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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.
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.
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.
Serve traditional taco soup with desired toppings like avocado, cheese, tomatoes, sour cream, or tortilla chips.
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:
Taco Soup
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
- 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
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I originally shared this recipe September 2017. Updated November 2019, September 2021 and October 2023.
Absolutely phenomenal! I have made taco soup before, however no other recipe that I’ve used compares to this one.
This taco soup is delicious and such an easy weeknight meal. My whole family loves it so much that it’s been in our weekly rotation all winter!
This is the ONLY taco soup recipe I’ll ever need. The perfect amount of seasonings and combination. I will never buy another taco seasoning packet again now. Hubby and I put a little spoonful of sour cream on top and used Doritoes for dipping, absolutely delicious. I saved your recipe and have passed it along to many people that I know will love this recipe.
Thank you for sharing!
My family loves this taco soup! Only soup we make that there are never any leftovers!
My family loves this recipe, and my 4 year old loves to help make it with me. Chopped jalapeños, fresh cilantro, crushed tortilla chips, cheese & sour cream are our favorite toppings!
I really like this recipe. I didn’t add salt because I used salted beef broth. For the tomatoes I used one 16 oz can tomato sauce and one pint (16oz) home canned tomatoes instead of a 28 oz can diced tomato because I like a stronger tomato base. That is the only thing I did different.The taste was mild, so if you like it spicier just add more chili powder or some hot sauce. I loved it the way it is. This was such a simple and quick recipe to put together. Thank you for sharing.
Your recipe looks great – we are having it for dinner tonight! Question… how much is a serving? I never know how to calculate the calories when it says that 🙂
This soup serves 7 people. A good way to get the exact portion size is to weigh the entire batch of soup and then divide that weight by 7.
This is delicious! It’s 4/26/25. So so yummy! I added onions n bell peppers with the meat n used T of minced garlic.
Excellent recipe.
This is by far the best tasting soul of all time. Easy to make. We put ours in a crockpot and let it let it cook for a few hours and presto.. we just love this recipe. It’s great for any occasion.
Winner, winner, taco soup dinner.
Easy as can be and delicious. Here’s what I did today:
I work from home and found this recipe after searching for a soup recipe that didn’t require a trip to the store.
Took the beef and broth out of the freezer (I make and freeze my broth). Put a cup of dry beans in the instant pot with water and seasoning. Measured out the spices into a covered bowl. Pulled all the other ingredients out so I wouldn’t have to search for them. Went to work.
On lunch, I browned the beef, heated up the broth to save cooking time, then put everything into the Crock-Pot. Cleaned up my small mess and went back to work. End of day I had a delicious homemade dinner, as well as leftovers.
Yet another great recipe from this site. Thank you!
LOVE!! My husband asks me to make this all the time. We’re also big fans of fresh diced jalapeños & cilantro added on top.
Very good recipe. Thanks for the soup!
GREAT!!!