Easy Taco Soup

ByCaitlyn
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Familiar taco flavors come together in a bowl for a hearty, comforting soup. Warm spices, ground beef, and beans make this one-pot taco soup the best way to warm up on a cold, rainy day.

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Lesson Learned

Picture this: you’re settling in to your first semester in ninth-grade home economics class. Soon, you will learn how to sew, some basic interior design, and cooking skills. First assignment: taco soup. I will never forget when the teacher said, “she understood it sounded weird, but that it would be tasty.”I know it sounds weird, but trust me, it will be tasty.”

Now, cooking wasn’t foreign to me. If you have been following along or read my “About Me” page, you’ll know that I started young. However, this recipe was new to me, and I couldn’t wait to discover what taco soup really was.

Before I knew it, the class was divided into smaller groups, and we were cooking! Aprons on, roles assigned, and ingredients shared. Ground beef and chopped onions sizzled in the pot while we measured the spices and drained the cans of beans and corn. Chefs in the making.

After waiting for what felt like an eternity to a bunch of middle schoolers for the taco soup to simmer, we were finally able to devour it. My teacher did not lie to us when she said it would be tasty. It was full of flavor and filled our bellies!

I couldn’t wait to share what I had learned in the classroom with my family, so I got cooking at home to make this comforting bowl of deliciousness. My parents were equally surprised when they took their first bite of the soup, and it soon became a family favorite!

Why THIS Recipe?

Not only does this recipe require minimal prep, but it also comes together in one pot, making it a go-to dinner for busy weekday nights with easy clean-up! Being one of my frequent-flyer recipes, I have perfected the ratios of ingredients, creating a recipe that will become a part of your rotation of family favorites, just as it did for mine. Warm taco spices, ground beef, and beans come together in this comfort meal that is sure to please all!

The Things Inside: The Ingredients

  • Ground Beef – 80/20 fat ratio is great, but feel free to get leaner beef
  • Onion – purple is my favorite, but you could use whatever you prefer
  • Garlic Cloves – minced in a jar work perfectly
  • Corn – canned corn is great, but you can substitute frozen corn
  • Black Beans – canned are great; you can use raw beans as well, just don’t forget to soak them ahead of time
  • Kidney Beans – canned is ideal; however, you can use raw beans, just remember to soak them before cooking
  • Diced Tomatoes with Green Chiles – any brand is okay, but make sure you get it with the green chiles
  • Beef Broth – any one is okay, or opt for a bouillon cube with water
  • Taco Seasoning – either buy some or make your own
  • Ranch Seasoning – just one packet is all you need
  • Salt – table salt is great
  • Black Pepper – fresh cracked is best

Building The Dish: Step-By-Step Guide

  • Step 1
  • Prepare your ingredients. Chop your onion, drain the corn, and rinse or soak your beans, depending on which kind you are using.
  • Step 2
  • Brown the ground beef over medium heat in a large dutch oven with the onion, then add the garlic and stir until fragrant.
  • Step 3
  • Next, add in the corn, black beans, kidney beans, diced tomatoes with green chiles, beef broth, taco seasoning, and ranch seasonings. Bring to a boil.
  • Step 4
  • Reduce the heat, and simmer for about 30 minutes.

The Perfect Pairing

Serve this up with your favorite taco toppings, such as shredded cheese, cilantro, lime wedges, tortilla strips, sour cream, and/or avocados for the ultimate comfort meal. It can also be served as taco salad on a bed of lettuce; reduce the amount of broth or serve with a slotted spoon for this tasty variation! Although easy taco soup can fill your belly, there is always room for something sweet after, so serve it with some Sweet Honey Cornbread, Amaretto Peach Cobbler, or Coffee Cake Style Cinnamon Banana Bread to satisfy your dessert craving.

Have Leftovers?

Taco soup is a crowd pleaser, but there may be some leftovers you need to store. You can keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week, or in the freezer for a few months. To reheat, let it thaw if frozen, then warm it on the stove in a pan, or zap it in the microwave for a few minutes. If it needs a little more juice, add a splash of broth while reheating.

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Easy Taco Soup

  • Author: Caitlyn
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 8 bowls 1x
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Description

Familiar taco flavors come together in a bowl for a hearty, comforting soup. Warm spices, ground beef, and beans make this one-pot taco soup the best way to warm up on a cold, rainy day.

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 large onion
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 15 oz canned corn, drained
  • 1 15 oz canned black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 16 oz canned kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 10 oz canned diced tomatoes with green chiles
  • 32 oz beef broth
  • 3 tbsp taco seasoning
  • 1 packet ranch seasoning
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp black pepper

Instructions

  1. Chop the onion, drain the corn, and rinse the beans.
  2. Cook the ground beef in a large dutch oven with the onion until the meat is brown and the onion is translucent.
  3. Add the garlic and stir until fragrant.
  4. Add in the corn, black beans, kidney beans, diced tomatoes with green chiles, beef broth, taco and ranch seasonings, and bring to a boil.
  5. Reduce the heat, and simmer for about 30 minutes. Enjoy!

Notes

  • You can substitute the canned corn with frozen corn.
  • If you substitute the canned beans with raw beans, be sure to soak them before cooking.
  • Top with your favorite taco toppings, such as shredded cheese, sour cream, avocados, tortilla strips, lime juice, and cilantro.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Dinner
  • Cuisine: American

Don’t forget to share this recipe!

Hey there! I’m Caitlyn, the brains behind The Traveler’s Ingredients. I’m an amateur chef, baker, and avid food lover who is also passionate about visiting every corner of the world that I can! I am adamant about recreating dishes that I fell in love with in my travels, mastering comfort meals, and building packing lists to ease pre-trip jitters.

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