Crockpot Taco Soup

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 4 hrs
Total: 4 hrs 15 mins
Servings: 8 servings

This fabulous crockpot taco soup is loaded with flavor and great ingredients, and you'll be surprised at how simple it is to prepare. Taco seasoning and ranch dressing mix give the soup its superb flavor, so you don't have to have a dozen individual spices on hand. 

Top the soup with crunchy tortilla chips or tortilla strips (found in the salad and croutons section of the supermarket) or garnish the soup with chopped fresh cilantro, green onions, shredded cheese, or avocado.

The soup is open to all kinds of possibilities. Feel free to swap out the beans for other canned beans. Navy beans, great northern beans, and small red beans are all good choices. Or sauté some chopped fresh onion and diced bell peppers—green or red—along with the ground beef, or add some sliced mushrooms. For a little more zing, mince a jalapeño pepper and add it along with the tomatoes and vegetables, or add a can of chopped mild green chili peppers. Crushed red pepper flakes are another good option if you crave the heat.

If you find the soup a little too thick for your taste, add a cup or two of unsalted beef stock or water.

Serve this ground beef and beans taco soup with crusty bread or cornbread, along with a simple tossed salad for a delicious family meal. It's a great soup for lunch, too!

Margarets crock pot taco soup recipe

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef

  • 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes

  • 1 (15-ounce) can corn, undrained

  • 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, undrained

  • 1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans, undrained

  • 1 (15-ounce) can pinto beans, undrained

  • 1 (1-ounce) envelope ranch dressing mix

  • 1 (1-ounce) envelope taco seasoning

  • Tortilla chips, optional for serving

  • 1/4 cup shredded cheese, optional garnish

  • 2 tablespoons sour cream, optional garnish

  • 1 cubed avocado, optional garnish

  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro , optional garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Crock pot taco soup
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
  2. Place a large, heavy skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook, stirring and breaking up, until it is well browned and no longer pink. 

    Beef
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
  3. Meanwhile, pour the crushed tomatoes into the slow cooker along with the corn and beans. Add the dry ranch dressing mix and taco seasoning. Stir to combine thoroughly.

    Crockpot
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
  4. Transfer the browned ground beef to the slow cooker and stir until well-combined.

    Add beans
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
  5. Cover the pot and cook on the low setting for 4 to 6 hours.

    Cover the pot
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
  6. Taste and adjust the seasonings, as desired.

    Crockpot taco soup
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
  7. Serve with tortilla chips, sour cream, and shredded cheese, or serve with crusty rolls or cornbread.

    Serve with chips
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Tips

  • Stovetop Directions: Brown the ground beef in a large Dutch oven or stockpot. Add the corn, black beans, and pinto beans with their liquids along with the drained kidney beans. Stir in the dressing mix and taco seasoning. Add 1 cup of unsalted beef stock and cover the pot. Bring to a simmer over medium heat; reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 30 minutes to 1 hour.
  • Scale the recipe up and freeze extra for a future meal. Label the container(s) with name and date and freeze for up to 3 months.

Recipe Variations

  • For a lower fat soup, make it with ground turkey instead of beef.
  • Add a 4-ounce can of chopped mild green chili peppers or a few tablespoons of minced jalapeño peppers to the soup.
  • Sauté 1 cup of chopped onions with the ground beef.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
395 Calories
12g Fat
47g Carbs
28g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 395
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 12g 15%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Cholesterol 51mg 17%
Sodium 1269mg 55%
Total Carbohydrate 47g 17%
Dietary Fiber 12g 43%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 28g
Vitamin C 15mg 73%
Calcium 128mg 10%
Iron 6mg 33%
Potassium 1133mg 24%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)