This perfectly easy, ready in 30 minutes Mexican Taco Soup recipe is full of bold vibrant flavors, robust spices and completely made from pantry staples like canned beans and corn!
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Hey everyone, I’m Mirlene! My husband and I are the content creators for Savory Thoughts, where you’ll find delicious, homemade, quick and easy classic Haitian and international recipes. We were both born in Haiti; now live in the DC, Maryland, Virginia area also known as the DMV.
Thank you, Jocelyn for letting us take over your site today. This recipe for Taco Soup is one that’s on our table multiple times a month. Requires simple ingredients, and is filled with bold flavors.
A healthy spin on the Mexican classic, taco soup has all of the bold, vibrant flavor you would expect in one easy one-pot meal. This substantial soup is great for cold nights and is on the table within just 30 minutes. With barely any prep time and some staple pantry ingredients, it’s also the perfect last-minute fix when you’re craving a big bowl of something warm and comforting.
Perks and Highlights of the Best Taco Soup
Cuisine Inspiration: Mexican Fiesta in a Bowl
Primary Cooking Method: Easy-Peasy Stovetop Simmerin’
Dietary Info: A Hearty Mix for Meat-Lovers and Veggies Alike (Adaptable for vegetarians and vegans)
Key Flavor: Bold ‘n’ Spicy with a Tangy Twist
Skill Level: From Kitchen Newbies to Culinary Wizards
Special Perks:
- Fast and Flexible: No time? No problemo! This soup’s on the table faster than you can say, “Taco Tuesday!” Plus, it’s flexible – toss in whatever toppings tickle your fancy!
- Pantry-Friendly: Got a can of corn that’s been chillin’ in the back of the cupboard since who knows when? Perfect. This recipe embraces all pantry stragglers.
- Crowd-Pleaser: From tiny tots who think “spicy” is a swear word, to heat-seekers who keep hot sauce in their bag (swag), this soup satisfies the whole gang.
- Leftover Lover: Make a big pot. Why? First, because it’s delicious. Second, because this flavor fest gets even better the next day.
- Healthy with a Hearty Vibe: Packed with protein, fiber, and veggies, it’s the kind of comfort food you can feel good about devouring.
Ingredients
- Olive Oil (1 tbsp): Optional but optimal for kickstarting your sauté sensation.
- Ground Turkey (1 lb): Lean, mean, and keen to soak up all those spices.
- Kosher Salt (1 tsp) and Ground Black Pepper (1 tsp): The dynamic duo in the seasoning world, ready to elevate flavors.
- Red Onions (1/2 cup, chopped): A pop of color and a burst of boldness.
- Garlic Cloves (3, minced): Because what’s a soup without that garlicky goodness?
- Fresh Tomatoes (1-2, chopped): They’re here to add a touch of juicy sweetness.
- Taco Seasoning (3 tbsp): The soul of the soup, offering a fiesta of flavors!
- Pinto Beans (15.5 oz, undrained): These legumes bring the heartiness to your soup party.
- Canned Corn (15 oz, undrained) or Cooked Frozen Corn (2 cups): A sweet crunch to balance the spice.
- Chili Powder (1 tsp): For those who dare to add a smoky heat.
- Cumin (1 tsp): Earthy and warm; it’s the backbone of taco flavoring.
- Cilantro (1 tbsp, chopped): Fresh and zesty, it’s the garnish that keeps on giving.
- Water (1 1/2 cups): The base that binds all the magic together.
How to make Taco Soup
Don’t worry, this fuss free taco soup recipe is not complicated at all. The full recipe is also in the recipe card below with the exact ingredients and measurements. In the meantime, here’s a quick step by step guide to making this recipe perfectly each and every single time.
- In a deep shallow pan, heat the oil and add the ground turkey. Cook for about 5-8 minutes or until lightly brown.
- Add the onions, garlic, and tomatoes and cook for 1 minute. Then add the taco seasoning, stirring occasionally.
- Add the beans and corn.
- Add chili powder, cumin, cilantro, and water. Stir. Bring to simmer
- Serve warm with cheese, fresh chopped herbs, chips, and or sour cream.
Which Beans to most commonly used in Taco Soup?
Pinto beans are among the most common found in Mexican cuisine, with a rich, earthy flavor and a beautifully creamy texture. Not only are they great for bulking up a meal, but they also pack a nutritional punch, full of dietary fiber, protein and a whole host of vitamins.
You could really use any kind of bean in this taco soup dish, with black beans or kidney beans working particularly well. If you opt for dried over canned, just make sure that you soak the beans the night before, or for a minimum of 6 hours.
What Spices To Add?
Traditionally, Mexican food is flavored with a powerful spice combination of chilli, cayenne pepper, paprika cumin and oregano. This versatile mix works well in so many dishes, imparting a spicy, smoky flavor that brings out the best in many meats, vegetables and legumes.
The spices used in taco soup are all readily available and can be found at most supermarkets. You can easily create your own taco seasoning by simply combining the spices, and it will keep in an airtight container for up to a year. However, in a pinch, pre-made taco seasoning is just as tasty and super convenient to keep on hand.
What meat should I use?
For this recipe we are using ground turkey. You can also use ground pork, the choice is yours!
Ground beef is ideal for use in taco soup, adding a delicious savory taste as well as some additional protein. If you can, try to find some ground beef that has between 70-80% lean meat. This will help to add flavor to your dish without being too greasy. For a lower calorie option or for those who don’t eat red meat, ground pork will also work, although the overall flavor won’t be as strong and you might need to add some more spices to taste.
You could easily make this dish vegetarian by simply skipping the beef and you won’t feel like you’re missing out. If you would like to have a substitute in its place, you could always add some chunks of sweet potato or even some cubed smoked tofu.
Topping Suggestions
One of the great things about this taco soup recipe is that it can be easily adapted to suit your tastes. If you would like to serve it up for dinner you might like to make it more substantial by adding some toppings of your choice.
Shredded cheese and sour cream will make it feel a little indulgent, while avocado or guacamole will add a hint of freshness. For an irresistible crunch, you can also top your taco soup with some lightly salted tortilla chips.
How to Serve
Everyone knows that hearty soups and stews need something to really pull it all together. My favorite thing to serve with this soup is cornbread! Bring on the cornbread.
I love this Mexican cornbread, these Jiffy style corn muffins and even this Honey cornbread if you a sweet treat.
Favorite Soup Recipes
Thank you to Savory Thoughts for the wonderful recipe!
Taco Soup
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Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil optional
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup red onions chopped
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1-2 tomatoes chopped
- 3 tbsp taco seasoning
- 15.5 oz canned pinto beans undrained
- 15 oz canned corn, undrained or 2 cups cooked frozen corn
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tbsp cilantro chopped
- 1 1/2 cup water
Instructions
- In a medium Dutch oven or shallow pan, heat the oil and add the ground turkey and season with salt and pepper. Cook for about 5 minutes or until lightly brown, scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden or silicone utensil as needed to loosen the ground turkey as it cooks.
- Add the onions, garlic, and tomatoes and cook for 1 minute. Then add the taco seasoning, stirring occasionally.
- Add the beans and corn. Cook for 2 minutes. stirring occasionally.
- Immediately add chili powder, cumin, cilantro, and water. Stir. Bring to simmer for 10 minutes. Season to taste.
- Serve warm with cheese and sour cream.
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LOVE at first bite!
Thank you so much for sharing your gift of food with us. Truly you are amazing. Your baby girl is a blessing so cute. I have tried many of your recipes all are delicious. Keep them coming!!
Love your recipes!! Taco soup or salad could be every night in our house.
Keep those great ideas coming.
Is delicious
Love this soup! Quick and easy and my whole family loved it.
This soup looks incredible. All my favourite flavours in a soup.
This is a great recipe! I love taco soup because of how filling it is.
I love ALL the flavors in this dish! And, we all are nuts about tacos so I bet this soup is simply amazing! We’ll be trying this on our next cold day for sure!
This is one of those recipes we have on repeat all winter long! It’s so tasty and the family LOVES it!