Slow Cooker Taco Soup With Ground Beef Recipe

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 06/4/22
taco soup
Diana Rattray
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 6 hrs
Total: 6 hrs 10 mins
Servings: 4 servings

This taco soup is quick and easy to prepare, and it cooks hands-free in the slow cooker. Top this delicious, thick soup with a dollop of sour cream and some shredded cheese or thinly sliced green onions. Garnish with crispy fried tortilla strips (see the how-to below) but coarsely crumbled tortilla chips would be excellent as well.

Take a look at the tips and variations below the recipe instructions for some additional ideas and substitutions.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound lean ground beef

  • 1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans

  • 1 (15-ounce) can pinto beans

  • 1 (11- to- 15-ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained

  • 1 (10-ounce) can diced tomatoes & green chilies, preferably Ro*Tel®

  • 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes

  • 1 (4-ounce) can chopped chile peppers

  • 1 (1-ounce) envelope taco seasoning

  • 1 (1 ounce) envelope ranch dressing mix

Steps to Make It

  1. In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef; drain well and transfer to the slow cooker. Add the canned beans, corn, Rotel and regular tomatoes, and peppers. Stir in the taco seasoning and ranch dressing mix.

  2. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours.

  3. Serve the soup with tortilla chips or Mexican cornbread.

Tips

  • To make homemade baked tortilla strips, slice 4 corn tortillas in half, then slice each half crosswise into strips. Heat 2 to 3 inches of oil in a heavy skillet to 350 F. Using a metal slotted spoon to stir them and keep them covered with the oil, fry a batch of about one-third of the tortilla strips until golden brown (about 3 minutes). Remove the fried tortilla strips to towels to drain and repeat with the remaining tortilla strips.
  • Make a double batch and freeze some in meal-size or individual portions for another day.

Recipe Variations

  • Add a can of refried beans to the soup.
  • If you don't have a can of chile peppers, add an extra can of Ro-tel tomatoes with green chiles and one 14.5-ounce can of diced tomatoes; omit the 28-ounce can of tomatoes.
  • Add a few tablespoons of chopped jalapeno peppers to the soup.
  • For a thinner soup, add some beef broth near the end of the cooking time.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
787 Calories
19g Fat
105g Carbs
57g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 787
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 19g 25%
Saturated Fat 6g 31%
Cholesterol 101mg 34%
Sodium 1925mg 84%
Total Carbohydrate 105g 38%
Dietary Fiber 22g 80%
Total Sugars 26g
Protein 57g
Vitamin C 116mg 578%
Calcium 243mg 19%
Iron 10mg 56%
Potassium 2369mg 50%
*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.)