Easy Taco Soup {Stovetop or Crock Pot}

Simmer a pot of easy taco soup on the stovetop or in the Crock Pot for a cozy, satisfying dinner with just 10 minutes of prep! The ground beef, beans, corn, and zesty Rotel tomatoes come together in a flavorful broth. Garnish each bowl with your favorite toppings (like cheese, sour cream, and green onions), and serve the hearty soup with a side of crunchy tortilla chips for scooping and dipping!

Original Taco Soup Recipe

The original taco soup recipe is a delicious way to embrace cooler temperatures and the changing seasons! Each pot boasts the zesty flavors that you love from a classic plate of tacos, with the rich, hearty texture of a bowl of warm chili.

Make it your own by using ground turkey or chicken instead of ground beef, by throwing in an extra can of beans to make it even thicker, or by adding more veggies like zucchini or diced green bell peppers. Prepare it on the stovetop or in the Crock Pot (whichever is more convenient); and don't forget the toppings! Just like tacos, you can finish off each bowl with grated cheese, sour cream, sliced green onions, and chopped fresh herbs.

What's the difference between chili and taco soup?

While we call this taco soup, it definitely resembles chili! In fact, you might consider it "taco chili," depending on how thick you prefer your recipe. Just like chili, this taco soup has a fairly thick texture, plenty of ground beef, and lots of corn and beans. The seasoning is a little bit different, however. While there is certainly overlap in the spices, taco soup is made with two seasoning shortcuts: a packet of taco seasoning mix and a packet of Ranch salad dressing and seasoning mix. Chili, by contrast, often includes spices like chili powder, paprika, cumin, oregano, and cayenne.

How do you thicken taco soup?

This taco soup thickens as it simmers, uncovered, on the stovetop. If you're using a Crock Pot, you have less control over the thickness of the soup. That said, you can remove the lid towards the end of the cooking time to allow your slow cooker soup to release some extra liquid through evaporation.

Another great way to thicken the taco soup is to add an extra can of beans. Using three cans of beans, rather than two, will give it a texture that's even more like chili. Finally, the taco seasoning mix includes thickening agents that help to bring the soup together.

What kind of cheese do you put on taco soup?

Just about any cheese that you enjoy will work well on this soup. Good options include sharp cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack, Cheddar Jack, Colby, and Pepper Jack.

Ingredients

This is just a quick overview of the ingredients that you'll need for our favorite taco soup recipe. As always, specific measurements and step-by-step cooking instructions are included in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the post.

• Ground beef: or substitute with ground turkey, ground pork, or chicken.
• Onion: for savory flavor.
• Beans: Pick two cans of your favorite beans -- no need to drain them first. The liquid in the cans help to flavor the broth. Try black beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, white beans, pink beans, or even garbanzo beans. Any combination will work!
• Corn: don't drain the can of corn before adding it straight into the pot.
• Rotel diced tomatoes with green chiles: add zesty kick to the soup.
• Tomato sauce: creates a rich, thick, tomato-based broth.
• Taco seasoning and Ranch dressing mix: these seasoning packets are convenient shortcuts that add major flavor to your pot of soup!
• Water: start with one cup of water, and add more to thin towards the end of the simmering time if necessary.

How to Make Taco Soup

Each hearty, satisfying bowl of this easy taco soup recipe tastes like a plate of tacos in scoopable form! I prefer the stove top method, which allows me to control the thickness of the broth and the simmering time; however, the Crock Pot instructions are included below as well. Best of all, you only need a handful of pantry staples to bring this meal together.

1. Brown the ground beef and onion in a Dutch oven or other large soup pot until the meat is no longer pink. Drain off the fat.
2. Stir in the remaining ingredients.
3. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low.
4. Simmer gently, uncovered, for 30-45 minutes. This simmering time allows the flavors to come together and helps to thicken the soup.
5. Taste and season with additional salt and black pepper, if desired.
6. Ladle into bowls and garnish with your favorite taco toppings.

What do you eat with taco soup?

If you're looking for some additional sides to round out the meal, try one of these options:

• Tortilla chips or Fritos with salsa, guacamole, or queso
• Mexican Cornbread
• Cheese Biscuits
• Simple cheese quesadillas
• Black Bean and Corn Salad or Summer Corn Salad
• Easy Pico de Gallo

Storage

Leftover soup will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. The flavors just get better as the soup sits! If you prefer, store the cooled soup in a freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Thaw the soup in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat gently on the stovetop over low heat until warmed through.

Crock Pot Taco Soup

If you prefer to make a Crock Pot taco soup, start by browning the ground beef and onion in a skillet or Dutch oven. Drain off the fat. Transfer the beef and onion to a slow cooker.

Add the remaining ingredients, but only use ½ cup of water instead of 1 cup. Cover and cook on LOW heat for 6-8 hours or on HIGH heat for 3-4 hours. If you want a thinner soup, you can always add extra water to the pot as the soup is cooking. Ladle into bowls and garnish with your favorite taco toppings.

Recipe for Taco Soup - Variations

• Substitute ground turkey for the ground beef.
• Add 1-2 minced garlic cloves to the pot with the ground beef and onion. Garlic powder and onion powder are also nice additions.
• Chicken Taco Soup: sauté the onion as instructed, and add 2 cups of cooked, shredded or diced chicken to the soup pot along with the rest of the ingredients.
• Add an extra cup of water if you like a thinner soup (this soup has a thicker, chili-like consistency).
• Make it thicker by adding an extra can of beans, or by simmering the soup uncovered for a little bit longer.
• For a less-spicy flavor, use a can of regular diced tomatoes rather than the Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies.
• For a richer flavor, swap out the water for low-sodium beef broth.
• Use a homemade taco seasoning mix and some dried herbs in lieu of the prepared seasoning packets.

Tips for the Best Taco Soup Recipe

• Start with just 1 cup of water, and then gradually add more at the end of the simmering time, if necessary, until the soup reaches your desired consistency.
• Stir the pot occasionally while it simmers in order to prevent anything from sticking or scorching on the bottom.
• Wait to season the soup with additional salt and pepper until the end of the cooking time. The seasoning packets include plenty of salt, so you probably won't need too much more.
• Garnish with your favorite toppings, or set up a "toppings bar." The options are endless, including: sour cream or Greek yogurt, sliced green or pickled red onions, grated cheese, sliced black olives, fresh cilantro, guacamole or diced avocado, and corn chips.

More Soup Recipes to Try

• Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup (Slow Cooker, Instant Pot or Stovetop)
• Beef Barley Soup
• Crock Pot Chicken Corn Chowder
• Crock Pot Cabbage Soup with Hamburger
• Grandmother's Hamburger Soup
• 30-Minute Tomato and Basil Soup
• Easy Cheeseburger Soup

This post was originally published in September, 2018. It was updated in August, 2022.