This easy Taco Soup recipe is one of my favorite meals when I want something healthy, quick, and tasty. This one-pot meal can also be made in the Crock Pot or Instant Pot.

Looking for more soup recipes? Try my Classic Homemade Chili, Creamy Tortellini Soup, Creamy Zuppa Toscana, or Chicken and Dumplings.

A bowl of Taco Soup topped with shredded chedar cheese, fritos, and chopped green onions.

What I love about this soup:

  • One-Pot Meal: Is there anything better? No mess, just an easy recipe with an even easier clean-up.
  • Simple Ingredients: You probably already have everything on hand, and only need 5 minutes to prep the best taco soup recipe.
  • Instant Pot and Slow Cooker cooking methods are included in the recipe notes, making this meal even easier.

How to Make Taco Soup:

Brown Beef: In a large pot, brown the beef, breaking it into small pieces as it browns.

A pot of cooked ground beef, broken into pieces.

Simmer: Add beans, diced green chilies, crushed tomatoes, corn, chicken broth, and spices. Bring this mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to simmer and let it cook for about 20 minutes.

Two images showing all of the ingredients for the best Taco Soup recipe before and after it's stirred together in the pot.

Serve traditional taco soup with desired toppings like avocado, cheese, tomatoes, sour cream, or tortilla chips.

A close image of a bowl of creamy taco soup, topped with cheddar cheese, corn chips, and green onions.

Storage and Freezing Instructions:

To Store: Store soup in the refrigerator for 3-4 days after making.  Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.

To Freeze: Allow creamy taco soup to cool completely. Place in a freezer-safe container or bag and freeze for up to 3 months.  To reheat, thaw soup in the refrigerator overnight and simmer on the stove until warm, or warm in the microwave.

Recipe Variations:

  • Instant Pot Taco Soup: Brown ground beef on sauté setting until cooked.  Remove grease then add remaining ingredients and add one extra cup of broth.  Cook on manual/high pressure for 3 minutes, then allow the pressure to naturally release for 15 minutes before carefully removing the lid.
  • Crock Pot Taco Soup: Brown ground beef on the stove then add the cooked ground beef and remaining ingredients to the slow cooker. Cook on low for 4-6 hours then serve with your favorite toppings.
  • Vegetarian Taco Soup: Omit the meat and add extra beans.
  • Chicken Taco Soup: Use cooked chicken instead of ground beef.
  • Spices: substitute one packet of taco seasoning in place of the dry spices listed in the recipe. Taste, and add additional seasoning if needed.

More 30-Minute Meals:

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Recipe

An easy Taco Soup recipe in a white bowl topped with cheddar cheese, fritos, and chopped green onions.
Prep 5 minutes
Cook 20 minutes
Total 25 minutes
Save Recipe

Equipment

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 pound lean ground beef (or ground turkey)
  • 4 cloves garlic , minced (or substitute 1 teaspoon garlic powder)
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes undrained
  • 4 ounce can diced green chiles
  • 15 ounce can kidney beans rinsed and drained
  • 15 ounce can black beans , rinsed and drained
  • 17 ounce can corn , drained
  • 2 cups low-sodium beef broth

Topping Suggestions:

  • Tortilla chips, or fritos
  • sour cream
  • shredded cheese
  • green onions , chopped
  • avocado , chopped
  • hot sauce
  • fresh cilantro

Instructions
 

  • Heat a large soup pot over medium heat. Brown the meat and remove any grease, if needed. Add remaining ingredients and stir to combine.
  • Bring to a low boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, before serving. Garnish with desired toppings.

Notes

(Nutritional label does not include toppings)
Storage Instructions: leftovers will keep in the fridge for 4-5 days. 
Freezing Instructions: Store in a freezer-safe container or bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge and simmer on the stove until warm. 
Instant Pot Taco Soup: Brown ground beef on sauté setting until cooked.  Remove grease. Add remaining ingredients and add one extra cup of broth.  Cook on manual/high pressure for 3 minutes, then allow the pressure to naturally release for 15 minutes before carefully removing the lid.
Crock Pot Taco Soup: Brown ground beef on the stove. Add the cooked ground beef and remaining ingredients to the slow cooker.  Cook on low for 4-6 hours. Serve with your favorite toppings.
Vegetarian Taco Soup: Leave the meat out and add extra beans.
Chicken Taco Soup: Use cooked shredded chicken in place of ground beef.
Spices: One packet of taco seasoning can replace the dry spices listed.

Macros Recipe Adaptation

1 lb. ground turkey, 17 ounces frozen corn.

Per Serving Amount

523.8 grams

Macros

431 kcal, Fat: 8g, Carbs: 58g, Protein: 34g (serves 5) | MFP: Taco Soup (TBFS Macros)

Nutrition

Calories: 516kcalCarbohydrates: 62gProtein: 36gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 62mgSodium: 1541mgPotassium: 1727mgFiber: 18gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 762IUVitamin C: 28mgCalcium: 149mgIron: 9mg

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I originally shared this recipe September 2017. Updated November 2019, September 2021 and October 2023.

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About The Author

Lauren Allen

Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos.

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This was so so good! I was wondering if you think I could make this without the meat and only a beens so that it’s vegetarian?

  2. I was looking for a quick and easy recipe for soup after church on Sunday. I googled taco soup because I knew I had all the ingredients. Thank you for this recipe, it was delicious and we loved it.

  3. 5 stars
    I love it made from scratch. This was very tasty, packed a lot of flavor, satisfying on this cold winter night with homemade tortillas, rice all the fixings. Thank you so much for sharing, keeper recipe for me, keep up the good work.

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