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

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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

What is taco soup made of? ›

What's in taco soup? It's filled with ground beef, pinto beans, black beans, corn, fire-roasted tomatoes, and green chiles, plus some onion, garlic, and jalapeño.

What can I use to thicken taco soup? ›

Addition of Cornstarch or Flour: Create a slurry by mixing equal parts cornstarch or flour with water. Stir this mixture into the soup and let it simmer for a few minutes until it thickens. Ensure there are no lumps by gradually adding the slurry while stirring constantly.

What do you eat with taco soup? ›

The best sides and toppings for a cozy pot of Taco Soup! Mexican rice, cornbread, homemade tortilla chips, crisp salads, and cool, sweet fruit pairings. Plus guac and salsas, too. Even dessert!

How long is taco soup good for in the fridge? ›

You can keep taco soup in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days if it's in an airtight container. You can also freeze soup after it has cooled. When you're ready to eat it again, partially thaw the soup in the refrigerator overnight. Then reheat it in a saucepan, stirring occasionally and adding broth if necessary.

Why is my taco soup so watery? ›

There are several reasons why taco soup may turn out thin and watery. One common reason is using too much broth or liquid in the soup. Additionally, not simmering the soup for long enough can lead to a thin consistency.

What is a substitute for beef broth in tacos? ›

Vegetable Broth

Using this as a substitute for beef broth is a great way to add flavor to your dish. Vegetable broth from vegetable stock is a flavorful alternative that is perfect for vegetarian and vegan dishes. Add some bay leaves for a different flavor.

How do you fix bland taco soup? ›

Maybe experiment with a little enchilada sauce. Or mess with the seasoning. Maybe rather than a seasoning packet, use a mix of seasonings and adjust a bit depending on your taste. I use a mix of cilantro, cumin, onion, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper.

What do restaurants use to thicken soup? ›

Corn Starch

This completely versatile starch is used in savory and sweet dishes alike: gelatinizing fruit pie fillings or thickening your hefty, stick-to-your-bones soups.

What does cornstarch do to soup? ›

Cornstarch, or corn flour, can be used to thicken soup through its high starch content. Cornstarch is a great thickener for soup because only a little bit is needed to significantly thicken a soup, and it will not affect the flavor profile of the soup.

What are the most popular soups in America? ›

Chicken Noodle Soup is the most popular soup in America. More than 28% of consumers choose clam chowder as their favorite kind of soup. The global soup market size was valued at USD 16.1 billion in 2018. Vegetable soup is the second most popular soup in the U.S after chicken noodle soup.

Who invented taco soup? ›

The exact origin of tortilla soup is unknown, but it is also known as sopa Azteca (Soup of the Aztecs) which leads many to believe this dish originated in central or southern Mexico, where the Aztecs originally settled.

What are 3 specialty soups? ›

List
NameOrigin
BorschtUkraine
BouillabaisseFrance
Shark fin soupChina
Tom yam kungThailand

Is it OK to leave taco soup out overnight? ›

Food should not be at room temperature for more than two hours. Shallow containers or small amounts of hot food can be placed directly in the refrigerator or rapidly chilled in an ice or cold water bath before refrigerating.

Can you eat soup that is 5 days old? ›

Originally Answered: How long can you keep a soup in the fridge? According to the FDA food code you should keep prepared foods for no longer then 4 days and manufactured foods for 7 days. If you prepare the soup at home and cook and cool the ingredients I would recommend 4 days at 41 degrees F or below.

Is taco soup good if left out overnight? ›

On most occasions, you shouldn't leave soup out overnight. This is because when the stock in the soup cools below 130°F, dangerous bacteria can multiply. If you do decide that you want to leave soup out overnight, it's recommended that you boil the soup for 10 minutes to kill any active bacteria.

Where is taco soup from? ›

Taco soup
Taco soup topped with cheese, tortilla chips and sliced avocado
TypeSoup
Place of origin1950s Southwestern United States
Main ingredientsGround beef, tomatoes, green chilis, onions, corn, beans, taco seasoning

What is Birria taco soup made of? ›

Birria is a mainstay of Mexican cuisine, a stew that originated in the state of Jalisco traditionally made from goat, beef, or lamb. For this birria tacos recipe, the meat marinates in adobo sauce, then cooks slowly in adobo broth until it's fork-tender.

What is a Mexican soup made from tripe? ›

In Mexican cuisine, Menudo, also known as pancita ([little] gut or [little] stomach) or mole de panza ("stomach sauce"), is a traditional Mexican soup, made with cow's stomach (tripe) in broth with a red chili pepper base. Hominy, lime, onions, and oregano are used to season the broth.

What is a spicy Mexican soup made from trip? ›

Menudo is a spicy tripe stew from Mexico that features tender-chewy pieces of long-simmered tripe in a hearty broth loaded with hominy and infused with dried red chiles.

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