Easy Ground Beef Taco Soup
For a warm and hearty meal that is super quick to prep, this ground beef taco soup is a go-to. It has all of the taco flavors your family loves, but it's much quicker to make! I think you'll love this one-pot, 30 minute meal.
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Ground Beef Taco Soup Recipe
This taco soup has been part of our family meals since before my oldest son was even eating solid food. Now that I've made it for everyone from babies to adults, I've learned that keeping the soup itself mild and letting everyone choose their own toppings is the easiest way to make one dinner work for the whole table.
This recipe actually came from reader requests! When I sent out my annual reader survey, easy soup recipes was one of the most requested ideas. After sharing a few options, taco soup was the clear winner, and it's easy to see why.
Ground beef, black beans, corn and tomatoes make it hearty enough for dinner, while a simple blend of seasonings gives it all those familiar taco flavors.
Why You'll Love this Recipe
Here are just a few of the reasons why this recipe is worth making:
The toppings make this soup especially fun for families. Everyone can add as many (or few) as they want!
This recipe is also easy to adapt based on what's already in your kitchen. A few simple substitutions can customize it without changing the basic method.
And while it's filling enough to serve on its own, you can turn it into a bigger taco-night meal. it's great with Mexican sides like air fryer tortilla chips and homemade guacamole or blender salsa.
If easy Mexican meals are a favorite, be sure to try my recipes for Chicken Enchilada Casserole and Enchilada Chicken Sliders!
Ingredients
Here is what you'll need to grab from the store to make this easy soup recipe:
Lean ground beef makes the soup hearty and filling. Ground turkey or ground chicken can be used if that's what you have on hand.
Onion cooks with the beef and adds flavor throughout the soup. Yellow, white, or even red onion will work well.
Cumin, garlic powder, onion powder and chili powder create the taco-inspired seasoning. Use mild chili powder if you're serving anyone who doesn't like much heat. To make things easier, you can use taco seasoning if you have it on hand!
Cayenne pepper adds a little kick. Feel free to reduce it or leave it out for a milder soup.
Diced tomatoes with chiles give the taco soup its Tex-Mex flair, but regular diced tomatoes are fine, too.
Either canned corn or frozen corn add a little sweetness and texture. If you use canned corn, drain the liquid before adding it to the pot.
Black beans make each bowl even heartier. Good substitutes are pinto and kidney, but even white beans taste good in the soup.
How to Make Ground Beef Taco Soup
Scroll down to the recipe card for the full step by step instructions! ⬇️
Jump to Recipe
- Start with the beef and onion. Add both to a large pot and cook until the beef is browned and the onion has softened. If there's a lot of grease left behind, drain it before moving on.
- Add the seasonings. Sprinkle in the cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder and cayenne. I keep the cayenne light when I'm making this for the whole family, then let everyone add more heat to their own bowl.
- Load up the pot. Add the diced tomatoes with their liquid, drained corn and black beans. I love how easy this part is since most of the ingredients can go straight from the can into the soup.
- Pour in the water and let it simmer for at least 15 minutes, so the flavors can blend. If you like your taco soup a little thicker, let it simmer a bit longer so some of the liquid can cook off.
Madison's Tips for Success:
I've tested this recipe and have successfully made it many times. Use my tips to ensure that it turns out perfectly for you, too!
- Taste before you serve it. Canned tomatoes, beans and toppings can all bring different amounts of salt, so I like to taste the soup once it has simmered before adding any extra seasoning.
- Drain and rinse the beans well. This keeps the extra canned liquid from changing the flavor or consistency of the broth.
- Let the seasonings cook with the beef first. Giving them a moment in the pot before adding the tomatoes and water helps bring out more of their flavor.
Serving Suggestions
This soup is hearty enough to serve on its own, but I usually serve it with homemade cornbread for soaking up the broth.
Sometimes I stir in cooked rice or Mexican rice to make each serving even more filling.
Toppings let everyone customize their meal. Set out a few options and let everyone choose what sounds good.
Here are just a few ideas:
- lime wedges
- jalapeños
- green onions
- black olives
- crushed tortilla chips
- shredded cheddar or Cotija cheese
- sour cream
- avocado
- fresh cilantro.
Serving Suggestions
For a larger meal, serve smaller bowls with Chicken Enchilada Sliders or your favorite tacos or burritos.
Storing, Freezing and Reheating
Once the soup has cooled, transfer leftovers to airtight containers and store them in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
For longer storage, transfer the cooled soup to a freezer-safe bag or glass container. If you're using a bag, freeze it flat to save space. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Reheat individual portions in the microwave or warm a larger amount in a pot on the stovetop until heated through.
Taco Soup Recipe FAQs
Not really. Use mild chili powder and reduce or omit the cayenne for a mild base. Anyone who wants more heat can add jalapeños, hot sauce or red pepper flakes to their own bowl.
To thicken the broth, let it simmer longer so some of the liquid evaporates. To give it an even thicker, almost chili-like consistency, stir in refried beans or some crushed tortilla chips.
It takes ingredients and flavors you'd expect from tacos, including seasoned beef, beans, tomatoes and plenty of toppings, and serves them in soup form.
If you make and love this recipe, please leave a 
review below!
It means so much to me when you try my recipes, and I'd love to know how it goes. Please leave comments and questions below!
Easy Ground Beef Taco Soup
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef 85/15 recommended
- 1 yellow onion peeled and diced
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper
- 1 15-ounce can canned diced tomatoes
- 1 15-ounce can corn drained, or use about 1 cup frozen corn
- 1 15-ounce can black beans drained and rinsed
- 3 cups water
Optional Toppings
- shredded cheese
- diced avocado
- chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Cook 2 pounds ground beef in a stock pot over medium-high heat until browned, using a spoon to break it up as it cooks. When the beef is halfway cooked, add diced 1 yellow onion to the pot and let it sauté with the beef. Drain grease if needed.
- Measure 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon chili powder, and 1 pinch cayenne pepper into the pot.
- Add in 1 15-ounce can canned diced tomatoes (drained), 1 15-ounce can corn (drained), 1 15-ounce can black beans (drained), and 3 cups water. Stir well to combine.
- Bring soup to a simmer, then cook on medium-low heat for 20 minutes.
- Ladle into individual soup bowls and garnish with shredded cheese, diced avocado, and chopped cilantro as desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Alternate Cooking Method
You can make this recipe in a crock pot, too! First, brown the beef in a skillet on the stove, then drain off any excess grease and transfer it to your slow cooker.
Add the seasonings and remaining ingredients, but use only 2 cups of water. Cook on low for 4-6 hours.
Other Easy Soup Recipes
I'll teach you how to make simple from-scratch recipes, like seasonings, sauces, dinners and even desserts, that make cooking from home less overwhelming and more enjoyable.
My recipes have been featured on publications like South Your Mouth, Fun.com, Her Campus, Mental Floss, and the TastingTable.
How much water? Doesn't seem to say.
The recipe should include 3 cups of water. I really appreciate you letting us know! 😊 - Jennifer, Joyfully Mad Team
Easy and good! I didn't have diced tomatoes (i thought i did haha ) but ended up using a medium heat salsa and that was perfect! Easy and will make again.
For the canned items, what size cans ie. how many ounces?
15 ounce cans
We made this recipe tonight because it?s cold as all get out here in Dallas. We invited some friends, too. One of them is currently dairy AND soy free, and this worked for her. We topped ours with avocado slices.
This soup was exactly what we needed?so comforting and delicious for a chilly night. Perfect for everyone who was eating!
Oh yum. I love Mexican food and one-pot recipes are right up my alley.
Me too! I need more one-pot recipes in my life!
I've had fajita and tortilla soup, but never taco soup- looking forward to trying this soon. Also, I'm putting together a buzzfeed recipe roundup for Cinco de Mayo- may I add this recipe into the mix?
i've made a recipe very similar to this one! <3
it's so. dang. delicious!
Oh Madison -- coming home with no meal options is my everyday lately haha! I am excited to add this to my go-to recipe collection!
I hope you guys like it! I love how easy it is 🙂
This sounds so delicious! I'm on a huge soup kick right now, so definitely going to try this.
Definitely do, especially before it gets too hot to think about soup!
That is such a smart idea to freeze pre-diced onions! A lot of times I don't end up using the whole onion in a recipe and then it goes bad. This way I could save them and have them on hand for a future recipe. This soup sounds so yummy, too. I love those go-to meals!
I always run into that problem, either the onions go bad OR I run into timing issues having to chop the onion. The soup is super yummy, you should definitely try it!