Description
This Easy Taco Soup is a hearty and flavorful one-pot meal perfect for busy weeknights. Combining lean ground beef with a medley of beans, corn, tomatoes, and authentic taco spices, this soup delivers the robust flavors of a classic taco in a comforting bowl. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s an adaptable recipe that can be made on the stovetop or slow cooker, and garnished with your favorite toppings like shredded cheese, sour cream, and tortilla chips.
Ingredients
Scale
Soup Base
- 1 pound (500g) lean ground beef
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 4-5 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups (946ml) beef or chicken broth or stock
- 1 (15 oz) (432g) canned corn, drained
- 1 (15 oz) (425g) canned black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15 oz) (425g) canned chili beans in chili sauce
- 1 (28 oz) (793g) canned crushed tomatoes
- 1 (4 oz) (113g) canned chopped green chiles
Spices
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper to taste
Toppings
- Shredded cheese
- Sour cream
- Sliced green onions
- Cilantro
- Tortilla chips
- Lime wedges
Instructions
- Brown the Beef and Aromatics: In a large dutch oven or pot over medium-high heat, cook the lean ground beef and chopped onion until the beef is no longer pink, breaking it up with a spoon. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add Remaining Ingredients: Stir in the beef or chicken broth, drained corn, black beans, chili beans, crushed tomatoes, green chiles, chili powder, cumin, dried oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, and season with salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper to taste.
- Simmer: Cover the pot with a lid and simmer the soup on medium-low heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. For deeper flavor, simmer longer if desired.
- Serve: Ladle the taco soup into bowls and add desired toppings such as shredded cheese, sour cream, tortilla chips, sliced green onions, cilantro, or lime wedges.
- Slow Cooker Option: Place raw ground beef in the bottom of a crockpot, breaking it into small chunks (or brown first for extra flavor). Add all other ingredients except toppings and mix well. Cover and cook on high for 4-6 hours or low for 8-10 hours. Serve with your preferred toppings.
Notes
- For a vegetarian variation, omit the ground beef and use vegetable broth.
- Adjust cayenne pepper to your preferred spice level or omit for a milder soup.
- Simmering longer enhances the depth of flavors and thickens the soup slightly.
- Brown the beef first before slow cooking for more complex flavor, but you can add it raw to save time.
- Garnish with fresh lime juice right before serving to brighten the flavors.
