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Taco Soup is one of our favorite quick dinners because it’s hearty, flavorful, and comes together with simple pantry ingredients. Plus, it was one of the first recipes we learned to make because it’s so simple and so good, anyone can do it!
Chili with beans, black beans, tomatoes, corn, green chiles, ranch mix, taco seasoning, and beef broth simmer together into a warm soup that tastes like taco night in a bowl.
We love this recipe for busy weeknights, game days, and feeding a crowd because it’s ready fast and everyone can add their favorite toppings. Sour cream, tortilla chips, cheese, green onions, and cilantro make each bowl fun and easy to customize. We especially love that this is a dump-and-go recipe made in under 20 minutes!
If you love this recipe, you might also like Chicken Taco Soup, Tortilla Soup, or Enchilada Soup.
Why you’ll love it + Why it works:
- Simple. Quick taco soup made with pantry staples and canned ingredients.
- Fast. Ready in about 15 minutes once everything is combined.
- Canned ingredients keep it fast. Everything is already cooked, so the soup just needs to heat and simmer.
- Ranch mix adds extra flavor. It gives the taco soup a savory, creamy-style seasoning without adding cream.
Taco Soup Ingredients
- Chili with beans (3 cans, 15 ounces each): Creates a hearty base with meat, beans, and chili flavor already built in.
- Black beans, drained and rinsed (1 can, 15 ounces): Adds extra protein, texture, and make the soup more filling.
- Tomato sauce (1 can, 15 ounces): Adds a smooth tomato base and helps bring the soup together.
- Diced tomatoes (1 can, 15 ounces): Adds tomato flavor and chunky texture.
- Corn (1 can, 15 ounces): Adds sweetness, color, and texture.
- Diced green chiles (1 can, 4 ounces): Adds mild heat and Southwestern flavor.
- Ranch dressing mix (3 tablespoons or 1 packet): Adds savory seasoning and extra flavor.
- Taco seasoning (3 tablespoons or 1 packet): Gives the soup classic taco flavor.
- Low-sodium beef broth (1½ cups): Adds savory liquid and helps create the soup consistency.
- Water (½ cup): Adds extra liquid so the soup is not too thick.
- Toppings: Sour cream, tortilla chips, shredded cheese, chopped green onions, chopped fresh cilantro, optional: Let everyone top their bowl with creamy, crunchy, cheesy, and fresh flavors.
How to Make Taco Soup
Not only are the ingredients for this recipe simple… the steps themselves are even simpler!
TOSS ‘EM IN. All you have to do is throw all of the ingredients into a large pot. No particular order, just toss em all in! Maybe stir a couple of times to combine everything well, then turn on the heat.
SIMMER. Bring the soup to a boil and simmer for about 15 minutes. Once it’s hot and ready, you can serve it with your favorite toppings.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- Drain and rinse the black beans so the soup does not get too salty or cloudy.
- Use low-sodium beef broth since the canned chili, ranch mix, and taco seasoning already add salt.
- Simmer for the full 15 minutes so all the flavors come together.
- Set up a topping bar with sour cream, chips, cheese, green onions, and cilantro for easy serving.
- Make-ahead tip: make the soup earlier in the day or the day before, then reheat and add toppings right before serving.
- Make this soup in the Crockpot: We have a slow cooker version that’s a tad different but just as good. Check it out HERE. Or for this particular recipe, cook on HIGH for 2-3 hours or LOW for 6-7 hours. 😉
Taco Soup Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 3 (15-ounce) cans chili with beans
- 1 (15-ounce) can can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 1 (15-ounce) can corn
- 1 (4-ounce) can diced green chiles
- 3 tablespoons ranch dressing mix, (or 1 packet)
- 3 tablespoons taco seasoning, (or 1 packet)
- 1½ cups low-sodium beef broth
- ½ cup water
Toppings
- sour cream, tortilla chips, shredded cheese, chopped green onions, chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a large pot and bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Serve warm with your desired toppings.
Notes
- Rinse the black beans before adding them to remove excess starch and improve the texture.
- Let the soup simmer for the full 15 minutes so the seasonings have time to blend together.
- Taste before serving since different brands of chili can vary in saltiness.
- Set out a topping bar so everyone can customize their own bowl.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Easily make this soup 1-2 days ahead of time. Store in in airtight container in the fridge. Heat on the stove or in a crockpot until warm.
Leftovers. Place left overs in an airtight container. Store in the fridge for 3-4 days or freeze for 2-3 months
Taco soup makes a great freezer meal. Mix all ingredients pour in an airtight container and freeze. To cook remove from freezer and throw it straight in the crockpot for 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low. You can also thaw overnight and heat on the stove top until warm.
Complete The Meal
Sides
Flour Tortilla Recipe
45 mins
Mexican Cornbread
50 mins
Chicken Quesadilla Recipe
12 mins
Jalapeño Cornbread
30 mins
Desserts
More Mexican Soups
Taco Soup
20 mins
Mexican Soup
50 mins
Albondigas Soup Recipe
55 mins
Healthy Chicken Tortilla Soup
8 hrs 5 mins
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This recipe was first shared May, 2014.
Can I add hamburger?
Yes, that would be delicious.
Thanks for the taco soup recipe – I am a vegetarian and will use my crockpot.
I have a similar recipe. I always use chicken broth unless cooking for my vegetarian sister & then I use vegetable broth. In that instance, we serve the meat on the side (ground beef or diced chicken).
I believe your nutrition findings on your taco soup might be wrong. What is 1 gram of soup? 21 calories?
That’s a great idea to make it vegetarian. Thanks for sharing!
I do not eat beef or beef consume. Can I substitute chicken broth instead?
Yes!
To be fair, I haven’t made this particular recipe and will stick with one I made yesterday. It has ground beef and onions in it. Double the veggies and a few other differences. It makes enough for 2 -3 meals. (there are 3 of us). I’m sure for those not wanting meat and onions, this would be great.
Taco soup is made entirely from canned or packaged processed ingredients, loaded with salt, preservatives and other various unhealthy components. Not something I would want my family to come to like as a fast go-to meal.
Yes, but does not eat daily. It is good for nice in a while. A lot of canned food now comes with low sodium on the cans.
You posted if we don’t use canned chili beans to use Mexican beans and add meat. What are/or do you mean by Mexican beans?
This recipe is so great when I want a tasty, filling meal for my family – fast! Love it when dinner is on the table in less than a half hour!
We love this taco soup! We usually have all of the ingredients on hand, so it’s a great meal to bust out when it’s late afternoon and I don’t know what we’re having for dinner or if I need a last-minute meal to take to a neighbor or friend.
Yay! So happy to hear all the ways you enjoy the soup!
This is my go-to on busy nights when my boys have baseball practices and games. This taco soup has been a lifesaver on many a night!
We always love a good soup…and this one is yummy. It’s like chili and a taco, which my kids love both! Definitely a must-try.
So easy and so yummy
This recipe is very similar to the one I make except mine has a diced onion added.
That’s awesome! You could definitely add onions to this too if you like the flavor.
Such comfort food! I made this last week and my whole family loved it…which is a hard thing to find! Lol
Simply the best recipe! I’ve tried others but this one is my favorite. Perfectly proportioned portions. Have shared with many friends. Thank you for sharing with us!
New follower here, and I’m super excited to try this! Do you drain the CORn?
Thank you for all these great recipes!
Welcome! No, you don’t drain the corn. Sure hope you like this & any others you try!
I would rather make chili beans. Nothing against your Taco soup. I am sure Taco soup is delicious. I can’t eat certain ingredients you add to your soup.
No worries at all! You can always take out or add ingredients you like 🙂
This was beyond good!! Loved it so much and it was easy to make!
This was exactly what we were looking for when we need something quick to make for dinne! It was so good!
Love, love, love taco soup in the fall season! One of my favorites.. can’t wait to try your recipe!
This is one of my favorite fall recipes. So good!
This taco soup is a keeper! I had everything on hand and it came together in a flash! So Delicious!
Can this be made in enameled cast iron dutch iron? Thank you for sharing!
It sure could, though I have not personally tried. Let me know what you think!
This Taco Soup is in our dinner Rotation. EVERYONE Loves when its Taco Soup night!
Easiest meal ever- thank you!!
Love your recipes! Your attention to detail makes following them super easy! So glad i found your Site!
Awe, thank you!! I am glad you did, too!
Truly one of the best soups out there. All canned items with hamburger and some flavors of ranch and taco seAsoning. So easy to dump everythiNg in a crocKpot and have dinner ready in no time.
what are Mexican beans?
I’m not sure what’s all in it, but I’ve seen canned beans that are Mexican beans. It’s like chili beans.
This is my family’s favorite go-to soup! I always have the ingredients on hand. it is so full of flavor & I love that you just throw the ingredients in the pot & takes just minutes to make!
Hi Luna:
I love your recipes and that you include the nutritional values. I’m wondering if you can put the serving size on that information. That is important, because some people think 10 bowls or the whole casserole is a serving. I am a diabetic and this information is all important to me. Thank you and keep the recipes coming 🙂 I haven’t tasted the soup, but I can tell it is good. My husband was an executive chef and I know good when I see it. He was also half Mexican like you.
Very tasty and easy too. Yum. Thank you for the receipe.
You are so welcome!! I am glad you liked it! Thank you 🙂
What are those crispy tortilla looking things that you use for garnish on a lot of your recipes and how do you make them? Love your site and your recipes all look delish. I plan on trying the taco soup and the cream cheese parmesan asparagus.
I love your site!! And you!!! And I appreciate so much how you show pictures of the ingredients you’re using. Some of the blogs I see list something and I have no idea what it is and even after googling it I still can’t figure it out. I guess I’m a visual person!! Thank you – and I just happen to have all these cans so guess what’s for dinner!!! love you!!!
You’re so sweet, Donna!! How did the soup turn out? I hope the family liked it! 😀 XO
delicious!!! Very easy and filling – and we loved it. Thanks again!!!