Looking to change up Taco Tuesdays? How about a piping hot bowl of Easy Taco Soup? Enjoy all the taco flavors in a bowl and on the table in 30 minutes!
Easy Taco Soup
Today I’m updating a long time family favorite and “go to” recipe.
Easy Taco Soup is one of those classic recipes that never goes out of style. It delivers with a fantastic Tex-Mex flavor profile.
And the easy preparation guarantees this recipe has a spot on the regular meal rotation. All busy Mamas appreciate a recipe you can toss together and have on the table in about 30 minutes for those busy weeknight dinners.
I’ve been making Easy 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 Homemade Taco Salad Recipe a try. It’s one of my go-to recipes because it’s incredibly EASY to make and everyone in my family loves it!
RELATED: Set up a Taco Bar for a fun weeknight meal.
Ingredients for the Best Taco Soup
You most likely have all the ingredients in your pantry or freezer right now. And if you’re missing an ingredient, feel free to substitute with a similar ingredient.
Which makes this an ideal choice when you’re frazzled at the end of the day and have limited time to make dinner.
You’ll need the following items for the classic version of this soup:
- Protein: lean ground beef
- Veggies: tomatoes, corn, black beans and onion
- Seasonings: taco seasoning and ranch dressing mix
Helpful Tips for Making This Recipe
- You can substitute ground turkey or shredded chicken for the ground beef.
- Swap a bag of frozen Birds Eye C&W Ultimate Southwest Blend for the canned beans & corn. It’s a nice blend, with more corn than beans. Which means The Girl may actually eat a bowl. The mild poblano chiles and red peppers give the soup a nice little zip without adding any heat.
- I don’t add additional salt to this recipe because I think the taco seasoning and ranch dressing mix bring enough salt to the party.
- If you have pre-cooked ground beef, this is a 30-minute meal.
Homemade Taco Seasoning Option
If you have a few extra minutes, I encourage you to make your own Homemade Taco Seasoning. It’s so easy – truly!
The best part? No funky ingredients when you make your own seasoning mix.
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.
Serving Suggestions for Easy Taco Soup
- Toppings: sour cream, shredded cheese, crushed tortilla chips.
- I like to set up a toppings bar, so everyone can load up with the toppings they prefer.
- Hot sauce (Cholula is our fave).
- Serve with a couple 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?
Tools Used to Make This Recipe:
Sometimes the right tools can make or break your cooking experience. These are the tools I used to make quick work of this recipe:
For Ranch-lovers – when a single packet just isn’t enough. Can also be found at Costco.
Ground meat chopper – gives an even consistency to cooked ground meats.
Cast iron dutch oven with lid – makes this a one pot meal.
What’s your favorite way to enjoy Easy Taco Soup?
Share this easy recipe with a busy Mama – she’ll thank you!
Happy Eating!
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.
I’ve shared this recipe at the following parties: Weekend Potluck, Meal Plan Monday and Wow Me Wednesday.
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MORE ARM FAMILY FAVORITES:
Taco Soup
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef, I use 93/7*
- 1/2 large onion, chopped
- 8 oz. tomato sauce
- 1 can black beans, drained & rinsed*
- 1 small can whole kernel corn,, drained*
- 1 can diced tomatoes,, I like to use the petite-diced
- 1 packet taco seasoning mix (or 2 tbsp. Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix)
- 1 packet ranch dressing mix
- 3-4 cups water
- Optional: shredded cheese, Cholula or hot sauce
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef and chopped onion in a large pot until beef is no longer pink (onion should be translucent). Drain grease.
- Add the ranch and homemade taco seasoning mixes, tomato sauce, beans, corn and 3 cups water. Stir to combine.
- 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.
Notes
- Substitute the cans of beans and corn with 1 bag of Birds Eye C&W Ultimate Southwest Blend (found in the frozen veggie section).
- I don't add additional salt because the taco & ranch mixes contain salt.
- Use pre-cooked ground beef to make this a 30 minute meal.
- Nutrition Disclaimer: All information presented on this site is intended for informational purposes only. Any nutritional information shared on www.AReinventedMom.com should only be used as a general guideline.
Nutrition
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Lee says
If I go with the large container of ranch seasoning for this, how much is equivalent to a packet?
Lori1 says
Two tablespoons of ranch mix equals 1 packet of seasoning.
Kellie says
Delicious! I like to make ahead meals and freeze…does this freeze well?
Lori1 says
It should freeze OK, but I haven’t tried it personally.
Melissa says
Love this soup!
Lori1 says
So glad you enjoyed the soup, Melissa!
EDWARD ERVIN says
ARE DICED TOMS DRAINED
Lori1 says
You will use the juice & the tomatoes.
M says
What does the ranch dressing do for this taco soup?
Lori1 says
The ranch seasoning packet enhances the flavor of the soup.
Peggy says
This soup is delicious. I substituted shredded chicken for the ground beef & added a can of pinto beans. Served with tortilla strips & cheese.
Lori1 says
Chicken works very well in this recipe. so glad you liked it, Peggy!
Gen says
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.
Lori says
Thanks for stopping by, Gen! I hope you enjoy Taco Soup as much as I do.
Andrea Olson says
This sounds delicious!! And easy:)
Lori says
I bet your crew would love it, Andrea. Let me know if you try it.