Best Taco Soup Recipe (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Megan Porta · This post may contain affiliate links.

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Warm up with this spicy, comforting, delicious soup. This is the best taco soup recipe and it comes together in 30 minutes! Cater the spice to your liking and enjoy this as a party food or weeknight meal.

Best Taco Soup Recipe (1)

Why This Recipe Works

There is nothing in the world like letting the smells of a comforting soup fill your home on a chilly fall or winter day. This soup smells fantastic as it simmers on the stove top and it tastes even better, warm in your belly.

There is room to increase the spice in this recipe and it is also very possible to prepare it mild. Cater it to your family’s tastes! Enjoy this comfort food. This is a tried and true family favorite that gets made a lot in our home.

Check out our web stories to see Pip and Ebby “recipes in action!”

How To Make Taco Soup

STEP 1

Heat olive oil in an extra-large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add garlic, bell pepper, green onions, jalapeño peppers, taco seasoning, salt and pepper. Cook until soft and fragrant, 3 to 4 minutes. Add parsley and cilantro and cook for an additional 2 minutes.

Best Taco Soup Recipe (2)

STEP 2

Add the chicken stock or broth, diced tomatoes, corn, black beans and green chiles to the skillet and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Five minutes before the soup is finished, add the chicken.

Best Taco Soup Recipe (3)

Ladle into serving bowls and top with desired toppings such as cheese, sour cream and crushed tortilla chips.

Web Story For Taco Soup

Check out this taco soup recipe in action!

Recipe Notes

  • For a spicier soup recipe, add extra jalapenos and/or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
  • For a milder soup, decrease or omit the jalapeno peppers, as well as the green chiles.
  • Change up the meat in the recipe, if desired. Replace the chicken with a pound of cooked ground beef or even pork.
  • Homemade taco seasoning tastes amazing in this recipe. Consider going homemade!
  • Replace one can of diced tomatoes with a can of tomato sauce for a bolder flavor.
  • If black beans aren’t your thing, kidney beans or pinto beans are great replacements.
Best Taco Soup Recipe (4)

How To Make Taco Soup in a Slow Cooker

I’m glad you asked because it is definitely an option to prepare this soup in your slow cooker. After cooking the garlic, peppers, onions and spices on the stove top, add it to a slow cooker along with the remaining ingredients (minus chicken).

Cook on low heat for 4-5 hours or high for 2-3 hours. Add chicken, cook for 30 additional minutes and serve.

Favorite Cinco de Mayo Recipes

Here are a few of my favorite recipes to make for your next Cinco de Mayo gathering!

  • Easy Baked Churros
  • Fresh Spicy Salsa
  • Margaritas
  • 7-Layer Taco Dip
Best Taco Soup Recipe (5)

Uses For Taco Seasoning

If you grow tired of taco meat, we need to have a chat. Kidding, but here are a few other ideas for ways to use taco seasoning.

  • Stir it into any creamy dip (yum).
  • Really, you could add it to just about any meat-based meal to transform it into a tasty, spicy food. I’m thinking meatballs, burgers or even chicken.
  • Use it as a rub on your next Rotisserie chicken or batch of ribs!
  • Add it to salad dressing for an extra zing.
  • Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Tacos
  • The BEST 7 Layer Taco Dip
  • Taco Pasta Salad
  • Homemade Ground Beef Taco Meat
  • Taco Sauce

Will you help add value to Pip and Ebby?
If you make this recipe and love it, stop back and give it a 5-star rating⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a comment. THANK YOU!

Best Taco Soup Recipe (6)

Best Taco Soup Recipe

Warm up with this spicy, comforting, delicious soup. This is the best taco soup recipe and it comes together in only 30 minutes!

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Soup

Cuisine: Mexican

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 375.46kcal

Author: Megan Porta

Ingredients

  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 red or green bell pepper chopped
  • 1 bunch green onions thinly sliced
  • 2 jalapeno peppers finely chopped
  • 1 oz taco seasoning or 2 Tbsphomemade
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/4 cup Italian parsley finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup cilantro finely chopped
  • 32 oz chicken stock or broth
  • 56 oz diced tomatoes
  • 15 oz corn drained
  • 15 oz black beans drained
  • 4 oz diced green chiles
  • 2 cups cooked chicken shredded (pull meat from a Rotisserie chicken)
  • 1/2 cup toppings shredded cheese, sour cream, etc

Instructions

  • Heat olive oil in an extra-large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic, bell pepper, green onions, jalapeño peppers, taco seasoning, salt and pepper. Cook until soft and fragrant, 3 to 4 minutes. Add parsley and cilantro and cook for an additional 2 minutes.

  • Add the chicken stock, tomatoes, corn and beans to the skillet and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Five minutes before the soup is finished, add the chicken.

  • Ladle into serving bowls and top with cheese, sour cream and tortilla strips.

Notes

TO MAKE THIS SOUP IN A SLOW COOKER: After cooking the garlic, peppers, onions and spices on the stove top, add it to a slow cooker along with the remaining ingredients (minus chicken). Cook on low heat for 4-5 hours or high for 2-3 hours. Add chicken, cook for 30 additional minutes and serve.

For a spicier soup recipe, add extra jalapenos and/or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
For a milder soup, decrease or omit the jalapeno peppers, as well as the green chiles.
Change up the meat in the recipe, if desired. Replace the chicken with a pound of cooked ground beef or even pork.
Homemade taco seasoning tastes amazing in this recipe!
Replace one can of diced tomatoes with a can of tomato sauce for a bolder flavor.
If black beans aren’t your thing, kidney beans or pinto beans are great replacements.

Nutrition

Calories: 375.46kcal | Carbohydrates: 37.94g | Protein: 26.22g | Fat: 14.7g | Saturated Fat: 3.64g | Cholesterol: 57.77mg | Sodium: 1107.28mg | Fiber: 9.85g | Sugar: 11.83g

Did you make this recipe?If you loved this recipe, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Best Taco Soup Recipe (7)TRACEY DELEON

    Made this last yesterday, my family and boyfriend LOVED it. Definitely making this again, doesn't cost much to make, does take a little time to chop up items, but totally worth it!

    Reply

  2. Best Taco Soup Recipe (8)Tami W

    Wow! I made this tonight for my New Year's Eve dinner and it was fabulous! I did change a couple of things but it was still so darn good! I used ground beef instead of chicken and added a little taco seasoning mix and used cream cheese to garnish instead of grated cheese. It is so delicious! I will no doubt make this again and again.

    Thanks again for another delicious recipe!

    Tami

    Reply

  3. Best Taco Soup Recipe (9)crystal

    This looks amazing. I am going to try a veggie version of this.

    Reply

  4. Best Taco Soup Recipe (10)Katrina @ WVS

    This soup looks soooo delicious! Lovely!

    Reply

  5. Best Taco Soup Recipe (11)Susan

    I love that this soup isn't ALL canned products. I've had the other version, it's good, but I avoid it because its all processed!
    I'll be making this version before the New Year!!
    Thanks for posting!

    Reply

  6. Best Taco Soup Recipe (12)Tracy | Pale Yellow

    What a warm and lovely soup! Perfect for a winter dinner. Your family has a wonderful Christmas tradition, Merry Christmas!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Best Taco Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do I thicken up my taco soup? ›

The best item to thicken a soup is some sort of starch, whether from flour, cornstarch, arrowroot, or even a lot of potatoes. If it is a powder, mix it with cold water and stir to make a smooth, lump-free paste, and stir constantly as you add it to the soup. A little goes a long way!

What is a substitute for beef broth in taco soup? ›

What can I use as a beef broth substitute in soups and stews? In soups and stews, you can use a combination of water and soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce to mimic the savory flavor of beef broth.

How to thicken taco soup without cornstarch? ›

One option is to add crushed tortilla chips or tortilla strips to the soup. The chips will dissolve and create a thicker consistency. Another alternative is to use instant mashed potatoes. Simply sprinkle some into the soup and stir well, allowing it to thicken before serving.

Where did traditional taco soup come from? ›

Although the exact origin of tortilla soup is unknown, it is known that it comes from the Mexico City area in Mexico. Traditional tortilla soup is made with chicken broth combined with roasted tomatoes, onion, garlic, chiles and tortillas, cut into strips and fried.

What ingredient makes soup thicker? ›

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute.

Is it better to thicken soup with flour or cornstarch? ›

It's important to note that cornstarch has twice the thickening power of flour. If you need to substitute cornstarch to thicken liquid in a recipe that calls for ¼ cup (four tablespoons) flour, you only need two tablespoons cornstarch.

What to do if I don't have beef broth? ›

Like beef broth, chicken broth is a kitchen staple and makes a good substitute if you are all out of the meaty broth. This savory, salty liquid has a milder flavor than beef broth but is a good one-to-one replacement. Chicken broth also has a similar nutrition profile to beef broth, low in calories and high in sodium.

Which has more flavor, beef stock or beef broth? ›

As a result, stock is usually a healthier product, delivering a richer mouth feel and deeper flavor than broth. Stock is a versatile culinary tool that can deliver taste to any number of dishes. Darker in color and more concentrated in flavor than broth, it's ideal for use in soups, rice, sauces and more.

Can I use water instead of broth for soup? ›

The simple answer is yes, it's usually okay to substitute vegetable stock with water. In most recipes that call for vegetable stock, its main advantage over water is that it provides flavor, which is especially important if you're making vegetarian or vegan food that's missing the richness from meat.

How to make soup richer? ›

"If your broth is lacking in savory richness, try adding roasted onion, tomato paste, mushrooms, seaweed, soy sauce, or miso. These ingredients add umami flavor and depth to broth," she says. The choice of ingredient depends on the recipe, though.

Can you use tortilla chips to thicken soup? ›

Second, you can add some crushed corn chips – tortilla chips work well, as do salty Fritos. The chips will soak up liquid and become soft, thickening the chili and adding flavor without being noticeable.

Does heavy cream thicken soup? ›

Heavy cream

Use heavy cream as a keto-friendly thickening option for your soups and broths. Heavy cream has more fat than regular whole milk, so you can add it to your soup recipes without worrying about it curdling.

What is taco soup made of? ›

Ingredients
  • 3 pounds ground beef.
  • 2 onions, chopped.
  • 2 (15 ounce) cans pinto beans.
  • 2 (16 ounce) packages frozen corn kernels.
  • 3 (10 ounce) cans diced tomatoes with green chile peppers.
  • 6 serrano peppers, crushed.
  • 1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning mix.
  • 1 (1 ounce) package ranch dressing mix.

Where is the oldest soup in the world? ›

I tried one of the world's oldest soups, a broth that's been kept simmering for 50 years by 3 generations of a family. It's now one of my favorite restaurants in Bangkok. I traveled to Bangkok in late July to try one of the city's most famous soups.

Were tacos invented in China? ›

Tacos are thought to come from Mexico, long before the Spanish arrived. Ancient Mexicans used freshly made, soft, flat corn tortillas and gave them with fillings like fish and cooked organs. It was a staple meal that provided vital nutrients and energy to those who consumed it.

How to thicken soup after it's cooked? ›

6 ways to thicken soup:
  1. Blend all or part of it. If you've made a broth with chunks of vegetable in it, such as minestrone soup, then pour the soup through a sieve. ...
  2. Add cream or yogurt. ...
  3. Add flour or cornflour. ...
  4. Use a butter and flour paste. ...
  5. Blend in bread. ...
  6. Add lentils or rice. ...
  7. 5 of the best soup recipes to try next:

How can I thicken my tortilla soup? ›

Yes, you can use flour to thicken chicken tortilla soup. To do so, create a slurry by combining equal parts flour and cold water. Whisk the slurry into the soup gradually, allowing it to simmer for a few minutes until the desired thickness is achieved.

How do you make soup more watery? ›

Ok, this may be a little obvious, but just adding water is going to make your soup go a little further. If you stick to a 50/50 ratio between water and whatever flavoured liquid you're using in your soup (be it tomatoes, a stock type, or a cream), you're unlikely to dilute it to the point of making it unpalatable.

How do you thicken watery taco meat? ›

How add thickness: Most premade taco seasoning packets have a thickening agent in them and you add in a little water to make the taco meat a little saucy. If you are looking to recreate that add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch to the taco seasoning mix. Add 1/2 cup of water to the meat when you add your taco seasoning.

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