Creamy Taco Soup (Print)

A rich, comforting soup with bold taco flavors, creamy texture, and hearty ingredients perfect for chilly nights.

# Components:

→ Proteins

01 - 1 pound ground beef or ground turkey

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 can (14 ounces) diced tomatoes
06 - 1 can (14 ounces) sweet corn, drained
07 - 1 can (14 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
08 - 2 green onions, sliced

→ Dairy

09 - ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons heavy cream
10 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

→ Liquids

11 - 3 cups chicken or beef broth

→ Seasonings

12 - 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
13 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
14 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
15 - ½ teaspoon chili powder
16 - ½ teaspoon salt
17 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Optional Toppings

18 - Sour cream
19 - Fresh cilantro, chopped
20 - Crushed tortilla chips
21 - Lime wedges

# Directions:

01 - In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook the ground beef over medium-high heat until browned and crumbly. Drain excess fat if needed.
02 - Add the diced onion, garlic, and bell pepper. Sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until softened.
03 - Stir in the taco seasoning, cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add the diced tomatoes with juice, corn, black beans, and broth. Stir well and bring to a gentle boil.
05 - Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
06 - Lower the heat, then stir in the heavy cream and shredded cheddar cheese. Cook for 2 to 3 more minutes, until the cheese is melted and the soup is creamy. Do not boil after adding cream.
07 - Adjust seasoning if needed. Ladle into bowls and garnish with green onions, extra cheese, and your choice of toppings.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's ready in under an hour, which means weeknight dinners stop feeling like a negotiation with yourself.
  • The flavors hit bold and comforting without pretending to be anything fancier than they are.
  • One pot means less cleanup, which is honestly the real reason any recipe wins in my house.
  • It stretches easily when unexpected guests show up, which happens more than you'd think.
02 -
  • Never skip the browning step for ground beef—a gray, sad mound of meat makes a gray, sad soup, but proper browning transforms everything into something worth craving.
  • Adding cream to a boiling pot will cause it to separate and look broken; keeping the heat low and your spoon gentle is the difference between silky soup and soup you'll pour down the drain in frustration.
03 -
  • If your cheese somehow breaks or the soup looks separated, blend it gently with an immersion blender for thirty seconds to bring everything back together smoothly.
  • Smoked paprika is non-negotiable here—it's what gives this soup its depth and makes people ask what your secret ingredient is, even though it's sitting right there on your spice rack.
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