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Best One-Pot Taco Soup Recipe for Easy Weeknight Dinners

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This one-pot taco soup is a happy accident that turned into a family favorite. It’s quick, easy, and packed with bold, smoky flavor—perfect for busy weeknights or feeding a crowd.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb ground beef (80/20 works best)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced (about 1 cup)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 packet taco seasoning (mild or hot)
  • 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (15 oz) corn, drained
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 can (10 oz) Rotel tomatoes with green chiles, undrained
  • 3 cups beef broth (low-sodium)
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • For serving (optional): shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, diced avocado, fresh cilantro, tortilla chips or strips, sliced jalapeños, lime wedge

Instructions

  1. Brown the beef: Place a large Dutch oven or pot over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up, until no longer pink (5-7 minutes). Drain excess fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon.
  2. Sauté aromatics: Reduce heat to medium. Add diced onion and cook 3-4 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Bloom spices: Sprinkle taco seasoning, cumin, and smoked paprika over beef and onions. Stir constantly for 1 minute.
  4. Add tomato paste: Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute.
  5. Add liquids and canned goods: Pour in beef broth, diced tomatoes (with juices), and Rotel tomatoes (with juices). Stir, scraping up browned bits from the bottom.
  6. Add beans and corn: Stir in black beans, kidney beans, and corn. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 15-20 minutes.
  7. Finish with lime juice: Just before serving, stir in lime juice. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
  8. Serve and garnish: Ladle into bowls and let everyone customize with desired toppings.

Notes

For a vegetarian version, omit ground beef and add an extra can of black beans and a can of pinto beans. For a slow cooker version, brown beef and onions on stove first, then transfer everything to slow cooker and cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours. Add lime juice just before serving. Soup tastes even better the next day.

Nutrition

Keywords: taco soup, one-pot soup, easy weeknight dinner, ground beef soup, Mexican soup, comfort food, gluten-free soup

Find it online: https://vexifood.com/best-one-pot-taco-soup-recipe-for-easy-weeknight-dinners/