• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
  • Recipes
    • Easy Dinners
    • Dessert
    • Breakfast and Brunch
    • Thai
    • Gluten-free
    • Vegetarian

Inquiring Chef

menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Easy Dinners
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home > Recipes > Soups and Stews

    Taco Soup with Ground Beef

    Published: Jan 30, 2020 · Modified: Jan 9, 2023 · by Jess Smith · Jump to Recipe · Leave a Comment · This post may contain affiliate links.

    a bowl of taco soup with tortilla chips
    a spoonful of taco soup above a dutch oven
    a bowl of taco soup with tortilla chips
    a bowl of taco soup with a spoon
    slow cooker taco soup
    taco soup with ground beef
    taco soup with ground beef

    With savory spices, seasoned ground beef, corn, beans, and fire-roasted tomatoes, Taco Soup with Ground Beef is a soupy twist on taco night. Add your favorite toppings to finish these colorful bowls.

    taco soup with ground beef in a bowl with tortilla chips

    This beef taco soup is a warm, cozy bowl of soup that is taco-meets-soup-meets-chili. With a rich tomato base, it falls squarely in the middle of all three. It is also a complete meal that offers the chance to pile the finished bowls high with delicious toppings like sour cream, tortilla chips, and fresh cilantro. This is a great make-ahead or freezer meal that reheats well so we've included a printable freezer label in the recipe card below! Take it to someone you know who needs a home cooked meal or save it for a busy day ahead.

    a spoonful of taco soup over a dutch oven

    By the way! There’s a vegetarian version of this soup too! Check out Slow Cooker Three Bean Taco Soup for a veg-friendly variation. 

    What Makes This Meal Weeknight-Friendly

    Taco Soup with Ground Beef takes 25 to 30 minutes to get cooking, but after that, it can simmer hands-off until you’re ready to serve it. It can even be transferred to the slow cooker for a few hours if you want to get dinner ready early and head out the door. Either way, this is one of those hearty soups with very little chopping and just a handful of spices to build flavor.

    a bowl of taco soup with ground beef and a spoon

    Ingredients

    • Spice Blend - The flavor foundation of the soup is a combination of taco-inspired dried spices - ground cumin, chili powder, paprika, and ground coriander. Looking to simplify things even more? Use a packet of taco seasoning instead!
    • Ground Beef - I like 86% lean ground beef in this recipe - it has a lot of flavor and isn’t too heavy. Feel free to use a leaner ground beef if you prefer, though you may not get quite as much rich flavor in the finished dish. 
    • Diced Green Chilis - These small, 4-ounce cans of chopped green chilis can be found in the international aisle at the grocery store. Be sure to check the label - these come in mild and spicy, so get the one that works best for you. 
    • Kidney Beans - These add substance and protein to the soup. Remember how I said this soup has some chili-like elements? Kidney beans are part of the reason. Feel free to skip these or to use another variety - black beans or pinto beans would be great.
    • Diced, Fire-Roasted Tomatoes - Be sure to get the “fire-roasted” tomatoes for this! The roasted flavor really adds depth to the soup.
    • Tomato Puree - This gives the soup a slightly thicker base. You could also use “tomato sauce” or “crushed tomatoes”.
    a can of roasted organic tomatoes
    adding seasonings to ground beef in a dutch oven

    How to Make Beef Taco Soup

    1. Make spice mix. Combine cumin, chili powder, paprika, salt, garlic powder, ground coriander, and black pepper. Or use store-bought taco seasoning!
    2. Saute beef. Brown the beef until cooked through. Add the spice blend and diced green chilis.
    3. Add tomato base and vegetables. Add in corn, beans, stock, tomatoes, and tomato puree.
    4. Simmer. Let the soup simmer to develop flavor. You can do this on the stovetop for 30 minutes or in the slow cooker on low for 3 to 4 hours.
    5. Serve with your favorite taco toppings!
    adding chile peppers to ground beef mixture

    Toppings for Taco Soup

    • Tortilla Chips or Tortilla Strips
    • Sour Cream
    • Sliced olives
    • Shredded Cheese
    • Chopped green onions or cilantro
    • Sliced jalapeños
    a bowl of taco soup with sour cream and tortilla chips

    Freeze This Meal

    This meal reheats well on the stovetop or slow cooker. 

    To Freeze: Prepare the soup as directed, but skip the step to simmer on the stove or in the slow cooker. Allow to cool completely and transfer to a freezer-safe bag or airtight container. Freeze for up to 6 months.

    To Reheat: Defrost completely in the refrigerator (this can take 2 to 3 days). Transfer to a Dutch oven or slow cooker and simmer as directed. 

    If you’re going to freeze this meal, print the recipe below for a label with reheating instructions that you can attach to the top of the meal.

    How long does taco soup take to cook?

    40 minutes on the stovetop. Or you can transfer the soup to the slow cooker and let it finish cooking for 3 to 4 hours on low.

    How do I thicken beef taco soup?

    Letting the soup simmer for longer will reduce the liquid and thicken the soup. You can also add tomato paste (4 to 6 tablespoons) to give the tomato base a more rich tomato flavor and thicker texture.

    What cheese should I use?

    Any type of cheddar works well in taco soup. It is also great with a Mexican blend or Monterey Jack.

    What should I serve with my soup?

    Taco soup is a complete meal on its own, especially when you add flavorful toppings. You can also serve it with cornbread or rolls.

    Can I make it with leftover ground beef?

    Yes. This recipe works great with leftover taco beef. I often make it by starting with my slow cooker taco meat.

    More Weeknight-Friendly Soups

    • Simple Chicken Noodle Soup with Miso - The addition of flavor-packed miso and a tiny list of ingredients make this a cozy, comforting Chicken Noodle Soup that can be made any night of the week.
    • Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup - This soup has a small list of ingredients and can simmer all day. It is smooth and creamy (without the addition of any cream), vegetarian, and gluten-free. Serve this light but satisfying soup in bread bowls and load it up with your favorite taco toppings.
    • Slow Cooker Beef and Barley Soup - Loaded with tender beef, vegetables, and barley in a fragrant broth. There’s no pre-cooking required – just combine everything in the slow cooker, simmer it low all day, and come home to this comforting meal.
    • Instant Pot Baked Potato Soup - Load this creamy baked potato soup up with all the toppings! This rich and creamy potato soup recipe is the perfect quick and easy dinner for a cold winter night.
    • 20-Minute Smoky Tomato Soup with Pasta and Chickpeas - Smoky Tomato Soup with Pasta and Chickpeas is made with ingredients you already have in your pantry. This warm, cozy goodness can be on the table in 20 minutes.

    Favorite Tools

    • Le Creuset Dutch Oven - Use a Dutch oven like this one (or any thick-bottomed large pot) to saute the beef and get the soup started. Then you can finish simmering it in on the stove or use a slow cooker to finish simmering. 
    • KitchenAid 6-Quart Slow Cooker - If finishing the soup in the slow cooker, transfer it to a 6-quart slow cooker like this one and simmer on low for 3 to 4 hours. 

    📖 Recipe

    a bowl of taco soup with tortilla chips and sour cream
    Print Recipe
    4.53 from 36 votes

    Taco Soup with Ground Beef

    With savory spices, seasoned ground beef, corn, beans, and fire-roasted tomatoes, Taco Soup with Ground Beef is a soupy twist on taco night. Add your favorite toppings to finish these colorful bowls.
    This weeknight-friendly soup includes the option to transfer the soup to the slow cooker for a few hours. This will help to develop flavor and allows it to simmer hands-off until you’re ready to serve it.
    Prep Time25 minutes mins
    Cook Time30 minutes mins
    Total Time55 minutes mins
    Course: Main Dish, Soup
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Keyword: beef soup, slow cooker soups, tex mex
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 203kcal
    Author: Jess Smith via Inquiring Chef
    Cost: $9.00

    Equipment

    • Dutch Oven or Large Stockpot

    Ingredients

    Spice Blend (see note)

    • 1 teaspoon Ground Cumin
    • 1 teaspoon Chili Powder (be sure to use chili powder here which is a blend of spices for chili; do not use cayenne pepper which will be much too spicy)
    • 1 teaspoon Paprika
    • 1 teaspoon Salt
    • ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder (not garlic salt)
    • ½ teaspoon Ground Coriander
    • ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper

    Taco Soup

    • 1 tablespoon Cooking Oil (I use avocado or grapeseed oil)
    • 1 lb Ground Beef (86% lean)
    • 1 4oz can Diced Green Chilis (mild or spicy)
    • 1 ½ cup Corn (frozen and defrosted or canned and drained)
    • 1 15oz can Kidney Beans, drained
    • 4 cups Chicken or Vegetable Stock
    • 1 15oz can Diced Fire-Roasted Tomatoes
    • 1 10oz can Tomato Puree

    For Serving (optional)

    • Tortilla Chips or Tortilla Strips
    • Sour Cream
    • Sliced Olives
    • Shredded Cheese
    • Chopped green onions or cilantro
    • Sliced jalapeños

    Instructions

    • Make the spice blend by combining cumin, chili powder, paprika, salt, garlic powder, ground coriander, and black pepper.
    • Heat a Dutch oven or other large pot over medium heat. Add cooking oil and let it heat for 1 minute. Add ground beef and saute, breaking it apart as it cooks, until cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes.
    • Add spice blend and diced green chilis to beef and stir well to combine. Saute for 3 to 4 minutes more, until spices are fragrant.
    • To beef, add corn, beans, stock, tomatoes, and tomato puree.
    • Bring soup to a simmer. 
    • Finish soup on the stovetop or slow cooker:
      * Stovetop: If finishing soup on the stovetop, cover with a lid and reduce heat to low. (Note: The soup should simmer gently but not boil over, so adjust the heat as needed.) Simmer, covered, for 30 minutes.
      *Slow cooker: To finish soup in the slow cooker, transfer to the bowl of a 6-quart slow cooker and cook on low for 3 to 4 hours.
    • Taste soup and season with some more salt or pepper, if needed. If you’d like it to be spicy, stir in some hot sauce.
    • Serve soup with any toppings you’d like.

    Notes

    Looking to simplify this meal? Skip the spice blend listed and use a packet of taco seasoning instead.
    To Freeze: Prepare the soup as directed, but skip the step to simmer on the stove or in the slow cooker. Allow to cool completely and transfer to a freezer-safe bag or airtight container. Freeze for up to 4 months.
    Print and attach the label below so cooking instructions are ready when you are!
    taco soup freezer label

    Nutrition

    Calories: 203kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 49mg | Sodium: 1018mg | Potassium: 472mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 364IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 3mg

    Related

    « Sheet Pan Sausage and Peppers
    Thai Basil Chicken (Pad Krapow Gai) »

    About Jess

    Hi! I'm Jess. I am the recipe creator and photographer behind the 900+ recipes you’ll find on Inquiring Chef. As a mom to three young kids and professional cook, my mission is to make every moment in the kitchen and around the table count. If you’re looking for easy, flavorful, family-approved recipes, you’ve come to the right place! Learn more about me here.

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Welcome! We're Jess and Frank. Since 2010, we have been serving up easy, original recipes here on Inquiring Chef.

    More about us →

    Latest Recipes

    • watermelon margaritas in clear glasses
      Watermelon Margaritas
    • slices of easy, moist banana bread with chocolate chips
      Easy Banana Bread
    • 3 loaves of French bread on a wire cooling rack
      French Bread
    • picking up miso noodles from a blue and white bowl
      Miso Noodles

    Trending Recipes

    • hand holding a chocolate chip cookie with a bite out of it
      Crispy and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
    • stir fry over rice in a white bowl with chopsticks
      Honey Ginger Chicken Stir-Fry
    • square image overnight oats in mason jars with berries on top
      Mason Jar Overnight Oats
    • beef and broccoli stir fry on a white plate with chopsticks
      Beef and Broccoli Ramen Stir-Fry

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Us
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates
    • Follow us on Instagram and Pinterest

    Contact

    • Email Us

    Copyright © 2023 Inquiring Chef