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Easy Ground Beef Taco Soup for Game Night

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A hearty, quick, and crowd-pleasing taco soup made with ground beef, beans, corn, and a smoky-spiced broth. Perfect for game day or any cozy night in.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb ground beef (80/20 or 85/15)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced (about 1 cup)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 packet taco seasoning (e.g., Ortega or McCormick)
  • 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (15 oz) corn, drained (or 1 ½ cups frozen corn)
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with green chiles (e.g., Rotel)
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) fire-roasted diced tomatoes
  • 3 cups low-sodium beef broth
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • Optional toppings: shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, diced avocado, fresh cilantro, sliced jalapeños, crushed tortilla chips, hot sauce

Instructions

  1. Brown the beef: Place a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and break it up with a wooden spoon. Cook undisturbed for 3 minutes to form a crust, then stir and cook until no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Leave about 1 tablespoon of fat in the pot.
  2. Sauté aromatics: Add diced onion to the pot. Cook for 3-4 minutes until soft and translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Bloom spices: Sprinkle taco seasoning, cumin, chili powder, and smoked paprika over the beef mixture. Stir constantly for 1 minute.
  4. Add tomato paste: Stir in tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes, stirring often, until it darkens slightly.
  5. Pour in liquids: Add beef broth, diced tomatoes with green chiles, and fire-roasted diced tomatoes. Stir, scraping the bottom of the pot to release browned bits.
  6. Add beans and corn: Stir in drained black beans, kidney beans, and corn. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low. Simmer uncovered for 15-20 minutes. Add more broth if too thick.
  7. Finish with lime juice: Remove from heat. Stir in fresh lime juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  8. Serve and garnish: Ladle into bowls and top with desired toppings.

Notes

For a thicker soup, mash about ½ cup of beans before adding. The soup tastes even better the next day. To make ahead, prepare and refrigerate; reheat before serving. For a slow cooker version, brown beef and onions first, then transfer everything except lime juice to slow cooker; cook on low 4-6 hours or high 2-3 hours; add lime juice before serving.

Nutrition

Keywords: taco soup, ground beef soup, game day soup, easy soup, one pot meal, comfort food

Find it online: https://cheerycrisp.com/easy-ground-beef-taco-soup-for-game-night/