One Pot Easy Taco Soup Recipe
Make this easy Taco Soup Recipe in one pot in under an hour! Loaded with protein, veggies, and beans, it’s a hearty comfort food soup that will fill your belly and satisfy your tastebuds.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Taco Soup Recipe
- Easy – All you have to do is combine the ingredients. Then, the stove top does all the hard work, simmering the flavors together. Plus, with just one pot, cleaning up is a breeze!
- Nutritious – Made with all the flavor of your favorite tacos, this recipe is a great way to take your taco Tuesday up a notch with high-protein, vitamins, nutrients, and fiber thanks to the meat, beans, and veggies.
- Customizable – Feel free to mix and match any ingredients you have on hand and like best, and don’t forget to include all the best toppings! I like to set out a taco bar so everyone can pick their favorites.
What’s the Difference Between Taco Soup and Chili?
While both taco soup and chili are made with similar ingredients, they aren’t quite the same things. The primary difference is in the consistency!
Taco soup has a slightly soupier consistency and is thinner than chili. Meanwhile, chili is chunkier and thicker.
In addition, taco soup typically has more Tex-Mex-inspired flavors while chili is typically a little spicier with warm spices like chili powder and cumin.
What’s the Difference Between Taco Soup and Chili?
While both taco soup and chili are made with similar ingredients, they aren’t quite the same things. The primary difference is in the consistency!
Taco soup has a slightly soupier consistency and is thinner than chili. Meanwhile, chili is chunkier and thicker.
In addition, taco soup typically has more Tex-Mex-inspired flavors while chili is typically a little spicier with warm spices like chili powder and cumin.
Ingredients
Below is an overview of the ingredients and instructions to make this recipe. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card below for the complete details including prep time, total, time, nutrition information, etc.
- Ground Meat – I prefer to use lean ground beef (80% or leaner), but you could also use ground chicken or ground turkey.
- Veggies – Yellow or white onion, bell pepper zucchini, corn, and diced tomatoes make this simple taco soup recipe full of nutrients and super filling.
- Beans – I use a tri-blend beans, but white beans, black beans, or kidney beans will all work.
- Water – Feel free to substitute bone broth if preferred. It adds a little more savory flavor!
- Seasonings – Taco seasoning, Ranch seasoning, salt, and pepper combine to make this the best taco soup recipe ever.
How to Make This Easy Taco Soup Recipe
- Brown the meat in a large pot, breaking it up into pieces as it cooks.
2. Brown the meat in a large pot, breaking it up into pieces as it cooks.
3. Simmer until the flavors combine and the veggies are tender.
4. Adjust the seasonings to suit your preferences. Then, add your favorite toppings, and enjoy!
Tips for the Best Taco Soup Recipe
- Adjust the seasonings – Wait until the end of cooking. Then, taste your soup right before serving, and adjust the ingredients as needed. Feel free to include an extra dash of chili powder, cayenne pepper, or hot sauce for extra heat!
- Drain and rinse the beans – If you’re using canned beans, be sure to drain and rinse them before adding them to your soup. Otherwise, it might be too salty.
- Stir the pot – Don’t forget to stir the ingredients occasionally as they cook. This prevents anything from sticking to the bottom of the pot and burning.
Topping Ideas
Feel free to serve your soup on its own, or dress it up with toppings like:
- Sour Cream or Greek Yogurt
- Shredded Cheese
- Sliced Green Onion (Scallions)
- Red Onions
- Black Olives
- Fresh Cilantro
- Guacamole or Avocado
- Lime Wedges
- Tortilla Chips
How to Store and Reheat
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three to four days.
- Freeze the cooled soup for up to three months. For single-serving portions, pour it into freezer cubes first. Then, transfer the cubes to a freezer-safe bag! Thaw in the fridge overnight before serving.
- Reheat your soup in a pot on the stove over medium heat. Or, warm individual servings in 30 second increments in the microwave.
Common Questions About This Easy Taco Soup Recipe
Absolutely! To do so, brown the meat in a skillet on the stove. Then, transfer all the ingredients to a crock pot or slow cooker, and cook on low for four to six hours or high for two to three hours.
As it’s written, this recipe is relatively low-carb. However, if you want to make it even lower, feel free to omit the beans and any carb-heavy toppings.
This soup will thicken the longer it sits on the stove. Or, you can add an extra can of beans!
One Pot Easy Taco Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground meat (turkey, beef, venison)
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 1 small zucchini, diced
- 2 cups frozen corn or 15 ounce can, drained
- 28 ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 15 ounce can of beans, undrained (black, pinto, navy or kidney beans)
- 2 cups water or broth (beef or chicken stock or bone broth)
- 3 Tablespoons homemade taco seasoning (or 1 packet)
- 3 Tablespoons homemade ranch seasoning (or 1 packet)
- salt and pepper, if needed
Toppings
- shredded cheese, tortilla chips, avocado, cilantro, sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
Instructions
- In a large soup pot over medium heat, brown the meat until cooked through.1 lb ground meat
- Add in the remaining ingredients. Stir to combine and simmer for 30 minutes.1 onion, diced, 1 bell pepper, diced, 1 small zucchini, diced, 2 cups frozen corn , 28 ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained, 15 ounce can of beans, undrained, 2 cups water or broth, 3 Tablespoons homemade taco seasoning, 3 Tablespoons homemade ranch seasoning
- When the soup is done cooking, taste test. Add more seasonings such as salt, black pepper, chili powder, or cayenne, if needed. We've been known to stir in a generous drip of Frank's Hot Sauce to kick it up a notch.salt and pepper, if needed
- When serving, top with plain Greek yogurt, shredded cheese, tortilla chips, avocado, or lime wedges!shredded cheese, tortilla chips, avocado, cilantro, sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
- Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Holy Smokes @Sammi Ricke – this recipe(and killer photos) looks amazing! A great winter alternative to Taco Tuesdays.
I’m working on a post for my own blog, TopStretch that focuses on new and fun ways to get some more fiber into your diet – and your kid’s diets too. Would you mind if I used one of the pictures you took and offer a direct link back to this article? I’m always looking for ways to get my readers to eat more beans!
That would be just fine, Rick! Thanks for sharing this recipe with your readers and displaying the appropriate links back. Blessings!
I’m with you, Sammi — soup year round! And this looks like such a good and easy one. I’ve always made my own seasoning blends, partly because I’m allergic to garlic and there isn’t a blend on the market that doesn’t contain garlic powder.
Oh goodness, I bet that is impossible to find any seasonings or other packaged food that does not contain garlic. Thanks for your kind words! I hope you enjoy this soup as much as I do 🙂
Looks great! Just made my grocery list and going to make it this week. Thank you for sharing this recipe. 🙂
Awesome, Lyndsay! You will have to stop back and let me know what you think 🙂 Enjoy!
This looks great! I am especially excited about giving the homemade taco seasoning recipe a try and keeping it available. I usually just throw things in, and it will be nice to have an actual recipe. I haven’t used store-bought seasonings in FOREVER because of the chemicals and salt. Thank you! 🙂
Hi Heidi! That is exactly why it has taken me 2 years to put this recipe out on the blog. I never measure and do the same as you-throw in whatever I have available! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
I’m on my way to the store to get the ingredients for your taco soup. It sounds delicious. Thank you for sharing your recipes with us at Snickerdoodle Create~Bake~Make Link Party!
Yay! What did you think? I can only imagine you loving it 🙂 Take care, Sharon, and thanks for the comment!
I love homemade seasoning mixes, Sammi, and this soup looks amazing! It’s perfect fall comfort food. Sharing. Thank you for being a part of Hearth and Soul.
Hi April! I agree, soups are always a hit when the weather turns crisp 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Yummy! I love the versatility of this recipe. You can add any vegetable or meat you want and vary the seasoning as well. Thanks for sharing this awesome and very seasonal recipe with us on #shinebloghop! So glad you were able to join us this week!
You got it, Maria! This soup is incredibly versatile. There is no way to mess it up. Honest! It tastes amazing each and every time. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you and your family love this soup too 🙂
Love soups! I have different recipes of soups, but this one is must have!☺
I hope you enjoy it, Helena! You mean to tell me this recipe isn’t one of the many Julia Child recipes you have tried? 😉 Happy cooking, girl!
My mouth won’t stop watering this looks so amazing! 🙂
hehe Right?! I hope you and your family enjoy this healthy soup! Take care 🙂
I prefer my own taco seasoning to store bought, but my ranch dressing leaves something to be desired, I will have to check your recipe. Thanks for aprtying with us on Creative K Kids #TastyTuesdays
Hi Audrey! Well I hope you find my ranch seasoning recipe delicious. I tend to think I sometimes don’t love homemade seasonings at first because they lack the saltiness of pre-made mixes. Thanks for stopping by!
This looks delish – can’t wait to try it!
I hope you enjoy it as much as we do, Shelly! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
This sounds and looks amazing! I love soup and I can’t wait to try this…Pinned 🙂
Hi: I really enjoyed reading your home made taco season recipe. This is a beautiful thing. I have a severe allergy to food colours so alot of prepackaged products are off limits for me. I thank you for posting this. I will make this soup and use the spice mix with yogurt for dip and in various casseroles as well. Awesome.
Hi Leanna! Thank you for your kind words. I am so glad you have found a taco seasoning recipe that will provide so much usefulness to you! Great idea to add it to yogurt as a dip 🙂 Take care!
I used Jennie-O turkey taco meat and it was so good! I will definitely be making this again! I used the crockpot and it was so easy! Thanks for the recipe.
Hi Kim! I am THRILLED that you like this soup. Thank you so much for sharing your recipe experience. Happy eating! 🙂
Sammi
This sounds great. I’ve been wanting to make some seasoning packets so this is just perfect! Thanks for linking at Family Joy Blog Link party this week!!
Wonderful! Enjoy your homemade seasonings and thanks for stopping by, Melissa 🙂
I’m with you, we enjoy soup all year long too! As I always say…. Soup is Good Food!! Taco Soup is a favorite at our home and I’m making some today. Yours looks delicious also, YUM! Visiting from Ilka’s Link party. Have a great day!
Oh, I love that,”Soup IS Good Food!” We are meant to be foodie friends, girl 🙂 Blessings to you, Debra!