Easy Taco Soup Recipe | Modernmealmakeover.com (2024)

This Homemade Taco Soup Recipe is a simple meal for a weeknight dinner. It is so quick and easy to put together with only 8 ingredients. All you need to do is brown the ground beef and dump all the ingredients in and simmer. Then add your favorite toppings to complement the yummy Mexican flavors.

Taco Soup Ingredients

• Ground Beef – I prefer to use 90% or leaner Angus ground beef.
• Black Beans – Add a mild, sweet and earthy flavor and have a soft texture.
• Kidney Beans – When I don’t have canned kidney beans I will substitute with canned red beans or pinto beans.
• Whole Kernel Corn – You can substitute canned corn with fresh corn or frozen. Just add 10 minutes to the cooking time when using fresh corn.
• Diced Tomatoes – You can substitute canned diced tomatoes for 2 cups of fresh diced tomatoes.
• Taco Seasoning – The easiest way to have all your Mexican spices.
• Dry Ranch Seasoning – I have used regular dry ranch seasoning as well as the fiesta ranch. They both work well with this recipe.
• Salsa – I prefer to use my Homemade Salsa Recipe. But you can use any salsa that has large chunks of vegetables in it.

How To Make Taco Soup

• In a large stock pot over medium-high heat. Brown 1½ lbs of ground beef until it is no longer pink. I like to drain excess fat after the ground beef is cooked. Place cooked cooked beef on a paper towel lined plate. This will help absorb any additional fat.
• In a large pot add drained black beans, drained kidney beans, diced tomatoes, and drained corn. Stir to mix well.
• Add in salsa, water, taco seasoning, dry ranch seasoning, and stir well.Heat to a boil and reduce heat to med low.
• Add cooked hamburger back into the pot and stir to combine. Simmer on low for 15-20 minutes.
• Serve warm and add your favorite toppings. Enjoy!

Can I Make it in the Crock Pot?

You sure can! To make taco soup in the Crock Pot you will need to brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook until it is completely brown and no longer pink. The drain off the excess fat with a colander or scoop the cooked beef on to a plate line with paper towels.

Then add the ground beef into the Crock Pot will all the other ingredients. Then cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours. If the soup is to thick simply add 1/2 cup of hot water at a time until you achieve your desired thickness.

Can I Make it in the Instant Pot?

Absolutely, taco soup can be made in the Instant pot. Start by setting the Instant Pot to saute mode. Brown the ground beef. Then drain the fat off and add back into the Instant Pot. Then add in the black beans, kidney beans, corn, taco seasoning, salsa, diced tomatoes, ranch seasoning and water. Mix all the ingredients together until they are well combined.

Then, place the lid on your Instant Pot and lock it into place. Turn pressure release valve to sealing, then select pressure cook, high pressure. Cook for 5 minutes. It will take about 10 minutes for the pressure to build up. Before the cooking timer starts to count down. When timer runs out turn release valve to release. Wait for safety valve to drop before removing lid. Then remove the lid and serve with your favorite toppings.

Our Favorite Taco Soup Toppings

One of my favorite things about this soup is how easy it is to make with simple ingredients. But I also love that you can add your favorite toppings to mix it up a little bit. Here a just a few toppings my family love to put on this yummy soup.

• Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• Fresh Chopped Cilantro
• Fritos
• Doritos
• Tortilla Chips or Strips
• Sliced Avocado
• Diced Tomato
• Chopped Onion
• Sliced Jalapeno

Can I Use Ground Turkey Instead of Ground Beef?

Ground turkey is a great option to make this taco soup recipe a little bit healthier. Some great options to make it vegetarian are tofu, lentils or any of the meat substitutes such as Impossible burger.

Can I Freeze This Soup?

Definitely, I love to double the recipe and same some for later. To freeze it first let the soup cool off to room temperature. Then add it to freezer safe storage bags or jars. One tip I have is that if you freeze them flat. It makes it easier to stack and store them in the freezer.

When you are ready to use the frozen taco soup, leave it in the fridge overnight to thaw. Once you have thawed the soup. Reheat it in a soup pan or Crock Pot until warm. Do not refreeze soup after it has been thawed. Here are some more great tips Freezing and Food Safety.

Tips for Taco Soup

• For a little more flavor replace the water with beef broth.
• If you don’t have any taco seasoning on hand make your own. In a small bowl mix together 1/2 tbsp of chili powder, 1/4 tsp of garlic powder, 1/4 tsp of onion powder, 1/4 tsp of crushed red pepper flakes, 1/4 tsp of dried oregano, 1/2 tsp of paprika, 1 tsp of ground cumin, 1 tsp of salt. and 1 tsp of ground black pepper.
• If you like your taco soup a little spicier add a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce. I like to just leave some on the table. That way my family can set their own spice level.

HAVE YOU TRIED THIS RECIPE?

RATE and COMMENT below! I would love to hear your experience. Getting feedback from you helps me and other readers too!

Also, if you share onINSTAGRAM, use the hashtag #modernmealmakeover and tag me (@modernmealmakeover) so we can stop by and give your post some love. Thank you!

Some Other Great Recipes

• Slow Cooker Queso Chicken Tacos
• Easy Green Chili Chicken Enchilada
• Best Baked Ziti Recipe
• Pasta Carbonara
• Philly Cheese Steak Sloppy Joes

24 Comments

1. Cate

   September 23, 2020 at 9:46 am ·Reply

   Yummm love how simple and delicious this recipe looks! Can’t wait to try it!

2. Jillian

   September 23, 2020 at 9:51 am ·Reply

   
   I love how easy this recipe comes together! It is a family favorite and great for our busy weeknights.

3. Erika

   September 23, 2020 at 9:54 am ·Reply

   
   I LOVE taco soup, especially when the weather starts to cool down. Thanks for sharing your yummy recipe.

4. Monica | Nourish + Fete

   September 23, 2020 at 9:57 am ·Reply

   
   This is seriously so cozy and comforting. I am so excited about soup season, and these taco flavors are just a terrific crowd pleaser for the whole family.

5. Alison

   September 23, 2020 at 10:00 am ·Reply

   
   Taco soup is such a classic and comforting recipe for this time of year. This one is hearty, simple, and oh so good!

6. Becky

   February 22, 2021 at 11:04 pm ·Reply

   Can this be put in a crockpot

   • April

     February 23, 2021 at 8:37 am ·Reply

     Yes this can be made in a crock pot or instant pot. There are directions for both in the blog post.

7. Michelle | Sift & Simmer

   March 3, 2021 at 9:01 am ·Reply

   
   Such a delicious and flavourful soup! Great at any time of year 🙂

   • April

     March 3, 2021 at 11:41 am ·Reply

     Yes, I agree. We love to eat this all year long!

     See Also

     SOUTHERN PINTO BEANS WITH HAM HOCKS- (Just like Grandma's recipe)!

8. Lisa Lotts

   March 3, 2021 at 9:02 am ·Reply

   
   Taco soup is a weekly family favorite. I love the whole dump-and-go easy prep of this hearty meal.

   • Shanna

     March 3, 2021 at 9:54 am ·Reply

     My favorite thing about taco soup is that it is dump and go.

9. Carrie Robinson

   March 3, 2021 at 9:10 am ·Reply

   
   I just love hearty, easy to make dinner recipes like this for a cold winter day. Looks delicious! 🙂

   • April

     March 3, 2021 at 11:41 am ·Reply

     I do too!

10. Angela

    March 3, 2021 at 9:10 am ·Reply

    
    Taco soup is always a hit at my house. Never thought to add a ranch packet. It was delicious!

    • April

      March 3, 2021 at 11:41 am ·Reply

      Im so glad you liked it. I think adding the ranch makes it so delicious!

11. Rene

    August 8, 2021 at 5:26 pm ·Reply

    
    I really like this recipe but I almost made a huge mistake with the seasonings. Instead of 1-1oz package of taco seasoning and dry ranch dressing, I thought it said 11oz. I would recommend you correct this so no one else makes it wrong.
    This recipe goes great with Tostitos hint of lime chips!

    • Shanna Allen

      August 9, 2021 at 9:53 am ·Reply

      So glad that you liked it and thank you for the tip on the measurements. I have modified the recipe card to hopefully eliminate any confusion.

12. Debi

    February 27, 2022 at 8:38 am ·Reply

    
    I loved this recipe. I make different Taco Soup recipes as I like to try different ones. This is my favorite so far. I used ground chicken. I made in slow cooker. It came out great. I’m wondering if it was the salsa that made this one a standout winner. Thanks for the recipe!

    • April King

      March 1, 2022 at 1:42 pm ·Reply

      I’m so glad you loved the taco soup. Thanks for sharing.

13. Wendy Gibson

    March 1, 2022 at 8:40 pm ·Reply

    Came together great and is a favorite of ours.! Thank you for sharing

14. Wendy Gibson

    March 1, 2022 at 8:42 pm ·Reply

    
    Fantastic soup! Had some corn fitters on the side and is now one of bbn our favorite dinners.

    • April King

      March 3, 2022 at 9:20 am ·Reply

      So glad you loved the soup. Corn fritters would go perfect with this dish!

15. Donna

    July 23, 2022 at 2:32 pm ·Reply

    
    I absolutely adore this soup recipe! Comes together easily, usually with pantry items on hand and even the hubby can do it!! We love it thank you for sharing!

    • April King

      July 23, 2022 at 6:11 pm ·Reply

      I’m so glad you love it.