Weeknight Taco Soup (Kid Friendly, Dairy Free, Gluten Free) (2024)

Quick and easy Beef Taco Soup is here to save your busy day! This healthy and hearty dinner is packed with a double dose of protein (ground beef and black beans), plus bell peppers, corn and tomatoes. It’s a kid-friendly favorite that’s made in one pot and ready in about 30 minutes.

An Easy Twist for Taco Tuesday

If planning for back-to-school dinners is stressing you out, look no further than our easy taco soup recipe to knock dinner off your to-do list!

This is the best one-pot weeknight dinner for so many reasons:

• Kid Friendly: My children eat it willingly, sans bribery. Huzzah!
• Leftovers: My husband will gladly devour the leftovers for lunch not just the second day, but on the third and fourth days too.
• Quick and Easy: This soup can be made in just a little over 30 minutes in one pot and you don’t need a single side dish to round it out.
• Healthy: Yes, comfort foods can be healthy! Seasoned ground beef is joined by a medley of rainbow vegetables for a meal that’s good, and good for you, too!
• Freezer Friendly: This recipe freezes like a boss, so just go ahead and double it, then freeze half. Put a sticky note on the freezer that says “THERE IS MAGICAL TACO SOUP IN HERE”. A month later when you’re running around like a crazy person at 6 PM on a Tuesday trying to figure out what to feed your hungry family, you’ll know that Taco Soup is there for you, ready to save the day yet again.

Taco Soup Recipe

Taco soup with ground beef blends all of flavors of your favorite american-style tacos into a hearty, comforting bowl of YUM. The ingredient list is short, but it’s also customizable. See the variations section below to make it your own.

• Ground Beef: lean ground beef works great in this recipe. You can also use ground turkey, bison, or even ground chicken.
• Onion
• Bell Pepper
• Garlic
• Jalapeno
• Homemade Taco Seasoning: it’s worth the (small) time investment to make your own homemade taco seasoning – fresher spicers, zero fillers, and no preservatives! Just combine all the spices and shake ’em up in a jar.
• Pureed Tomatoes: we like fire-roasted for an extra kick of flavor, but use what you have! Feel free to substitute diced tomatoes for a chunkier texture.
• Beef Broth
• Canned Black Beans
• Frozen Corn

Homemade Taco Seasoning

The real magic in this soup is the homemade taco seasoning! It’s so much better than anything you can buy in the store, plus it’s free from any additives and excess sodium.

• Chili Powder
• Cumin
• Paprika
• Sea Salt
• Cracked Black Pepper
• Garlic Powder
• Coriander
• Red Pepper Flakes
• Oregano

Add more or less chili powder and/or red pepper flakes to adjust the heat.

To make the taco seasoning, measure all of the spices into a lidded jar, then shake it up. So simple!

I like to make this seasoning blend in large batches so that I always have it on hand for quick weeknight dinners. A single recipe portion of taco seasoning is ¼ cup.

Watch: Taco Soup Recipe Video

How to Make Taco Soup (Stovetop Method)

Convincing my kids to “eat the rainbow” has never been easier thanks to healthy taco soup! It’s packed with vegetables and a double dose of protein for a dinner that will fill them up and keep them full. It’s naturally dairy free and gluten free (just mind the toppings!) so it’s perfect for little ones with allergies or food sensitivities too.

1. Brown Beef. Sautee the ground beef in a dutch oven or large soup pot until no longer pink.
2. Add Soft Veggies. Add the onion and bell peppers to the pot and saute until soft.
3. Season. Add the garlic, jalapeno, and taco seasoning. Work into the ground beef and vegetables until very fragrant.
4. Finish Base. Add the pureed tomatoes, beef broth, drained black beans, and frozen corn.
5. Simmer. Bring to a simmer and cook 10-15 minutes.
6. Adjust and Serve. Taste the soup for seasoning. Adjust with salt and pepper if needed, then stir in fresh cilantro.

How to Make Taco Soup in the Crockpot

Converting this recipe to the crockpot or slow cooker is super easy:

• Step 1: Sautee the ground beef in a 10″ skillet until no longer pink (6-8 minutes). Then add the onion and bell peppers to the pan. Sautee with the ground beef until the vegetables soften and the onions turn translucent (6-7 minutes).
• Step 2: Add the garlic, jalapeno, and taco seasoning. Sautee and stir continuously until the seasoning is worked into the beef and vegetables and is very fragrant (about a minute).
• Step 3:Transfer the seasoned ground beef and vegetable mixture to the crockpot or slow cooker. Add the pureed tomatoes, beef broth, drained black beans, and frozen corn. Cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 4 hours.
• Step 4: Taste the soup for seasoning. Adjust with salt and pepper if needed, then stir in fresh cilantro and lime juice to taste.

Taco Soup Variations

• Use red kidney beans instead of black beans.
• Use ground chicken or ground turkey instead of ground beef.
• Make it Vegetarian:Obviously skip the ground beef and go straight to sautéing the onions and peppers in the olive oil. Proceed as directed, but double the black beans, or use a combination of black beans and kidney beans.
• Make it Spicier: as written, this soup has a kick but is walking on the milder side of spice. To make it spicier, use 2 jalapeños and/or keep some of the seeds, or double the chili powder to two tablespoons. If doubling the chili powder, simmer for an additional 5 minutes to allow some of the spice to further deepen (chili powder gets spicer as it cooks!)

What to Serve with Taco Soup?

You really, truly don’t need any side dishes to round out this meal – it’s filling and nutritious all on its own! But if you really need a side dish, try one of the following:

• Guacamole
• Mexican Cauliflower Rice or Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice for extra veggies
• Healthy Honey Cornbread

Best Taco Soup Toppings

As for toppings, the list is endless! Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Diced avocado
• Shredded cheddar or crumbled queso fresco
• Diced red onions or sliced green onions
• Sour cream
• Tortilla chips
• Sliced jalapeños

Is Taco Soup Healthy?

Healthy is pretty subjective, but I’m going to go ahead and say YES on this one. I don’t consider low calorie or low fat to be healthy, but you can check the recipe card below for those facts. What I can tell you is this:

• This taco soup is packed with eat-the-rainbow vegetables that your kids will totally devour.
• One serving supplies full daily doses of both Vitamin A and Vitamin C.
• This soup is packed with protein (25g!) and fiber (9g); it’ll fill you up and keep you full, so it’s perfect for a quick and easy lunch to take to work or as a meal for kids who play sports and need fuel before or after a game.

More Quick Mexican-Inspired Meals

• Chicken Taco Soup
• Chicken Tinga Tacos
• Mexican Potato Hash with Chorizo
• Mexican Stuffed Peppers
• Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Want a condensed post? Click to view the web story for this recipe instead!

We love this taco soup – it’s the best! Did this recipe save dinner for you too?? We’d love to know how it turned out! Leave a comment and a rating below.

While you’re at it, let’s be friends – follow us on Pinterestand Instagramfor the latest and greatest.

Recipe