It's official. This simple taco soup is everyone's favorite around here.
It's also the best way to get more nourishing bone broth, pastured meats, and even some yummy vegetables into my family. They all have seconds and thirds, it's THAT good.
What's really nice is that if you have a family like my friend does, with all different eaters (she's vegetarian, Hubs and kids are picky about this or that), you can easily serve some of the ingredients on the side or leave some out and keep everyone happy!
This has such nice flavor and a bit of a kick, so it really satisfies your appetite, especially when you're watching your carbs. (Just leave out the corn and the chips for the top.) There are some carbs in this from the beans, but not too bad because the fiber in the beans lowers the net carbs.
You could make it in the crock pot, which is what I usually do, or you could even throw all of these ingredients into your pressure cooker for about 15 minutes if you're in a hurry! It'd be even faster in there if you use already-cooked meat. If your meat isn't cooked it'll take a little more time, just do that part first (see this post for how), and then add the rest. Either way this recipe is pretty fast so it's now on the “our version of fast food these days” list.
Simple Taco Soup
Ingredients
- 2 or more cups cooked meat of your choice: You could use leftover pulled pork, 1 # hamburger that is already browned, or I usually use 1-2# shredded or chopped chicken the day after we have baked chicken for dinner. Just pick the extra meat off the bone and set aside, and don't forget to cook the bones all day for the broth! (Or use this shelf-stable super good-for-you broth that's already made!) Pasture raised chicken is best. Click here if you don't have a good local source for healthy pastured meats.
- 1 can drained organic black beans or 1-2 cans Great Northern beans (don't drain those), I love the beans at that link, they're already soaked for you!
- 1 cup fresh or frozen organic sweet corn, if you're not watching your carbs
- 4 cups of your favorite organic salsa OR if you don't have salsa on-hand, add approximately 2 cups organic fresh or canned tomatoes, chopped organic veggies of choice like 1 onion, 1 stalk celery, 1-2 peppers, 1-2 jalepenos, 2-3 cloves minced garlic, and a handful of parsley and/or cilantro. Here's my homemade salsa recipe – this can be made ahead or I do buy it at the store sometimes.
- 4-6 cups Homemade chicken broth. I now know how quick and simple pressure cooker broth is so I can make some mineral-rich broth more quickly in a pinch. Again, if you just don't think you will make it or want some on hand for when you're really crunched for time, try this bone broth — it's 100% grass-fed with a bunch of gelatin, organic ingredients, and it's shelf stable! I love keeping their beef and chicken broth on-hand for quick recipes because they make it just like I do here, and without the nasty msg ingredients, additives, or preservatives that store-bought has.
- If you have leftover rice, you could throw that in, too.
- 2 Tablespoons Taco Seasoning-- here's my recipe but you could just throw the same seasonings in separately if you don't have it already mixed together: 1 Tablespoon or more of ground cumin depending on how spicy your salsa was, 2 teaspoons ground paprika, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon oregano (or Italian seasoning), 1 Tablespoon garlic powder, and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper if you like it spicy.
- Sea salt and pepper to your taste
- Sometimes I'll saute some onion, celery, garlic, and/or bell peppers in butter and add that in too (optional)
For the top:
- 1-2 cups Shredded cheese – Monterey Jack, cheddar, or whatever you like
- Sour cream and/or cream cheese
- Tortilla chips are optional-I buy organic to avoid GMO ingredients and other nasties!
- 2 limes, organic if you can find them
Instructions
- Throw it all together, simmer 'til it's hot and the flavors are blended together nicely. Taste-test to see if it needs more salt or cumin or other spices. Once any veggies you added are tender, it's time to serve, or keep on low in the crock pot or pressure cooker if you have the multi-function kind that we have.
- Top this simple taco soup with whatever goodies you like: A dollop of sour cream or a hunk of cream cheese, crushed tortilla chips, and shredded cheese. I also love a squirt of lime juice on top.
Let me know if you love this simple taco soup too!
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John-Terry McDonough Osborne says
OH YES! I replied to your email of this recipe, that we would definitely have it (few days ago). A new favorite, both for ease of prep and for taste. Leftovers tonight. One thought: I have a 3 quart and a 6 quart crockpots. Started out in 3 quart, but couldn’t fit the corn in there. Moved it all to big crockpot. Recipe with 4cups broth, makes 4 big soup bowls, so 2 dinners for the 2 of us. Thanks Kelly! T
Danielle Levins says
Pinto beans and rice will be for dinner, beans in the crockpot 🙂
Flo LaDuke Richards says
I think I just found tomorrow’s supper since my homegrown beans will need soaking and my ground bison is still frozen. There are a few other things I don’t have that I’d like to, too, to round it out. It sounds so yummy!
I was looking on the site selling the beans and didn’t find the part about them being presoaked as your recipe page said. Did I miss it? Or did the website change?
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Hi Flo! Here’s the scoop on these beans:
https://www.edenfoods.com/mediacenter/brochures/brochure_beans.pdf
And here’s my friend Susan’s great post about them: https://kellythekitchenkop.com/i-forgot-to-soak-my-beans/
Flo LaDuke Richards says
Thanks, Kelly! Very interesting and encouraging! I didn’t see that info on the can and think it’d be good to have there. 🙂
Mimi Terry Osborne says
WOW thanks for this recipe, Kelly! I have leftover cooked cubed pork from last night’s burritos in freezer. Friday it’ll go into the crockpot and we’ll take in that terrific fragrance all afternoon as it cooks, then make tortillas and enjoy great pre-Christmas dinner!!! Merry Christmas, MimiTerry
KitchenKop says
You’re welcome MimiTerry, let me know how it turns out!
Kelly
Sherri @The Well Floured Kitchen says
Love Simple Recipes! My family eats this too, with grass fed ground beef. One of my families favorites, I don’t make it nearly enough!
margaret says
That looks like my recipe. Yum!
Adrienne @ Whole New Mom says
Looks great, Kelly. Thanks!
Diana says
This is one of our favorite soups too! We make it with chicken or ground beef, both are good! So warm and filling.