Easy Taco Soup Recipe

Name: Easy Taco Soup Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 pound lean ground beef; 1 Tbsp olive oil; 1 medium onion (finely diced); ½ red bell pepper (diced); ½ green bell pepper (diced); 3 garlic cloves (minced); 2 Tbsp Taco Seasoning (or 1 packet of store-bought taco seasoning); 16 oz can beans (, drained (kidney or pinto)); 1 cup corn (canned, freshly or frozen); 1 1/2 cups tomatoes (diced, from about 1 lb fresh tomatoes*); 2 cups beef broth

This hearty Taco Soup recipe bursts with crave-worthy Mexican flavors, and then it comes together in just 30 minutes. After only 10 minutes of prep work, it’s easy to serve up a warm bowl of this soup loaded with ground beef, tomatoes, corn, beans, and a quick homemade taco seasoning.

Like our Slow Cooker Beef Chili, this is the perfect bowl of comfort for cooler weather, and it also has the same crowd-pleasing flavors as our irresistible Taco Salad. This Taco Soup is the best of both!

Taco soup in a bowl loaded with tortilla chips, cheese, sour cream and avocado.

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The Best Taco Soup Recipe

We love all foods Mexican around here. Whether it’s Chicken Fajitas, Fish Tacos, or even Ceviche, Mexican-inspired recipes are always on rotation. This taco soup is a great substitute for Taco Tuesday when you want tacos yet something hot and satisfying.

But if you need more reasons to try this easy taco soup, here are some convincing points:

Easy, 30-minute meal and a 1-pot recipe for fast cleanup
Simple ingredients found in your pantry and versatile (you can change it up)
Make-Ahead – Reheats and freezes well (see storage tips below)

Hearty homemade Mexican stew in a Dutch oven topped with cilantro.

Ingredients

These taco soup ingredients are mostly found in your pantry, and then we just add a quick homemade taco seasoning for that authentic Mexican flavor:

Taco Seasoning – Prepare our homemade taco seasoning (which is easy), or use your favorite store-bought taco seasoning packet
Ground Beef – Use lean ground beef 85-90% for best taste. Since we’re using lean ground beef, add a little oil to keep it from sticking to the pan
Onion – White or yellow. White onion is often used in Mexican cooking, but white and yellow onions are generally interchangeable
Bell Pepper – 1/2 of each of red and green peppers, gives great flavor and color to the soup, but you can use 1 whole pepper of either color in a pinch.
Garlic – adds great flavor and aromatics
Beans – We prefer kidney beans or pinto beans, but you can use black beans or even garbanzo beans if you prefer
Corn – canned, fresh, or frozen will work
Tomatoes – diced tomatoes work great here, but you can substitute canned diced tomatoes or 2 jars of Rotel (canned tomatoes with green chilis) depending on how spicy you like your soup
Beef Broth – We use low sodium to control the salt in the soup

Pro Tip

Be sure to rinse your canned beans and corn before adding them to the soup as they can be high in salt. Rinsing canned vegetables is recommended to reduce the salt content. It’s better to season the soup yourself, adding salt to taste.

Diced ingredients in glass bowls including beans, corn, onion and peppers

Substitutions

Taco soup is super forgiving and versatile. Try some of these substitutions to make it your own:

For added heat, chop jalapeños to add with the garlic, or afterward, add Sriracha or hot sauce at the end
Adjust the thickness of the soup by adding or reducing the amount of broth, or adding an extra can of beans for a thicker soup. Also, you could even use refried beans
Swap the protein, instead of ground beef, try ground turkey, pork, or chicken. For shredded chicken, check out this recipe for our Chicken Tortilla Soup

How to Make Taco Soup

See how easy it is to serve the best taco soup recipe in just 30 minutes:

Taco Seasoning – Mix the taco seasoning ingredients and set aside.
Heat oil in a Dutch oven and sauté the ground beef. Then, add just a touch of taco seasoning to season the meat.
Chop the onion and cube the pepper and tomatoes.
Add the vegetables, remaining ingredients, and seasoning to the cooked ground beef. Simmer on low for 12-15 minutes, and then serve hot.

Step-by-step instructions on how to make taco soup

Don’t Forget Dessert!

After the soup, don’t forget to finish the meal with a Mexican-inspired sweet treat like Churros, Flan, or Tres Leches Cake.

What is the difference between chili and taco soup?

Taco soup and chili have similar ingredients but the main difference is in consistency and seasonings. Taco soup is thinner than chili. We use Taco Seasoning for taco soup because it lends a traditional Mexican flavor.

Can I make Taco Soup in a slow cooker?

Sure! After sautéing the meat in step two, transfer the cooked meat and the rest of the ingredients to a slow cooker. Cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours.

Is Taco Soup low carb?

As written, this Taco Soup recipe isn’t low-carb, but with a few tweaks, it could fit a low-carb, keto diet. Omit the beans and any carb-heavy toppings, like tortilla strips.

Toppings for Taco Soup

We love adding all our favorite taco toppings when serving taco soup, and we like serving the toppings in individual bowls on the table just like you would with tacos. Here are a few toppings to try:

Tortilla chips or crushed Doritos
A dollop of sour cream
Diced avocado or guacamole
Cheddar or Mexican cheese
Fresh cilantro or chopped green onions
Lime wedges
Warm Homemade Tortillas

Hearty taco soup in a bowl topped with avocado and cheese.

This recipe brings together two amazing recipes in one: Beef Tacos and soup, a perfect combination. You are totally in for a treat with this quick taco soup.

Make-Ahead

Taco soup keeps really well, so you won’t waste a single drop!

To Refrigerate: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days
Freezing: Transfer the soup into freezer-friendly containers or use freezer zip-top bags. In fact, we like to freeze in single-serving portions for easy defrosting.
To Reheat: Thaw in the fridge overnight, and then reheat in the microwave or on the stove.

More Easy Soup Recipes

If you loved this taco soup recipe, check out these fan-favorite soup recipes for your next meal:

Valentina Ablaev

I am Valentina, the creator behind the food blog Valentina’s Corner where I share our family’s favorite recipes. When I am not in the kitchen, I enjoy spending quality time with my husband and 5 children. We invite you to join us on our blogging journey!