: Select a medium-bodied red wine like Tempranillo or Malbec with enough acidity and fruit notes to stand up to the soup's robust spices and hearty meat.

Taco Soup Storage Tips for Busy Nights

• Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, ensuring the soup remains fresh and safe to eat.
• Freeze: Pour cooled soup into freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Freeze for up to 3 months, leaving some space for expansion. Label with the date to track storage time.
• Microwave Reheating: Transfer desired portion to a microwave-safe dish. Cover with a microwave-safe lid or paper towel. Heat on medium power for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through to ensure even warming.
• Stovetop Reheating: Pour soup into a saucepan. Warm over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Add a splash of beef broth if the soup seems too thick.

FAQs About Flavorful Taco Soup

• Can I make this taco soup spicier?

Add extra chili powder, cayenne pepper, or diced jalapeños to increase the heat level according to your preference.

• Is this recipe good for meal prep?

Yes, taco soup stores well in the refrigerator for 3-4 days and reheats easily, making it perfect for preparing ahead of time.

• Can I use ground turkey instead of beef?

Absolutely! Ground turkey is a lean alternative that works perfectly in this recipe without changing the overall flavor profile.

• Do I need to drain the canned beans?

Rinse and drain the beans to reduce sodium content and prevent the soup from becoming too watery.

Taco Soup Recipe

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4.7 from 32 reviews

• Total Time: 35-40 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Hearty Taco Soup brings Mexican-inspired comfort to your dinner table with a rich blend of ground beef, beans, and zesty seasonings. Packed with bold flavors and easy to prepare, this soup promises a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein and Meat:

• 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef

Beans and Vegetables:

• 1 can (15 ounces / 425 grams) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can (15 ounces / 425 grams) black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can (15 ounces / 425 grams) corn kernels, drained
• 1 medium onion, chopped

Tomatoes, Seasonings, and Liquids:

• 1 can (10 ounces / 283 grams) diced tomatoes with green chilies
• 1 can (14.5 ounces / 411 grams) diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 can (4 ounces / 113 grams) diced green chilies
• 2 cups (480 milliliters) beef broth
• 1 packet taco seasoning mix
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste

Optional Garnishes:

• Shredded cheese
• Sour cream
• Chopped cilantro

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Instructions

1. Heat a large pot over medium temperature, thoroughly brown ground beef with diced onions until meat is no longer pink and onions become translucent, approximately 7 minutes.
2. Sprinkle taco seasoning, cumin, and chili powder into the meat mixture, stirring vigorously to distribute spices and release their aromatic qualities for about 60 seconds.
3. Pour kidney beans, black beans, corn kernels, diced tomatoes with green chilies, and beef broth into the pot, mixing ingredients until well incorporated.
4. Increase heat and bring the soup to a gentle bubbling simmer, reducing temperature and allowing contents to meld together for 18 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and freshly cracked black pepper, ensuring balanced flavor profile.
6. Ladle steaming soup into deep bowls and garnish with optional toppings like shredded cheddar cheese, dollop of tangy sour cream, and freshly chopped cilantro leaves for added texture and brightness.

Notes

• Drain beef thoroughly to prevent a greasy soup and ensure a clean, robust flavor profile.
• Experiment with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a lighter, healthier protein alternative that maintains the dish’s hearty texture.
• Toast spices briefly to enhance their aromatic compounds, releasing deeper, more complex flavor notes that elevate the entire soup’s taste.
• Customize heat levels by adjusting chili powder or adding fresh jalapeños, making the recipe adaptable for mild or spice-loving palates.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 15 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 36 g
• Fiber: 10 g
• Protein: 22 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg