Stovetop Taco Soup

Taco soup has all of the smoky spices of your favorite beef taco with the added bonus of hearty beans, chiles, corn, and chunky tomatoes. This easy recipe is ready in under an hour.

By
Marta Rivera
Marta Rivera
Marta Rivera
Marta has 25 years of experience in the food service industry and has been developing recipes for 3 years. She is the author of Taste & See Cooks: Recipes to Inspire, Equip and Enjoy.
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Published October 10, 2022
Marta Rivera
Two Bowls of Stovetop Taco Soup Topped with Avocado Slices, Cotija Cheese, and Cilantro and Surrounded by Bowls of Toppings

Simply Recipes / Marta Rivera Diaz

I have a confession to make: if I had to choose between taco soup and chili, I’d pick taco soup every time. In my opinion, taco soup is the easier recipe. Chop a couple of aromatics, dump in a few canned veggies, set it all to simmer, and in less time than it takes to debate over whether or not to add beans, dinner is ready. 

Taco soup has all of the flavors of your favorite beef taco with hearty add-ins like beans, chiles, corn, and chunky tomatoes. With 90% of the ingredients coming from the pantry, taco soup can act as a “break in case of emergency” dinner.

Bowl of Stovetop Taco Soup Topped with Avocado Slices, Cotija Cheese, and Cilantro and Surrounded by Bowls of Toppings

Simply Recipes / Marta Rivera Diaz

What Is Taco Soup? 

Taco soup is a beef-based soup that’s simmered with a homemade taco spice blend. Fire-roasted tomatoes and green chiles add a hint of smoky spice to the soup, and the addition of black beans and corn make it a one-pot meal. Shredded cheese and cilantro are stirred into the soup just before serving to provide it with creaminess and a bit of brightness.

Take the taco bar concept and apply it to your soup! Set out a variety of toppings and leave your guests to decide how to garnish their bowls. My ideal bowl: tortilla chips or strips, crumbled queso fresco, sliced jalapeños, diced red onions, cilantro, sour cream, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.  

Make This Soup Your Own With These Swaps 

  • Replace the black beans with your favorite type of bean. Pink, kidney, navy, or pinto beans are great substitutes for black beans. You can also omit the beans altogether. 
  • Fresh or frozen corn, tomatoes, and beans can be used in place of the canned varieties. Use equal weights for all the ingredients. Be sure to thaw and drain any frozen veggies or legumes in the fridge before adding. 
  • Use chipotle or ancho chile powder in the taco spice blend for a smoky flavor. Or swap it entirely for a store-bought blend. Note that the salt content can vary from brand to brand, so season to taste.
  • Instead of Colby Jack or cheddar, use Monterey Jack or a spicier pepper Jack cheese.
  • Make this a chicken or turkey taco soup by replacing the ground chuck with ground chicken or turkey and the beef stock with chicken stock.
  • To reduce the amount of sodium in the soup, use a low or no-salt beef stock. 
Stovetop Taco Soup in a Dutch Oven Topped with Cheese and Cilantro and Surrounded by Bowls of Sour Cream, Diced Red Onions, and Lime Wedges

Simply Recipes / Marta Rivera Diaz

Make Taco Soup In a Slow Cooker 

This recipe is easy to adapt to a slow cooker:

  1. Brown the ground chuck, onions, and garlic as instructed in the recipe. 
  2. Transfer the beef mixture to a 6-quart slow cooker. Add all of the soup ingredients except for the cheese and cilantro.
  3. Cook the soup on low for 6 to 7 hours. Stir in the cheese and cilantro just before serving. 

How to Store and Freeze

The flavors of this taco soup deepen as it sits. Since the beans absorb some of the broth during storage, you can add more beef stock to the soup if it becomes too thick. 

Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat the soup on the stovetop over medium heat for 10 to 15 minutes or until the soup is warmed through. 

To freeze taco soup, cool and transfer it to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw the frozen soup in the fridge and reheat it on the stove or in smaller portions in the microwave.

Stovetop Taco Soup in a Bowl Topped with Avocado Slices, Cotija Cheese, and Cilantro and Surrounded by Bowls of Toppings

Simply Recipes / Marta Rivera Diaz

Warming Soups Ready In Under An Hour

Stovetop Taco Soup

Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 35 mins
Total Time 55 mins
Servings 6 servings

You can adjust the amount of salt in the spice blend to suit your tastes. For complete control, exclude the salt entirely, then season the assembled soup to taste.

Ingredients

For the taco spice blend

  • 1 tablespoon chili powder

  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder

  • 2 teaspoons onion powder

  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander

  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

For the taco soup

  • 1 pound ground chuck (80/20)

  • 1 medium yellow onion (about 1 1/2 cups), diced

  • 4 cloves garlic, minced

  • 2 (14.5-ounce) cans fire-roasted diced tomatoes (not drained)

  • 3 cups beef stock

  • 1 (4-ounce) can diced green chiles 

  • 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed

  • 1 (15.25-ounce) can corn, drained, or 1 1/2 cups frozen corn, thawed and drained

  • 4 ounces (about 1 cup) shredded cheddar or Colby Jack cheese

  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped

Optional toppings

  • Shredded cheddar cheese

  • Crumbled cotija cheese

  • Diced red onions

  • Avocado

  • Jalapeño slices

  • Sour cream

  • Chopped cilantro

  • Tortilla strips

  • Lime wedges

Method

  1. Prepare the taco spice blend: 

    In a small mixing bowl, whisk all of the taco spice blend ingredients until combined.

    Bowl of Stovetop Taco Soup Seasoning

    Simply Recipes / Marta Rivera Diaz
  2. Cook the meat and aromatics:

    Add the ground chuck to a 6-quart dutch oven. Turn the stove to medium heat and use a large spoon to break up the meat in the pot. Sprinkle all but 1 1/2 teaspoons of the taco spice blend over the raw meat (save the rest of the spice mixture to add to the soup later, if desired). Brown the meat over medium heat until most of the pink is gone, about 5 minutes. 

    Add the diced onions and garlic to the pot with the ground meat. Sauté the veggies with the meat until the onions and garlic are glossy and just beginning to brown, about 4 minutes. 

    Remove from the heat. Use a spoon to remove excess fat from the pan and discard.

    Seasoned Ground Beef Cooking in Dutch Oven for Stovetop Taco Soup Recipe

    Simply Recipes / Marta Rivera Diaz
    Onions and Garlic Added to Ground Beef for Taco Soup Recipe

    Simply Recipes / Marta Rivera Diaz
    Cooked Ground Beef, Onions, and Garlic for Taco Soup

    Simply Recipes / Marta Rivera Diaz
  3. Add the tomatoes, beef stock, and chiles:

    Stir in the fire-roasted tomatoes, beef stock, and green chiles. 

    Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cover the pot. Simmer the soup for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

    Tomatoes and Beef Stock Added to Stovetop Taco Soup

    Simply Recipes / Marta Rivera Diaz
  4. Add the black beans and corn:

    Stir in the black beans and corn, cover the pot, and simmer the soup for another 10 minutes on medium-low heat, stirring once. Taste the soup, adding more of the spice blend to taste.

    Black Beans and Corn Added to Taco Soup

    Simply Recipes / Marta Rivera Diaz
    Add More Spice Blend to Stovetop Taco Soup if Needed

    Simply Recipes / Marta Rivera Diaz
  5. Add the cheese and cilantro:

    Turn off the heat. Stir in the shredded cheese and cilantro. Serve topped with your favorite toppings. 

    Store leftover taco soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

    Love the recipe? Leave us stars below!

    Stovetop Taco Soup in a Dutch Oven Surrounded by Bowls of Sour Cream, Diced Red Onions, and Lime Wedges

    Simply Recipes / Marta Rivera Diaz
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
404 Calories
21g Fat
25g Carbs
32g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 404
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 21g 27%
Saturated Fat 9g 44%
Cholesterol 86mg 29%
Sodium 1211mg 53%
Total Carbohydrate 25g 9%
Dietary Fiber 6g 21%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 32g
Vitamin C 66mg 332%
Calcium 243mg 19%
Iron 5mg 26%
Potassium 1064mg 23%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.