Description
A flavorful and creamy taco soup made with ground beef, beans, corn, and diced tomatoes, enriched with cream cheese and optionally heavy cream for extra richness. This easy 30-minute recipe serves 6 and is perfect for a comforting weeknight meal topped with cheddar cheese and fresh cilantro.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Aromatics
- 1 lb ground beef (or ground turkey)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Soup Base
- 1 packet taco seasoning (or 2 tbsp homemade)
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz) corn, drained
- 1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes with green chilies (e.g., Rotel)
- 3 cups beef broth
Dairy and Seasoning
- 1 block (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (optional for extra creaminess)
- 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika (optional)
Toppings
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (for topping)
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro (for garnish)
Instructions
- Brown the Meat: In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain excess grease if needed to avoid greasy soup.
- Sauté Aromatics: Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the pot. Cook until they become soft and fragrant, about 3 minutes, to build a savory base flavor.
- Add Ingredients: Stir in the taco seasoning, black beans, kidney beans, corn, diced tomatoes with green chilies, and beef broth. Mix well and bring the mixture to a simmer to blend the flavors.
- Incorporate Cream Cheese: Cut the softened cream cheese into small cubes and stir them into the simmering soup. Continue stirring until the cream cheese is fully melted and the soup is smooth and creamy.
- Simmer: Reduce heat to low and let the soup simmer gently for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking and to develop flavor.
- Finish with Cream (Optional): Stir in the heavy cream for added richness, then season with smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper to taste.
- Serve: Ladle the hot soup into bowls and top each serving with shredded cheddar cheese and chopped fresh cilantro. Optionally, add extras like avocado slices or tortilla chips for more texture and flavor.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey for a leaner option without compromising flavor.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the meat and use vegetable broth instead of beef broth.
- The heavy cream is optional but adds a lovely richness to the soup.
- Extra toppings like avocado, sour cream, or tortilla chips complement the taco flavors well.
- Adjust seasoning to taste, especially salt and spice level depending on your taco seasoning blend.
