This Creamy Taco Soup recipe is the ultimate comfort food. It has a creamy tomato base and filled with ground beef, corn and beans. This hearty soup recipe is perfect for a cold day and tastes like a taco in a bowl! It is something the whole family will enjoy!
Top this with shredded cheese, diced avocado and serve with tortilla chips for a perfect cozy lunch or dinner and its easy enough to make on one of those busy weeknights!
This homemade taco soup recipe uses the same taco seasoning for the beef as my Double Layer Beef Taco Cups. The ground beef is cooked with onion and jalapeno before being seasoned with cumin, chili powder and coriander.
If you like tacos, then you will definitely enjoy this soup. It has all the great things your favorite taco has but it's all in a creamy soup form. Could it get any better?
If you looking for more delicious meal options, try one of these recipes: Turkey Pesto Sandwich, Pork Chop Sandwich or Mini Dutch Oven Chicken Pot Pies.
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Why You Will Love This
- It is creamy. After you have let the soup simmer on the stove top, you add cream cheese and allow it to melt in. This gives the soup it's velvety, delicious look and flavor!
- It is easy to put together. This great recipe is all made in one pot which makes clean up quite easy. Getting all the ingredients in the pot and simmering on the stove only takes about 15 minutes, so you can prep this in a hurry and have a delicious meal on the table in no time.
- It is cozy. There is something about a creamy warm bowl of soup with beans and ground beef that just feels so inviting. Eating this on a cold day will warm you up from the inside out!
Ingredients Needed
- Canola oil: Vegetable oil or olive oil would work just as great for this.
- Onion: I prefer a yellow onion for this because it's a bit more mild, but a white onion would work great too!
- Jalapeno: The recipe says to seed the jalapeno before mincing. This gives the flavor of the jalapeno without too much heat. If you would prefer this to be on the spicer side, you could always leave the seeds.
- Garlic: I buy the minced garlic in the jar for convenience, but you could mince 6 cloves to get the 2 tablespoons of garlic this recipe calls for.
- Chili powder
- Cumin
- Coriander
- Ground beef: You will want to choose some fairly lean ground beef for this or your soup will have a layer of grease, and that's not always desirable. I usually get the 96% lean ground beef.
- Tomato paste: I love tomato paste in a tube. It is a very rare occasion when I use an entire can of tomato paste and this makes so much more sense!
- Beer: The recipe calls for Mexican beer. I usually use Corona or Dos Equis because that is what we usually have on hand. Really, you will want to choose a Lager but the brand doesn't matter.
- Tomatoes: Undrained diced tomatoes in a can are used for this. If you wanted to add an additional flavor in your soup, get the diced tomatoes with green chilies.
- Beans: A can of both black beans and pinto beans that are rinsed and drained are used for this. Red kidney beans would work in place of either can of beans too!
- Corn: I prefer to use frozen corn for this, but you could substitute a can of rinsed and drained corn.
- Beef broth
- Cream cheese: I would stick to full fat cream cheese for this as it melts, and tastes the best! Alternatively, you could add 1 cup heavy cream in place of the cream cheese.
- Cilantro: Chopped cilantro is sprinkled on top and I think this is the what really brings this whole soup together!
- Cheese: Shredded cheddar is great on top, but you could also use a Mexican blend cheese, Monterey Jack or Pepperjack.
- Avocado: Chopped avocado can be added on top for additional flavor.
- Tortilla chips: Serve tortilla chips crumbled up and sprinkled on top or on the side for dipping.
Step by Step Instructions
Here is how to prepare and cook this Creamy Taco Soup.
STEP 1: In a large stockpot, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally for about 4 minutes.
STEP 2: Add the jalapeno, garlic, chili powder, cumin, coriander, salt, and pepper. Saute, stirring constantly for about 1 minute.
STEP 3: Add the ground beef to the pot and saute for about 5 minutes or until the meat is fully cooked. Use a wooden spoon to break it up as it cooks.
STEP 4: Depending on the fat content of your ground beef, you may want to remove some of the grease by spooning it out.
STEP 5: Add the tomato paste and stir to combine. Let this cook for 1 minute and then add the beer. Using your wooden spoon, scrape the bottom of the pan to loosen anything that has stuck to the bottom. Bring this to a boil and allow it to boil for 2 minutes.
STEP 6: Add the tomatoes, beans and corn. Stir to combine.
STEP 7: Add the beef broth and bring to a boil before reducing the heat to low and simmering for 20 minutes.
STEP 8: Add the cubed cream cheese and stir until the cheese is completely melted. Taste the soup and adjust the seasonings as needed.
STEP 9: Ladle into bowls and top with chopped cilantro, shredded cheese, avocado (if desired) and serve with tortilla chips.
Expert Tips
The recipe says to remove the excess grease after cooking the ground beef. To do this, take a bunched up paper towel and grab it with a tongs. Next, tilt your stock pot so the grease falls to one side. Move the beef mixture out of the way so you can use your paper towel in the tongs to soak up the grease. Repeat with a clean paper towel, if needed. I find that this method sops up more than spooning it out. Alternatively, you could just spoon it out.
Use a wooden spoon to break up the meat as it cooks, or use this awesome tool which makes breaking up the meat super simple.
The alcohol from the beer is cooked off and you are just left with the flavor. If you prefer not to use the beer, replace it with 1 ½ cups beef broth.
Feel free to top the soup with any of your favorite taco toppings. Some other ideas might be corn chips, sour cream, green onions, red onion, chopped bell pepper or avocado slices.
FAQ
To make this even heartier and bit thicker, double the beans and corn.
Yes, you could use ground turkey in place of the ground beef as a healthier option.
Yes. A can of drained and rinsed corn in place of the frozen corn would work great!
Storing and Freezing
Store leftover soup covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. (I actually think this is even better the next day!) To reheat, heat on medium heat on the stove until heated through. You could also place in a microwave-safe bowl, cover with a paper towel and heat for 1 ½-2 minutes or until heated through.
Leftovers could also be frozen in an airtight container or zip top bag for up to 3 months. To thaw, place in the refrigerator and reheat on the stove or in the microwave. Please note that freezing creamy soups can sometimes alter the flavor and texture a bit.
Other Recipes to Try
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Recipe
Creamy Taco Soup
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 1 Yellow onion, chopped
- 1 Jalapeño, seeded and chopped
- 2 tablesooons minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground coriander
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 12 ounces Mexican beer
- 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes
- 15.5 ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 15.5 ounce can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 ½ cups frozen corn
- 3 ½ cups beef broth
- 8 ounces cream cheese, cubed
- Cilantro, chopped
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Tortilla chips
Instructions
- Heat a large stock pot over medium-high heat. Add oil and swirl to coat. Add onion and sauté for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.1 tablespoon canola oil, 1 Yellow onion, chopped
- Add jalapeño, garlic, chili powder, cumin, coriander, pepper, and salt. Sauté 1 minute, stirring constantly.1 Jalapeño, seeded and chopped, 2 tablesooons minced garlic, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin, 1 ½ teaspoons ground coriander, ½ teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon salt
- Add beef and sauté until the meat is fully cooked, breaking it up as you go, about 5 minutes. Drain off excess grease2 pounds ground beef
- Add the tomato paste and stir to combine. Let the tomato paste cook for 1 minute.3 tablespoons tomato paste
- Add the beer and stir to deglaze the bottom of the pan, scraping up any flavorful little bits.12 ounces Mexican beer
- Add the tomatoes, beans and corn. Stir to combine.14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes, 15.5 ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained, 15.5 ounce can pinto beans, rinsed and drained, 1 ½ cups frozen corn
- Add the broth. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes.3 ½ cups beef broth
- Add the cream cheese and stir to combine until the cream cheese is melted. Taste and adjust seasonings, as needed.8 ounces cream cheese, cubed
- Ladle into bowls and top with cilantro and shredded cheddar. Serve with tortilla chips.Cilantro, chopped, Shredded cheddar cheese, Tortilla chips
Dawn
Can this be done in a crockpot?
Ashlyn Meredith
I have not tested this in a crockpot, but if I was going to do it, this is what I would try. I would follow steps 1-3 of the recipe.
Then I would add that mixture and the rest of the ingredients, except for the cream cheese, to the crockpot. Cook on low for 6 hours. Then add the cream cheese and stir until it is melted. I hope that helps! If you try it, I'd love to know if it turns out that way!