Description
This creamy taco soup is a flavorful and comforting dish combining ground beef, vegetables, beans, and a creamy base made with cream cheese for a rich texture. Perfect for a quick weeknight meal, it offers a delightful Mexican-inspired taste with customizable toppings like avocado, tortilla chips, and cheese.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef (or ground turkey)
- 1 medium onion, diced 1/4"
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tbsp taco seasoning
- 1 large red bell pepper, diced 1/2"
- 15 ounce can corn, drained (or 1.5 cups frozen corn kernels)
- 15 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 15 ounce can diced fire roasted tomatoes (with chilis, or regular fire roasted for mild)
- 4 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened at room temperature
- Sea salt and pepper to taste
Toppings (optional)
- 1 diced avocado
- Tortilla chips
- Lime wedges
- Fresh cilantro, green onions, or chopped tomatoes
- Grated cheddar or pepper jack cheese
- Sour cream
Instructions
- Preparation: Prep and measure all ingredients before starting to cook to ensure a smooth cooking process.
- Brown the Meat: Place a large pot over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the ground beef and break it up into small bits using a utensil, cooking until browned.
- Add Aromatics: Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the ground beef and cook until the onion becomes translucent, approximately 2-3 minutes.
- Add Vegetables and Seasoning: Stir in the taco seasoning, red bell pepper, corn, black beans, diced tomatoes, and chicken broth. If using unsweetened coconut cream for dairy-free, add it now. Stir everything to combine and bring the soup to a boil.
- Simmer: Once boiling, reduce heat to maintain a simmer. Cook until the bell pepper is tender and the flavors meld together, about 10 minutes.
- Add Cream Cheese: Add softened cream cheese to the pot in small pieces. Stir to combine and allow it to sit for a minute before stirring again to fully incorporate the creaminess. If using coconut cream, skip this step.
- Season and Serve: Season the soup with sea salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot with your choice of toppings like diced avocado, tortilla chips, lime wedges, fresh herbs, grated cheese, and sour cream.
Notes
- The cream cheese should be softened at room temperature for at least one hour for smooth incorporation.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute cream cheese with unsweetened coconut cream.
- Taco seasoning can be homemade or store-bought; adjust quantity based on taste preference.
- To make it milder, use regular diced tomatoes instead of fire-roasted tomatoes with chilis.
- The soup is versatile—you can substitute ground beef with ground turkey for a leaner option.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican
