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Taco Soup

Taco soup with a bold orange-red broth, simmered until thick and hearty with beans, corn, and diced tomatoes. A quick one-pot Tex-Mex main dish topped with cheddar, sour cream, crushed tortilla chips, jalapeños, cilantro, and avocado.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Calories: 430

Ingredients
  

Base
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 onion
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1 can (15 oz) black beans drained
  • 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans drained
  • 1 can (15 oz) corn drained
  • 1 can (10 oz) Rotel diced tomatoes with green chiles
  • 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
  • 1 packet (1 oz) taco seasoning
  • 1 packet (1 oz) ranch dressing mix
  • 4 cup beef or chicken broth
Toppings
  • 0.5 cup shredded cheddar
  • 0.5 cup sour cream
  • 1 cup tortilla chips crushed
  • 0.25 cup jalapeños sliced
  • 0.25 cup cilantro
  • 1 avocado diced

Equipment

  • 1 Dutch oven

Method
 

Cook the soup
  1. Brown the ground beef in a large pot over medium-high heat, stirring, then drain the fat.
  2. Sauté the diced onion in the same pot for 3 minutes, then add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute.
  3. Add the black beans, kidney beans, corn, Rotel diced tomatoes with green chiles, diced tomatoes, taco seasoning, ranch dressing mix, and beef or chicken broth; stir to combine until evenly mixed.
  4. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally until the broth is hot and slightly thickened.
  5. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, then simmer 2 minutes more if needed for balance.
Serve
  1. Ladle the taco soup into bowls, then top each serving with shredded cheddar, sour cream, crushed tortilla chips, sliced jalapeños, cilantro, and avocado.

Notes

Pro tip: drain both beans and corn well to keep the soup from getting watery; if you prefer it thicker, simmer it 5 extra minutes uncovered. Refrigerate leftovers in a sealed container for up to 4 days. Freezing is yes—freeze for up to 3 months, and add toppings fresh after reheating. For a lighter swap, use ground turkey in place of ground beef and choose low-fat sour cream.