Easy Taco Soup (Weeknight Dinner Recipe)
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my Disclosure page for more information.
If you’re looking to change up Taco Tuesdays how about a piping hot bowl of Easy Taco Soup? This delicious and hearty soup recipe is packed with all your favorite taco flavors and is made with simple ingredients that you probably have in your pantry.
But the best part? It’s incredibly easy to prepare and ready in about 45 minutes, making it a perfect choice for busy weeknight dinners.
For more easy soups try my rustic Italian tortellini soup and slow cooker ham and potato soup recipes.
We’re sharing tips to help you get the best results with this recipe. If you don’t need the tips, scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and a printable recipe card.
Today I’m updating a long time family favorite and “go to” recipe. It’s one of those classic recipes that never goes out of style and delivers with a fantastic Tex-Mex flavor profile. My whole family loves this soup, which means I now make double batches (because…teenagers!).
The easy preparation guarantees this recipe has a spot on my regular meal rotation. All busy Mamas appreciate a recipe you can toss together and have on the table in under and hour, right?!
Set up a taco bar for a fun weeknight meal or weekend game day party.
I’ve been making this homemade taco soup for years, tweaking it here and there. I think I’m finally at a point where I can quit tinkering with the recipe. Maybe.
Can’t get enough of the taco flavors? Give my taco casserole and homemade taco salad recipes a try. Both are go-to recipes because they’re incredibly EASY to make and everyone in my family loves them!
This easy recipe is a great choice if you’re cooking food for friends in need. Simply pair it with a salad and a loaf of bread and you’re good to go.
Homemade Taco Soup Ingredients
You most likely have all the ingredients in your pantry or freezer right now. Which makes this an ideal choice when you’re frazzled at the end of the day and have limited time to make dinner. And if you’re missing an ingredient, feel free to substitute with something similar.
You’ll need the following items for the classic version of this soup:
- Lean ground beef: I use a lean 93/7 blend for this recipe.
- Vegetables: tomatoes, corn, black beans, and yellow onion.
- Tomato sauce: serves as a base for the soup.
- Seasonings: ranch dressing mix and a packet of taco seasoning add flavor.
Get the complete ingredients & directions in the recipe card below.
How to Make Easy Taco Soup Recipe
Place the meat and diced onion in a large pot or Dutch oven. Cook over medium heat, breaking the meat into small pieces, until it’s no longer pink. Drain the excess fat.
Add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine.
Simmer for 30 minutes.
Ladle into bowls, garnish with preferred toppings and serve.
Tips for Making Taco Soup with Ranch
- I use a handy meat chopper when making ground meat dinners because it’s a quick way to create even-sized pieces of meat.
- I don’t add additional salt to this recipe because the taco seasoning and ranch dressing mix bring enough salt to the party.
- If you have pre-cooked ground beef, this is a quick 30-minute meal.
- If the soup is too thick add additional water to thin it a bit.
- If you are a ranch lover like us, I recommend skipping the packets and getting the jumbo-sized Ranch blend because it’s cheaper to buy in bulk.
- To make this dish in the crock pot, cook the ground beef as directed then place everything in the slow cooker to cook for 4-6 hours.
Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- Substitute ground turkey or cooked, shredded chicken for the ground beef.
- Swap a bag of frozen Birds Eye C&W Ultimate Southwest Blend for the canned beans and corn. It’s a nice blend, with more corn than beans. Which means The Girl may actually eat a bowl. And the mild poblano chiles and red bell peppers give the soup a nice little zip without adding any heat.
- For additional flavor, use fire-roasted tomatoes or Rotel in place of the regular ones.
- For a spicier soup, serve with hot sauce (Cholula is our fave).
- Homemade taco seasoning option: It’s so easy – truly! And the best part? No funky ingredients when you make your own spice blend. Don’t be put off by the ingredient list – these are all basic pantry spices. And it only takes a few minutes to mix up a batch.
What to Serve with Easy Taco Soup
- Optional toppings: sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, crushed tortilla chips or corn chips, chopped cilantro or diced avocado.
- I like to set up a toppings bar, so everyone can load up with their favorite toppings.
- Pair it with fresh baked cornbread or warm tortillas and a green salad for a complete meal.
- This easy soup recipe is terrific with a couple of slices of garlic bread (don’t knock it until you’ve tried it). I’ve been hooked on garlic bread with Mexican food since the LaCocina days. Longtime Aspen-area people will know what I’m talking about, right?!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to store leftovers?
Let the soup cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container, then store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
How do I reheat leftover soup?
Transfer the desired amount to a pot and heat on the stove over medium heat, stirring occasionally until it’s heated through. You can also reheat individual portions in a microwave-safe bowl for 2-3 minutes.
Can this recipe be prepared in advance?
Yes, you can make this soup a day ahead and store it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve.
Can I freeze this soup?
This taco soup recipe is great for freezing! You can store it in freezer-safe container or in a Ziploc freezer bag for up to 3 months. Tip: If you use Ziploc bags store them flat to save some space in the freezer!
Another freezer storage tip – divide into portion sizes before freezing so you only have to thaw out what you need.
I use Souper Cubes to freeze individual portion sizes of soup and other foods.
Why You Need to Make This Classic Taco Soup Recipe
Whether you’re looking for a quick and delicious dinner or meal prepping for the week ahead, this flavorful soup has got you covered. It’s packed with flavorful ingredients, ready in about 45 minutes and can be easily customized to what you have on hand. So give it a try and see for yourself why it’s become a family and reader favorite!
More easy soup recipes…
Easy Taco Soup was one of the first recipes I posted on my blog. And it was overdue for a refresh. Originally posted on 7/30/14 and updated on 2/4/19 and 9/24/24.
Enter your email & I’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
Best Taco Soup Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef, I use 93/7 blend
- 1/2 large onion, chopped
- 1 ounce packet ranch dressing mix
- 1 ounce packet taco seasoning mix,, (or 2 tablespoons Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix)
- 8 ounces tomato sauce
- 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes,, I use the petite-diced
- 15 ounce can black beans,, drained & rinsed
- 8.75 ounce can whole kernel corn,, drained
- 3-4 cups water
- shredded cheese, Cholula or hot sauce, optional toppings
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef and chopped onion in a large pot until beef is no longer pink (onion should be translucent). Drain the grease and discard.1 pound lean ground beef, 1/2 large onion
- Add the ranch and taco seasoning mixes, tomato sauce, tomatoes, beans, corn and 3 cups water. Stir to combine.1 ounce packet ranch dressing mix, 1 ounce packet taco seasoning mix,, 8 ounces tomato sauce, 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes,, 15 ounce can black beans,, 8.75 ounce can whole kernel corn,, 3-4 cups water
- Bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes. Add additional water if soup is too thick.
- Serve with shredded cheese and hot sauce if desired.shredded cheese, Cholula or hot sauce
Notes
- You can use ground turkey or chicken in place of the hamburger meat.
- Substitute the cans of beans and corn with 1 bag of Birds Eye C&W Ultimate Southwest Blend (found in the frozen veggie section at your grocery store).
- Use pre-cooked ground beef to make this a 30 minute meal.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- I use Souper cubes to freeze individual portions. After the soup is frozen you can pop it out of the mold and store in freezer bags for 1-2 months.
- Optional toppings are not included in the nutritional information.
Nutritional Estimate
Nutritional information is provided as a reference, using an online calculator. We recommend verifying the information independently for accuracy.
***** Save The Recipe For Later *****
I’ve always wondered if when beef and onions are sautéed together and then grease/juice are discarded, aren’t you also discarding all the flavor rendered from the onion?
The meat absorbs the onion flavor when they’re cooked together so I haven’t noticed that. If it’s a concern for you, you can use a leaner ground beef so you don’t have to drain the grease.
I added pepperocini peppers to this and it was delish! Thanks for the recipe. So easy and so good
Ohh that sounds amazing!
Made it tonight. It was yummy. I served it with some nacho chips on the side. Added the cheese on top but also put on some dollops of sour cream. After all, I put sour cream on my tacos. I will definitely make it again.
I love the idea of garnishing it like a taco, Fran! So glad you enjoyed it.
This is real tasty and easy. I add more vegetables (carrots and zucchini) and use Mrs. Dash salt free taco seasoning to reduce sodium.
So happy you enjoyed the soup, Julie. Thanks for stopping by to share your changes.
It says 6 servings, about how big would one serving be?
I haven’t measured servings out, but I think 1 1/2-ish cups should be close.
How much would a serving be? A cup? 2 cups? Trying to portion control thanks!
I haven’t measure out portions, but I think 1 1/2-ish cups would be close.
What size pot would work for this?
I use an 8 quart stock pot for this recipe, Allie.
If I go with the large container of ranch seasoning for this, how much is equivalent to a packet?
Two tablespoons of ranch mix equals 1 packet of seasoning.
Delicious! I like to make ahead meals and freeze…does this freeze well?
It should freeze OK, but I haven’t tried it personally.
Love this soup!
So glad you enjoyed the soup, Melissa!
ARE DICED TOMS DRAINED
You will use the juice & the tomatoes.
What does the ranch dressing do for this taco soup?
The ranch seasoning packet enhances the flavor of the soup.
This soup is delicious. I substituted shredded chicken for the ground beef & added a can of pinto beans. Served with tortilla strips & cheese.
Chicken works very well in this recipe. so glad you liked it, Peggy!
Taco soup sounds delicious. It is getting cooler here in Arizona and thinking of making more soups. Putting this on my menu for next week. Thanks for sharing. It’s always great to get new ideas.
Thanks for stopping by, Gen! I hope you enjoy Taco Soup as much as I do.
This sounds delicious!! And easy:)
I bet your crew would love it, Andrea. Let me know if you try it.