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This Taco Soup Recipe is healthy, hearty, easy, and delicious, it will make you want to give up tacos completely and commit to just soup! It really is that good. If you’ve tried my Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup you’ll notice some similarities in ingredients and cooking methods. My favorite part about both recipes is all the toppings you can load on top.
Ingredients and Substitutions
Taco Soup is one of those recipes where you can adjust and change based on what you have on hand. Don’t have the right kind of beans? No problem. Don’t have ground beef? No big deal. We’ve got lots of options for ya. As long as the seasonings are the same, everything you throw into the soup will taste all the same. (Like how Chili tastes the same no matter what you throw in.)
Ground Beef
If you want to make this meal vegetarian, simply replace ground beef with another can of beans or lentils. You can also replace beef with ground turkey or shredded chicken, if desired.
Zucchini, Squash & Carrots
All these veggies are chopped and included in this taco soup recipe for a healthier meal. They end up tasting like everything else in the soup, so most of the time can go undetected, but if you have picky eaters, feel free to substitute with veggies that your family would like, or omit completely.
Canned Beans
For this Taco Soup Recipe, I used black, garbanzo, and white beans. Any three cans of beans will work! Use what you have. As long as you rinse them well before adding, you should be good to go.
Tomato Sauce
A can of tomato sauce adds that red color plus a light tomato flavor without having chunks of tomatoes in the soup. You can alternately add in a can of petite diced tomatoes. If you do end up using a can of diced tomatoes, the soup won’t end up getting as thick.
Taco Seasoning
Use store-bought or homemade taco seasoning. Yes there’s a lot in this recipe (1/4 cup!) but this recipe makes a big pot so don’t be alarmed. Once packet you buy at the store is about 1/4 cup. If you’re worried about the sodium levels, feel free to start with half this amount.
How to Make Taco Soup
Throwing this taco soup together is a pretty easy chop-and-dump type of recipe! I love this for a quick weeknight dinner! Here are the step-by-step directions. The full printable recipe card is down below.
Cook Ground Beef and Veggies
Preheat large pot over med-high heat. Add onion and ground beef. As the beef browns, break it apart. Stir in chopped onion, zucchini, squash, and carrot and cook until veggies soften slightly, about 5 minutes.
Add Remaining Soup Ingredients
Pour in remaining ingredients, bring to boil, then reduce to simmer and cook for 35-40 minutes.
Add Toppings and Serve
While the soup is cooking prepare your desired toppings. Scoop into a bowl and top with whatever
Can I Make Taco Soup in the Crockpot?
Yes, you can absolutely make this taco soup recipe in the crockpot! Here’s how to do it: Start by browning the onions and beef on the stove top, then add the mixture to the slow cooker. Add in the remaining veggies, beans and seasonings. Cover and cook on low heat for 4-5 hours.
Divide between serving bowls and top with any desired toppings.
Topping Ideas
Taco Soup is great for many reasons. One is all the toppings you can load on top! My favorite toppings are:
- lime juice
- Doritos
- salsa
- sour cream
- green onion
- lettuce
- cheese
- tortilla chips
- cilantro
- guacamole
- diced tomatoes
- fresh avocado
What to Serve with Taco Soup
If you’re looking for some side dishes to this taco soup recipe I’ve got a couple of suggestions!
Leftovers
This Taco Soup makes quite a lot and I 100% crafted it this way because I love having leftovers, especially when it reheats so well and is filled with nutrition like this dinner is. Normally I run out of time/am too busy to eat an actual lunch most days, so I’ve been doubling my dinners so I have something on hand I can microwave quickly for lunch.
Refrigerating. Simply keep your cooled-down soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Freezing. I recommend dividing any soup you want to freeze so that you can more easily thaw a reasonable amount when the time comes. Thaw in the fridge overnight then warm up on the stovetop or in the crockpot. This method is good for up to 3 months.
More Taco Recipes to Try!
- Taco Casserole
- Dorito Taco Salad
- Taco Sloppy Joes
- Taco Lettuce Wraps
- Taco Pizza Recipe {with Doritos!}
- Skirt Steak Tacos
Anyways, below is the printable recipe card!
Enjoy, friends! Have a great day! xo
Taco Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 1.25 pounds ground beef
- 1 medium onion diced
- 1 small zucchini diced
- 1 small yellow squash diced
- 1 1/2 cups carrot grated or diced
- 15 oz. beans 3 cans, rinsed (I used black, garbanzo and white)
- 4.5 oz. diced green chiles 1 small can
- 15 oz. tomato sauce 1 can
- 1/4 cup taco seasoning store-bought or homemade
- 2 tablespoons ranch seasoning
- 6-8 cups beef broth or chicken broth
- 1 1/2 cups frozen corn or canned corn
- Desired toppings: cheddar cheese, cilantro, green onion, sour cream, guacamole, tortilla chips, etc..
Instructions
- Preheat large pot over medium-high heat. Break apart ground beef as it browns. Stir in onion, zucchini, squash, and carrot to soften slightly, about 5 minutes.
- Pour in remaining ingredients, bring to boil, then reduce to simmer and cook for 35-40 minutes.
- Serve with any desired toppings.
I cannot tell from the recipe why the sodium content would be so high in this recipe. Do you know what is driving that number up and is there any way to to cut it back other than low-sodium beef broth? I really think my husband will love this recipe but have issues with sodium. Any help appreciated! Thanks in advance.
Its the taco seasoning. If you want it lower in sodium, use a reduced sodium taco seasoning.
Thank you. Will do!!!
Hi Lauren!
I hope you don’t mind me asking, have you cooked this in an instant pot? I’m wondering how much time it might take in there.
Thanks a ton in advance!
I have never tried, but I’m sure it wouldn’t take very long!
1/4 C taco seasoning seems like so much – is this correct?
Yes, it’s correct! This recipe makes a big pot so don’t be alarmed.
So good and easy to make. I used whatever veggies I had available and it was delicious.
Is it really 1/4 c taco seasoning? Sounds so good, but just want to make sure it’s not a typo:)
Love love love this recipe. Use it almost weekly during the cold months! Love you Lauren.
[…] Taco Soup […]
I love the added veggies to this taco soup! Cant wait to try it this fall!
Love taco soup! Can’t wait to try this recipe.
Forgot to rate it!!
Omg soooo yummy!! Picky daughters gobbled it up and I loved to too!! Can’t wait for my picky husband to try it! 😂😂
I can’t stop eating this soup! It’s so hearty and does well with any veggies you have left over in the fridge. The meal went together quickly and tasted great. We did switch the beans to black, pinto, and kidney and used homemade taco seasoning, but I doubt that changed the recipe drastically. Highly recommend.
I ended up not making this in the crock pot and made it Sunday afternoon instead for dinner. Good grief! It turned out SO good. I don’t usually add all the veggies to my taco soup and I do not know why. It turned out DELISH! Thankfully there’s just two of us so I am looking forward to ALL the leftovers for my work lunches!
Love a delicious one pot meal. Thanks, this looks perfect for the whole family!
Do you think it would be alright to throw everything into the crockpot on low for 4-6 hours?
Yes it is. That’s how I cook.it.
Hi Lauren,
This sounds so yummy! What could I use in the place of the ranch seasoning ?
I’m pretty sure that it’s not sold here in Canada..
Thanks
Martha
Where in Canada are you? You can just omit it, though I’m sure I’ve seen it at my parent’s grocery store before (who are in Ottawa). Maybe check in the salad dressing aisle…should be in a small packet.