Print

Easy One-Pot Taco Soup: The Best Kid-Approved Family Dinner

easy one-pot taco soup - featured image
Print Recipe

This easy one-pot taco soup is a quick, affordable, and kid-approved family dinner that comes together in about 30 minutes. Made with simple pantry staples like ground beef, canned tomatoes, beans, corn, and taco seasoning, it’s a crowd-pleaser that even picky eaters love.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20 works well; drain excess fat after browning)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced (about 1 cup)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 packet taco seasoning (or 3 tablespoons homemade taco seasoning)
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained (fire-roasted preferred)
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) tomato sauce
  • 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (15 oz) corn, drained
  • 2 cups beef broth (low-sodium preferred)
  • Shredded cheddar cheese (for topping)
  • Sour cream (for topping)
  • Tortilla chips, crushed (for topping)
  • Fresh cilantro, chopped (for topping)
  • Diced avocado (for topping)
  • Lime wedges (for serving)

Instructions

  1. Brown the beef: Place your pot over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, until browned and no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Drain most of the fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon for flavor.
  2. Cook the aromatics: Reduce heat to medium. Add the diced onion and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds, until fragrant.
  3. Add the seasonings: Sprinkle the taco seasoning over the beef and onion mixture. Stir well to coat everything evenly. Let it cook for about 1 minute to toast the spices.
  4. Pour in the tomatoes and sauce: Add the can of diced tomatoes (with juices) and the tomato sauce. Stir to combine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
  5. Add the beans, corn, and broth: Pour in the drained black beans, drained corn, and beef broth. Stir everything together until well combined.
  6. Bring to a boil, then simmer: Increase heat to high and bring the soup to a gentle boil. Once bubbling, reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes.
  7. Taste and adjust: After simmering, taste the soup and adjust seasoning as needed (salt, pepper, cumin, hot sauce, or lime juice).
  8. Serve and top: Ladle the soup into bowls. Let everyone add their own toppings—cheese, sour cream, crushed tortilla chips, cilantro, avocado, and a squeeze of lime.

Notes

Toast the taco seasoning with the meat and onions for deeper flavor. Don’t skip draining the beans and corn to avoid a cloudy broth. The soup thickens as it simmers, so don’t add extra broth. For a thicker soup, mash some beans before adding or stir in a cornstarch slurry. Leftovers taste even better the next day. Freezes well for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: taco soup, one-pot meal, easy dinner, kid-friendly, ground beef, black bean, corn, weeknight dinner, comfort food

Find it online: https://willarecipes.com/easy-one-pot-taco-soup-the-best-kid-approved-family-dinner/