How do I thicken up my taco soup?

One option is to add crushed tortilla chips or tortilla strips to the soup . The chips will dissolve and create a thicker consistency. Another alternative is to use instant mashed potatoes. Simply sprinkle some into the soup and stir well, allowing it to thicken before serving.

How to thicken taco soup without cornstarch?

Whisking beurre manié (butter-flour paste) into simmering soup is the best way to thicken an otherwise too-watery soup. Add bits of the paste gradually and simmer to cook out any raw flour taste. The broth will be velvety smooth, rich, and thick.

Is it better to thicken soup with flour or cornstarch?

It's important to note that cornstarch has twice the thickening power of flour . If you need to substitute cornstarch to thicken liquid in a recipe that calls for ¼ cup (four tablespoons) flour, you only need two tablespoons cornstarch.

What ingredient makes soup thicker?

Add Flour Or Cornstarch You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute.

How can I thicken soup without adding anything?

Foods like rice, bread, potatoes and beans are naturally high in starches, which, when broken down, act as a thickening agent . With rice, the grains will break down into the soup as it's simmered and stirred, releasing the starches and thickening the soup.

What can I use instead of corn flour to thicken soup?

Wheat Flour Most households already have plain flour in their kitchens, which makes it an easy swap for cornflour in many recipes. The natural starches in wheat can be used to thicken soups and sauces. There's a reason every luxurious macaroni cheese sauce starts with flour.

How can I thicken liquid without flour or cornstarch?

Egg yolks, arrowroot, tomato paste or butter can thicken sauce in place of flour or cornstarch. Can I thicken sauce with plain flour? Plain flour thickens sauce because the starches expand as you add liquid to it, which leads to a thicker consistency.

How to thicken soup after it's cooked?

6 ways to thicken soup: Blend all or part of it. If you've made a broth with chunks of vegetable in it, such as minestrone soup, then pour the soup through a sieve. ... Add cream or yogurt. ... Add flour or cornflour. ... Use a butter and flour paste. ... Blend in bread. ... Add lentils or rice. ... 5 of the best soup recipes to try next:

How can I thicken my tortilla soup?

Yes, you can use flour to thicken chicken tortilla soup. To do so, create a slurry by combining equal parts flour and cold water. Whisk the slurry into the soup gradually, allowing it to simmer for a few minutes until the desired thickness is achieved.

How do you thicken taco sauce?

Use Flour and Water Combine 2 tablespoons flour with every 1/4 cup cold water and whisk until smooth. Add the mixture to your sauce over medium heat, and continue to stir and cook until you've reached your desired consistency. Test with a spoon.

How do you thicken soup with masa harina?

Masa harina is an especially effective thickener, so start with a small amount — say, 1 tablespoon each water and masa harina per 3 cups of chili . It can take a few moments for masa harina to work its magic, so let the chili simmer, stirring often, for about five minutes, and then check its consistency.

Taco Soup (The World's Easiest Supper) (2024)

Let me introduce you to the world’s easiest supper: taco soup. With ground beef, beans, corn, and seasoning, it’s everything you love about tacos in soup form. Basically, if you love chili or tacos, you’re bound to fall in love with this taco soup recipe.

Jump to Recipe

This recipe has the family seal of approval and it’s ridiculously easy to make. All you have to do is grab the ingredients, dump them in a pot, bring them to a boil, and let them simmer for 15 minutes. That’s it! A comforting bowl of this easy taco soup will be ready in about 30 minutes.

I always have the ingredients on hand as most of them are pantry staples. If you’d like to read how I keep shelf-stable meals on hand and organized, check out by Bags to Dishes series.

The best part is, while this is an easy taco soup recipe, it’s also extremely flavorful. With taco and ranch seasoning mixed in, this soup is jam-packed with flavor the whole family will love. Customize it however you like as well. Add a dollop of sour cream and salsa, enjoy it with a side of guacamole and corn chips, or sprinkle some cheddar cheese on top.

If you’re feeling inspired, here are some other taco-flavored dishes I love: sweet potato and black bean tacos,instant pot beef barbacoa tacos, taco pizza, taco tot casserole, and fiesta taco salad.

Recipe Ingredients

Kidney beans
Corn
Ro-Tel
Tomato sauce
Ranch dressing mix
Taco seasoning mix
About a pound of beef (more if you’d like).

Helpful Kitchen Tools

I cook my beef ahead of time and freeze it in individual meal-sized portions so I just grabbed a bag from the freezer, which makes this even easier! I also dehydrate ground beef from time to time to make this recipe entirely shelf-stable.

How to Make Easy Taco Soup

Are you ready for the instructions?

Dump all the ingredients in a pot. Don’t even drain your cans, just dump it all.

Add a cup and a half of water and stir.

Bring it to a boil then lower the heat and simmer for fifteen minutes. Serve!

Looking for a swap for red meat? Swap the ground beef for ground turkey or rotisserie chicken!

I like to eat mine with sour cream and cheese.

How To Store Taco Soup

Store your soup leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days and in the freezer for up to three months. When it’s time to serve, simply reheat either in the microwave or on the stovetop. I prefer glass leftover containers so that the chili doesn’t stain. 🙂

Additional Tips for Perfecting Taco Soup

Customize Toppings: Set up a topping bar with options like diced avocado, sour cream, salsa, shredded cheddar cheese, cilantro, green onions, diced tomatoes, bell peppers, lime wedges, and jalapenos for a customizable experience.
Vegetarian Option: Skip the meat or substitute it with lentils or an extra can of beans to make this a vegetarian-friendly taco soup.
Crock Pot Method: Brown the beef and onion first, then add all ingredients to the slow cooker. Cook on low for 5-6 hours for a convenient option.
Homemade Taco Seasoning: If you prefer homemade seasoning, mix together 1 tsp each of garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper, along with 2 tsp each of dried oregano, paprika, and cumin. Add a pinch of salt and black pepper.
Add Green Chiles: For an extra flavor kick, include a can of chopped green chiles in the soup.
Meat Alternatives: Feel free to use ground turkey, chicken, or pork instead of beef for a different flavor profile.

Recipe FAQs

What do you serve with taco soup?

Serve your soup with a slice of bread or tortilla chips. Alternatively, you can set out a tray of toppings and let everyone pick their own. Include toppings like diced avocado, sour cream, salsa, shredded cheddar cheese, cilantro, green onion, diced tomato, diced bell pepper, lime wedges, and jalapenos. Another option is to serve your soup as an appetizer before a main like chicken fajitas.

Can I substitute the meat in this taco soup?

Yes, you can swap the ground beef for ground turkey, chicken, or pork if you like. You could also omit the meat completely and use a can of lentils or an extra can of beans to make this a vegetarian taco soup recipe.

Can I make this soup in the crock pot?

Yes, it will just take a lot longer. Brown your beef and onion first and then add all ingredients to the slow cooker and cook on low for five to six hours. I love this slow cooker because I can transport it to family functions with its latching lid, it’s super easy to throw in the dishwasher, and the meat temp probe is so handy for cookin’ up a Sunday roast!

Can I use different beans in this soup?

Yes, you can substitute kidney beans with pinto beans or black beans, or even use a combination of different beans.

What sides go well with taco soup?

Serve with a slice of bread or tortilla chips. You can also accompany it with a main dish like chicken fajitas for a complete meal.

Craving a comforting bowl of soup? Check out these other soup recipes:

How To Make Chicken Noodle Soup

Tomato Basil Soup Recipe (Quick, Easy and Delicious)

Italian Sausage Soup With Gluten-Free Sausage

Cauliflower Soup Recipe With Cheese

French Onion Soup (Restaurant-Style Made Easy)

Loaded Potato Soup Recipe (Rich and Flavorful)

Taco Soup

Taco Soup is so incredibly quick and easy but the flavor alone will win you over. You're just not going to believe how great this tastes!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes minutes

Course: Soup

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: soup, taco

Servings: 4

Calories: 370kcal

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef
1 large chopped onion cooked with beef
2 cans kidney beans
1 can corn
1 can Ro-Tel tomatoes (15-ounce)
1 can tomato sauce (15-ounce)
1 packet taco seasoning mix
1 packet ranch dressing mix
1 1/2 cups water

Instructions

If needed, brown the ground beef and onion in a skillet.
1 lb ground beef, 1 large chopped onion
Combine all ingredients into a large pot, bring to a boil, and then simmer for 15 minutes.
1 lb ground beef, 1 large chopped onion, 2 cans kidney beans, 1 can corn, 1 can Ro-Tel tomatoes (15-ounce), 1 can tomato sauce (15-ounce), 1 packet taco seasoning mix, 1 packet ranch dressing mix, 1 1/2 cups water
Serve with the toppings of your choice.

Nutrition