Description
This hearty Crock Pot Taco Soup is a flavorful and easy-to-make meal perfect for busy days. Combining lean ground beef, beans, tomatoes, and a blend of Mexican-inspired spices, this slow-cooked soup delivers comforting warmth with minimal effort. Thickened with a cornstarch slurry, it’s ideal served with toppings like shredded cheese, tortilla strips, and sour cream for a complete and satisfying dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 ounces) pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) petite diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 can (15.25 ounces) sweet corn, drained
- 1 can (10 ounces) green enchilada sauce
- 2 cans (14 ounces each) beef broth (or chicken broth)
- 1 packet (1 ounce) taco seasoning
- 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
Thickening Mixture
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef: In a large skillet over medium heat, brown and crumble the lean ground beef until it’s thoroughly cooked and no longer pink inside. Drain off any grease to prevent excess fat in the soup.
- Combine ingredients in crock pot: Transfer the cooked ground beef to a large greased crock pot (ideally 7 quart size). Add the drained black beans, pinto beans, diced tomatoes, sweet corn, green enchilada sauce, beef or chicken broth, taco seasoning, and tomato paste. Stir everything together to blend flavors.
- Cook the soup: Cover the crock pot with its lid and cook the soup on low heat for 3 to 6 hours, allowing all the flavors to meld and develop.
- Prepare the thickening slurry: In a small bowl, mix together the cornstarch and water until it forms a smooth slurry. This mixture will be used to thicken the soup.
- Thicken the soup: Stir the cornstarch slurry into the soup in the crock pot. Cover with the lid again and let the soup heat for another 30 minutes. The soup will thicken during this time.
- Serve: Ladle the warm soup into bowls and top with shredded cheese, tortilla strips, sour cream, or your favorite garnishes. Enjoy your comforting taco soup!
Notes
- For a spicier version, add chopped jalapenos or a dash of hot sauce.
- Use low-sodium broth and beans if you want to control the salt content.
- Vegetarian adaptation: replace ground beef with cooked lentils or plant-based meat alternatives.
- This recipe can be doubled or halved depending on your crock pot size.
- Leftovers store well and taste even better the next day.
