Easy Crock Pot Taco Soup combines some of your favorite ingredients to create the ultimate family dinner. The best part is that you can adjust the heat of the soup when you make it and everyone can customize their own serving with traditional taco toppings.
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Why this Recipe Works
Everyone loves tacos, so transforming it into a slow cooker soup is such a great idea. With so many topping options, it is easy to customize too.
Ingredients like canned beans, corn, salsa and taco seasoning are also found in most home pantries which can help with meal planning.
This soup recipe also works great no matter how much time you have, just like this Potato Soup. If you are short on time, cook for 4-6 hours on high but if you have all day, 8 hours on low works too.
The versatility of this soup, along with everyone being able to create their own flavor profile with toppings sets it apart. It also makes it a family favorite.
What goes into this Recipe
- Ground Beef: Using a lower fat ground beef {93 or 96%} helps with having to drain fat.
- Beans: A combination of beans gives the soup a good flavor profile and color.
- Corn: Frozen corn can be used in place of canned corn if that is what you have on hand or prefer.
- Salsa: This ingredient is where you can adjust the heat of your soup by adding mild or hot salsa.
- Taco Seasoning: All of the seasoning you need in one packet makes it very convenient.
- Beef Broth: Added to thin out the soup and keep the beef flavor.
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions and Topping Ideas
- Meat: Ground turkey, chicken or pork can be used in place of ground beef.
- Beans: Any kind of canned beans that you like or have on hand will work nicely in this soup.
- Broth: If you are using chicken or turkey you might want to add chicken broth instead of beef.
- Topping Ideas: Anything you serve on tacos works great with this soup but here are some great ideas. Diced avocado, tomato, olives, sour cream, tortilla strips {or chips}, jalapeños, onion, shredded cheese and cilantro.
How to make Taco Soup in the Crock Pot
1. In a crock pot {with a crock pot liner} add kidney beans, black beans, corn and crushed tomatoes. Top with a jar of salsa.
2. Add the cooked ground beef and onion mixture and top with taco seasoning.
3. Add the beef broth and stir to combine all of the ingredients.
4. Top with the lid and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4-6 hours.
5. After the soup has been cooked, remove the lid and stir. You will notice a deeper color.
6. Serve with your favorite taco toppings and enjoy.
Expert Tips
- Use a crock pot liner. This is such a time saver when it comes to cleaning up! I use them for all of my slow cooker recipes, like these Korean pork street tacos.
- Add a packet or dry ranch dressing mix. It will give the soup an added element of flavor.
- Make this soup for a crowd. Double this recipe and make it for a crowd. It is ready when you are and everyone will love being able to customize their soup with toppings. This slow cooker pulled pork is also a wonderful recipe for a crowd.
- Get creative with your toppings. I think the toppings are really where it is at, so set out everything you and your family love!
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! Ground turkey, chicken or pork would all work wonderfully. I have even used ground elk before and loved it.
You do not have to cook the ground beef before adding it to the crock pot but I suggest it. Browning the meat ahead of time gives the meat an added layer of flavor it would not get cooking in the slow cooker.
Yes! Crock Pot Taco Soup will freeze wonderfully without toppings for up to 3 months.
Yes, you can make this soup creamy by adding a brick {8 oz.} of cream cheese the last half hour of cooking time.
Cut the cream cheese into 10-12 chunks and allow it to melt into the soup before stirring into it like I do with this Tortellini Soup recipe.
There are so many things that go great with this soup and honestly, the soup alone is wonderful but this Fiesta Wedge Salad is a great side dish.
I would also serve Mexican Street Corn Skillet or Queso Blanco with it.
If you are looking for a sweet option, this Churro Bundt Cake or these Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies would be the perfect finishing touch!
Do you love using your crock pot for dinner? Try these recipes…
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Easy Crock Pot Taco Soup
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef {I used 93% lean}
- ½ small onion {diced}
- 15 ounces kidney beans {1 can drained}
- 15 ounces black beans {1 can drained}
- 15 ounces corn {1 can drained}
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 16 ounces salsa {adjust the heat by adding mild or hot variety}
- 2 ounces taco seasoning {or two packages}
- 29 ounces beef broth {or 2 small cans}
- optional toppings: Diced avocado, tomato, olives, sour cream, tortilla strips {or chips}, jalapeños, onion, shredded cheese and cilantro.
Instructions
- In a skillet over medium high heat, cook ground beef until browned. Add diced onion and cook for a minute or two more. Set aside.
- In a large crock pot {covered with a liner} add the drained kidney beans, black beans, corn and crushed tomatoes. Add the jar of salsa, cooked ground beef and onion mixture, the taco seasoning packets and finally the beef broth. Stir everything together. Cover the crock pot with a lid and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4-6 hours.
- When ready, prepare your favorite toppings. Serve in a bowl and let everyone top with their favorites. Refrigerate leftovers for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Notes
- Don’t forget to use a crock pot liner. It will make cleaning up so much easier.
- Substitute ground turkey, chicken or pork for the ground beef.
- Any kind of canned beans can be used in place of the kidney and black beans.
- Add a packet of dry ranch seasoning for extra flavor.
- Get creative with your toppings. Anything you would serve on a taco would be delicious on top of this soup.
Nutrition
