This Easy Taco Soup is full of flavor, hearty, and perfect for any night of the week! Make it on the stovetop in 30 minutes or use your slow cooker and come home to a delicious meal!
*Originally published January 2016. Photos updated and video added*
This easy taco soup is a lifesaver! It can be made both on the stovetop and in the slow cooker.
So, maybe you are on your way home and don’t know what to make for dinner, but you do know it needs to be something quick!
Make this taco soup using the stove top version and dinner is on the table in under 30 minutes!
Or you can throw everything into the crockpot and come home to an amazing bowl of soup! Both are great options, and I often take the slow cooker route. 🙂
Some other great soups I have are Slow Cooker Spaghetti and Meatball Soup, Slow Cooker Chicken Sausage, and Shrimp Gumbo, and Creamy Cajun Potato Soup <-(my husband really enjoys this one and he’s not a soup fan either!)
Taco Soup made in the Crockpot
As I mentioned earlier, this soup can easily be made in a slow cooker. Just brown your meat, then dump everything in, cover, and cook on HIGH 4-6 hours or LOW 8 hours.
You can also place the ground beef in the crockpot raw. Just be sure to use lean ground beef.
Place ground beef in the slow cooker and break it up into medium/small chunks. Continue by adding the remaining ingredients and cook the same.
The texture of the meat will be softer than the meat that has been browned.
Quick and Easy Soup
Now, there are sooo many options for serving this wonderful bowl of goodness.
Top it with avocado, guacamole, sour cream, shredded cheese, cilantro, chips…… basically, anything you would top your tacos with you can put on top of this soup!
My kids are not soup fans, but they do like this soup.
Well, actually, in their words, “Mom, we don’t like it, we love it!”
I remember the first time they used that line on me.
They said the first half and then paused for a while, you know, for effect, then finished. Where do they learn these things? Little stinkers!!
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Easy Taco Soup
Ingredients
- 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) corn, drained
- 1 (15 oz) (425g) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15 oz) (425g) chili beans in chili sauce
- 1 (28 oz) (793g) crushed tomatoes
- 1 (4 oz) (113g) chopped green chiles
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano, onion powder, and garlic powder
- Salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper to taste
Instructions
STOVE TOP VERSION:
- In a large dutch oven or pot brown the ground beef and onions until meat is no longer pink. Add the garlic and cook for 2 minutes.
- Add remaining ingredients. Cover with lid and simmer for 15 minutes. Serve with toppings of choice. Can also be simmered longer if desired, just stir occasionally.
SLOW COOKER VERSION:
- Place raw ground beef in the bottom of the crockpot and break up into small chunks (or if you prefer you can brown it). Add in all other ingredients except toppings and stir together.
- Cover with lid and cook on high 4-6 hours or low 8-10 hours. Serve with desired toppings.
Video
Notes
- Total time reflects stove top version.
- Freezer Friendly: Place in a freezer-safe container once cooled. Freeze for up to 2-3 months. Thaw and reheat as needed.
- Topping suggestions: sour cream, chopped cilantro, chopped onions, shredded cheddar, crushed tortilla chips, avocado…….
- Simple side salad
- Buttermilk Cornbread
- All the toppings!
Great taco soup recipe. Quick and easy. The only changes I made were using taco seasoning and I used frozen corn. Turned out great! Thank you!
Thank you very much! And thanks for sharing!
Thanks for such a simple idea I had not even thought of. We love Chicken Tortilla soup, and being Winter in Australia atm I want to change up our weekly Taco Tuesday. I will be back for my family’s reaction. 😊
You are so welcome!! I hope you enjoy!!
This recipe was perfect! I did modify and use half chicken half beef broth just because that’s what I had in my fridge and then I omitted the seasonings and just added a packet of taco seasoning. It was perfect! Ate it all week for lunch and didn’t get sick of it. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing and so glad you liked it!!
Made taco soup for the first time, loved it whole family did to. And I have one very picky eater. Will make this again 5 stars
Thank you so much!!
Can you substitute the chili beans in chili sauce
Yes, you can use whatever canned beans you prefer but it will change the taste a little.
How much is considered a single
serving?
I am sorry at this time I don’t know how much a single serving is. When I make this again I will try to remember to measure it out.
Don’t you drain the hamburger first?
Yes, if you aren’t using a lean hamburger then drain off the grease. Hope you enjoyed!
Yes
I made this yesterday. Great for any day. My son loved it as well. I used my home canned pinto beans. Added some hot crushed peppers. Broth is excellent either chicken or beef.
Thank you so much for sharing!! So glad you liked it!!
I made this today and was very good
Wonderful!! So glad you liked it!
Not hot enough. Do you have to bring everything up to a boil before you simmer?
Yes, it works best to bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer. By not hot enough are you meaning temperature or spiciness? If you want it spicier feel free to add in cayenne pepper or chop a jalapeno.
Made soup exactly as recipe stated.Was a little bland so added packet of taco seasoning.
I would think it should of had tomato paste?
Overall good.
Thanks for sharing!
This recipe was amazing! Could excess soup be put it the freezer and reheated?
Thanks! So glad you liked it! Yes, the soup is freezer friendly!
Could I double the ground beef if I didn’t want to use beans?
Yes, you can!
If you don’t use beans you need more ground beef.
Beans help give the soup stock.
I chop bell pepper and use a med size onion also put jalapeños pepper in my soup. About 2 tablespoons sugar to kick in the spice.
If I wanted to pressure can this recipe what changes will I need to make? I’ve made this recipe in the past and we love it. I’ve frozen it but would like to try pressure canning.
TIA
Hi! Unfortunately, I don’t have much experience with pressure canning. Sorry!!
I’m looking forward to trying this……sounds yummy! But was wondering if I could add Chorizo? Any thoughts?
I think it would be a great addition! Let me know how you like it!
Great recipe!! The chili with beans are a tasty addition! Brings the flavors together nicely. A great and easy tout together soup!
This is my second time making your dish and my husband requests it often. Oh, and he has to have a few test samples before dinner 🤣 Make sure I’m doing things right!😂 Thank you!
Lol, that sounds like my husband! He loves to taste test as well!! Thanks for sharing and so glad you like it!
I have a Taco soup recipe but using black beans sounds good to me. Will have to try your recipe next time.
Let me know how you like it!
I used to make a taco soup, years ago, would use the ground beef from making regular tacos the night before & just add a can of Campbell’s Alphabet vegetable soup to it+ doctor it up a bit I ( & family) liked the combination of vegetable soup, taco seasonings in the ground beef & maybe onions
Great idea! Thanks for sharing!
Hi, what chili beans in chili sauce did you use? Thanks! Can’t wait to try!
Hi Susan! You can use Busch’s Chili Beans or anything similar.
I want to make this to serve around 30+ people for my daughters birthday party! I have a 7qt slow cooker. Should I just double the recipe? And will that change the cook time at all? Ive never used it before, so I don’t know how it all works! Thanks!
Depending on the age of the girls and if you are serving other foods, I think I would triple it. Do you know anyone you could borrow crockpots from if you don’t have enough?