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GET IT NOWI’m always looking for new easy soup recipes to add to my rotation, and this easy taco soup recipe with ranch dressing is definitely a winner! I’ve combined my favorite taco seasoning recipe and my go-to ranch dressing recipe to create one of the best taco soup recipes… all with just 5 ingredients, but endless variations and toppings. If you enjoy the flavors in taco salad or taco casserole, make this dish your go-to when you want comfort food in a warm-bowl-of-soup form.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Taco Soup Recipe
- Zesty taco taste
- Balance of spicy and creamy flavors
- Warm and comforting
- Just 5 simple ingredients that are pantry staples
- 20 minutes from stovetop to tabletop
- Naturally healthy, low carb, and gluten free
- Customizable with add-ins and toppings
Taco Soup Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for 5 ingredient taco soup, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
- Ground Beef – I use 85/15 ground beef, but any kind works. You can also use ground turkey, shredded carne asada, ground chicken, or use shredded chicken for a chicken Mexican soup.
- Taco Seasoning – I like to make my own homemade taco seasoning mix, which includes chili powder, cumin, sea salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, dried oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper. You can also buy a store-bought mix. If your spices don’t include salt, add 1 teaspoon of salt per pound of beef when cooking it and adjust to taste at the end as well.
- Broth – I used homemade bone broth for extra nutrition in this taco soup recipe, but you can also use store-bought broth, either regular beef broth, beef bone broth, vegetable broth, or even chicken broth.
- Diced Tomatoes – Use canned diced tomatoes and do not drain. You want the liquid from the cans. Fire roasted tomatoes, diced tomatoes with green chilies, or a jar of salsa would be delicious, too.
- Ranch Dressing – I used homemade ranch dressing (it takes 5 minutes!), but store-bought also works for convenience. If you don’t have any on hand and don’t want to make it, Greek yogurt would work as a substitute, but will have less flavor than using ranch.
Variation: Add beans or corn!
As you can see, the base of this recipe for taco soup is super simple — just 5 ingredients. If you want to make it more hearty, add canned beans or corn in the last 5 minutes of cooking. Black beans are the most popular option, but you could also add pinto beans or kidney beans.
How To Make Taco Soup
This section shows how to make beef taco soup, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
- Brown beef. In the bottom of a large pot or large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add beef and cook until no longer pink. Drain if desired.
- Season. Add taco seasoning and 3/4 cup of broth. Simmer until the liquid is mostly gone. (This is basically my taco meat, but with broth.)
- Simmer. Add more broth, diced tomatoes (with liquid), and more taco seasoning. Stir together. Bring to a gentle boil and then simmer to let the flavors develop.
- Add ranch. Remove the taco soup recipe from heat. Stir in ranch dressing. Garnish with your favorite toppings — ideas below!
Alternate Cooking Methods
- Crock Pot: To make Crock Pot taco soup, just brown the meat the same way as the stove method, and finish in the slow cooker on High for 1-2 hours or on Low for 3-4 hours. Stir in dressing just before serving.
- Instant Pot: For Instant Pot taco soup, brown the beef using the Saute button. Add the taco seasoning and 3/4 cup of broth, and saute until the liquid evaporates. Close the lid, turn the knob to Sealing, and cook on high pressure (using the Manual button) for 5 minutes. Use the quick release, then stir in the ranch dressing, without any heat.
Storage Instructions
- Store: The best way to store taco soup recipes is to allow them to cool completely before pouring into an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- Meal prep: Prepare the recipe in advance, store in the fridge or freezer, and warm when ready to eat.
- Reheat: Taco soup recipe leftovers can be reheated using the microwave, or on the stovetop over medium heat.
Can You Freeze Taco Soup?
Yes, most taco soup recipes can be frozen for up to 6 months, without any toppings. Thaw in the fridge overnight, or in a bag submerged in cold water, before reheating.
Topping Ideas For Taco Soup Recipes
There are plenty of options for topping taco soup recipes, and I think toppings are the best part! Feel free to add anything you’d put on tacos. Here are a few of my favorite taco toppings:
- Sour cream – Adds a cooling and creamy touch. Making taco soup with ranch dressing already mellows out the heat, but this recipe does have a lot of spicy taco seasoning, so sour cream helps cut the heat more.
- Avocado – Add on its own, or make homemade guacamole for topping.
- Chopped Cilantro – For a fresh and aromatic finish.
- Onions – Finely chopped green, red, or yellow ones would all make great garnishes.
- Peppers – Try sliced jalapenos or fresh chopped bell pepper.
- Tortilla Chips – For a little crunch! You can use regular, or for a healthier option, your own. Sprinkle on top or serve on the side.
- Cheese – I used shredded cheddar cheese, but you could also use Monterey jack or a Mexican blend as well.
- Lime Wedges – A squeeze of lime juice at the end can add more flavor.
What To Serve With Taco Soup
If you add toppings, this taco soup recipe is enough for a one-pot meal all on its own. But if you want to add a little something, try these pairings:
Recommended Tools
- Stock Pot – This stock pot is a great size for large family meals, including this easy taco soup.
- Crock Pot – A ‘set it and forget it’ method of cooking that delivers rich and developed flavors that only happen with long cook times.
- Instant Pot – This appliance pulls double duty as both a slow cooker and pressure cooker. You can use either function with this taco soup recipe.
- Meat Chopper – My favorite tool for breaking up ground beef when browning.
Taco Soup
A 20-minute easy taco soup recipe with just 5 simple ingredients like ground beef, taco seasoning, tomatoes, and ranch. Endless topping ideas!
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Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
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In the bottom of a large pot over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef for about 7-10 minutes, until no longer pink. Drain if desired.
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Add 2 tablespoons (28 g) taco seasoning (2/3 of the total amount) and 3/4 cup (177 mL) of broth. Simmer for a couple of minutes, until the liquid is mostly gone.
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Add the remaining broth, diced tomatoes (with liquid), and remaining tablespoon of taco seasoning. Stir together. Bring to a gentle boil and simmer for about 8-10 minutes.
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Remove from heat. Wait 2 minutes, then stir in the ranch dressing. If desired, garnish with shredded cheddar cheese and cilantro.
LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 cup
📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Keto Freezer Meal System and Fall Ebook Bundle!
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.
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© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.
Easy Taco Soup Recipe
142 Comments
Linda D.
1The taco soup was really good and easy to make. I added some corn and pinto beans to mine to make it a little more hearty. I topped it with cheese and sour cream. Really good.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Linda! Corn and pinto beans are great additions, as well as those yummy toppings. Enjoy!
Kim Hershfeldt
1Who would have thought a recipe with so little ingredients would be this good?!
I make a taco soup with veggies, beans, etc., and this will key be my “go to.” The whole family loved it. Planning to make for my knitting gals SOON. Thank you for another wonderful recipe.
Wholesome Yum D
0I’m so glad it was a hit, Kim! Isn’t it the best when a simple recipe becomes your new go-to? I love that your whole family enjoyed it and I bet your knitting group will too!
Sherry
0The Taco Soup was surprisingly good. It was so easy to fix. I had all the ingredients in my pantry and so it’s Taco Tuesday, why not try as a soup? The diced tomatoes were seasoned and of course, we topped it with cheese and chips. My husband agreed that it was really good. Taco Tuesday mastered for a cold winter evening! Thanks for the recipe. I will make it again.
Wholesome Yum D
1Sherry, I love that you turned Taco Tuesday into a cozy soup night! So glad it was easy, delicious, and pantry friendly. Those are the best kinds of wins!
QUILTTRENDS
0I’ve made this several times and it never fails. So quick, easy and uses things we all have in supply. I usually brown a diced onion in the meat, and this time I made Maya’s taco seasoning. WOW!! kicked it up a notch. Love the ranch Dressing: I made seasonings in bulk and gave them for Christmas! This was perfect for Jan 2 dinner: we’re so full of rich, heavy food! This is a regular in our house. Now I just need 6 more easy peasies and I’m done for the week!
Wholesome Yum D
0I love hearing that it’s a regular for you! Browning onion and using the homemade taco seasoning is such a smart way to level it up and gifting bulk seasonings for Christmas is genius. I totally feel you on needing something lighter after all the holiday food… hope you find those 6 more easy peasies for the week!
Jen
0I made this soup recipe and the ranch dip. It was delicious and I will definitely make it again.
Wholesome Yum D
0I’m so glad you enjoyed both, Jen! Love that you made the soup and the dip, sounds like a cozy combo. Can’t wait for you to make them again!
Rachel D
0I made this last night because my husband doesn’t love soup be he likes tacos so we met in the middle. I did add a whole link of kielbasa sliced up. It was good! I’d suggest draining the fat, because I didn’t. Two year old approved as well.
Wholesome Yum D
0Thanks for sharing, Rachel! I love that you found a creative way to meet in the middle with tacos and soup. Adding kielbasa sounds delicious, and it’s always a win when the two-year-old approves too. Great tip about draining the fat for next time!
Rachel Krizik
0Made this today and it is out of this world delicious! My mom had a second helping and she almost never has seconds of anything. The only thing I did differently was use shredded rotisserie chicken instead of beef. I topped it with cilantro, cheese and avocado. I love that the recipe only has a handful of ingredients and it turned out amazing. Oftentimes the simplest soups are the best! This is going under my favorites for sure – thanks so much for sharing this!
Wholesome Yum D
0Rachel, I love everything about this! Especially that your mom went back for seconds! Rotisserie chicken sounds like a perfect swap, and I’m so happy it earned a spot on your favorites list. Thanks for sharing how you made it your own. 🙂
Stephanie Watson
0Our family loves this recipe. Since I am always making your ranch dressing recipe, it is nice to find dishes to get it used up. I like to come home to dinner being already made so I cook this on the slow cooker on Low 6-7 hours and add the ranch/cheese at the end. I like how I can diversify it like throwing in chopped bell peppers when I have them leftover or adding a can of drained black beans. I have a teenage boy so I do use 1.5 pounds of beef to bulk it up for him. Keep the recipes coming!
Wholesome Yum D
0That’s awesome, Stephanie! I’m so glad it’s a family favorite. Your tweaks sound delicious (especially the bell peppers)!
Janice
0This Taco Soup is easy and filling, and disappears quickly! Next time I’ll spice up the taco seasoning a bit more, as we like a stronger kick. We did add jalapeños to our bowls, but other than that, I followed the recipe. This will be added to our regular dinner rotation!
Wholesome Yum D
0So glad you enjoyed it, Janice! Love that you’re planning to spice it up a bit more next time. Jalapeños are such a great touch, and I’m happy it’s going into your regular dinner rotation!
Diane Markey
0My husband likes this even better than all meat chili, which we do like very much. He likes to crumple up a few chips to add a little crunch to the soup. So delicious. I add in more meat to up the protein. I often don’t like the flavor of ranch dressing in a meal, but decided to go with it here, since I have come to trust Maya’s recipes. We loved it here. I make a double batch and freeze meal size portions for those days when I am too busy/tired/lazy 😉 to cook. Thanks for a super easy and delicious recipe, Maya!!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Wow, thank you Diane, that means a lot! And I really appreciate the kind words about my recipes. Hope you make more of them soon!
mbmogen
0I am not a ranch dressing fan. Could I substitute sour cream for the ranch dressing?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Yes, feel free to do that if you like!
Shonda Coleman
0The Taco soup was so delicious and super easy to make. All of the flavors incorporate themselves nicely and the taco season gives this soup an amazing flavor. We love it and I will be making this over and over again.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I’m so happy you liked it, Shonda! Hope you make it again soon.
Melinda Stortenbecker
0I made this last night, using leftover pork loin and black beans. It was delicious!
I also made your taco spice mix and ranch dressing for it. Oh my word. I could eat that dressing by the spoonfuls! I know what I’m using on my baked potatoes now, and anywhere else I can find. Never purchasing ranch dressing again.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Melinda! I’m glad this helped you make use of your leftovers. Sounds like a very flavorful combination.
Dolores Reynolds
0Maya, Love the taco soup receipt. Please send easy beef/noodle, no cheese, creamy casserole receipt. I can’t get it. Thanks.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I’m so glad you like my taco soup, Dolores! Sorry, I don’t have a beef noodle casserole.
Kellie
0This is sooooo simple to make and so delicious!! I was worried since it only has 5 ingredients so I normally would not have even tried it. I only made it because I have tried many of Maya’s recipes and they are ALWAYS delicious. I have never been disappointed. Everything in this recipe came together beautifully. I have never reviewed anything from any website, until now! Thank you, Maya, for sharing all of your healthy and delicious recipes. It’s always fun to try a new one because I know I will not be disappointed. Keep up the great job you are doing. I look forward to trying your sweeteners and syrups in the near future too!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I’m so glad to hear that, Kellie! That means a lot and I really appreciate it. Hope you love the sweeteners and syrups!
Tom Boyko
0Just made this on a cold and rainy Florida Sunday for lunch. Fantastic! Will definitely make again. Very quick and easy to make and very tasty!
Michele
0So very yummy!
LouAnn
0Great recipe! I doubled the meat, added a bag of frozen mixed veggies and since I didn’t have any cans of tomatoes, I added a jar of chunky salsa. Wow!!! So, so tasty!! Big hit!
Debbie
0This was very delicious. I made it exactly to recipe. My only problem was that the ranch dressing split when I added it to the soup. I think it needed more cooling than the two minutes written in the recipe. This is the reason for the four stars. Thanks! Will definitely make it again.
Danielle
0Delicious ? ? ?
patty
0I made it the way the recipe is. It turned out delicious, so quick and easy. Even fussy boyfriend liked it. It’s a keeper.
Julia
0Great recipe on its own! So quick to make, too. I didn’t have enough ranch so did sour cream and what little I had of the ranch. I may always make it that way! I added garlic, cumin and onion powder. I added parsley just for color as I had no cilantro. I also added corn (which of course I’ll eat around) to make it a bit more family oriented. Would have added black beans (I would have eaten around them as well….mostly ☺️). Love your recipes! Makes keto pretty easy, WAY less boring!
Melanie Fette
0Do you use bottled Ranch dressing or the powder packets? Thank you.
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Melanie, I use my homemade ranch dressing.
Kathleen Mennillo
0Hi, Question: Do you put the ranch dressing in the soup or is it a topping?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Kathleen, You add the ranch directly to the soup.
Deb
0Loved this, it was easy and really hit the spot. I mixed 1/2 hamburger and 1/2 sausage (because that ‘s what I had). I also used 1/2 can Rotel tomatoes for a little spice. So good!! Thank you for a great recipe.
Desire Hallstead
0Hey There. I found your blog using Yahoo. This is a really well written article. I’ll be sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful information. Thanks for the post.
Kris
0So flavorful and comforting! Already cannot wait to make it again. 🙂
Vladka
0What a tasty and easy-to-make soup. I made it in Crock Pot, and it was really delicious.
Gina
0It definitely does NOT get easier than this soup! I’ll take this any day over the hassle of making tacos with all their toppings.
Jo Keohane
0Amazing recipe – I love taco soup and this version looks the bomb!
Shruthi
0I made this with Beyond Meat beef and it turned out SO good. I’ll be making this again for sure.
Kim
0This was delicious! I skipped the tomato’s because my husband hates them. Amazing. Definitely will do again!
Melissa
0So good! My family asked for it again this weekend.
Malinda
0Love this recipe! Very easy and quick. The low carb ranch makes it even more delicious! ?Yummy
Heather
0Can taco soup be frozen?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Heather, Yes, you can store this in the freezer.
Chris
0How cool does it have to be before adding ranch dressing?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Chris, Allow the soup to cool for 2 minutes before adding the ranch dressing.
Vicky
0We tried your Taco soup today and absolutely loved it. I used some taco meat I had leftover with onions and peppers, it was already seasoned, wasn’t sure about the ranch dressing but took a chance, heavenly! At the end, I toasted a carb balance tortilla cut in small strips with Mexican cheese on top. Great recipe! Yum is right!
Jaimie
0This recipe was so fast and easy! I made it last night, fully in my Instant Pot. I used shredded chicken instead of beef because it’s what I had on hand and it was tasty! We added some diced avocado on top and even our picky 13-year old wanted more.
Glenda
0Is this from a bottle of Ranch Dressing? Not the dry mix?
NomadNan
0I just did something similar on the road today while traveling. I have a HotLogic Mini, so I can “cook” meals on the road as I drive. I used pre-cooked & seasoned ground bison, a little salsa (no sugar!!!!), & a small package of cheddar Whisps, smashed. Tasted pretty good at the end of 400 miles!
Karen
0I have not tried the recipes yet, just found your site and so excited to get started. I love Mexican food so will be trying those recipes first! Thank you so much!!!!
June Kuitert
0Can you add 1 can of red beans and still be Keto?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi June, Red beans are not considered keto, but it is a personal choice based on how many carbs you eat in a day.
Sandra
0I added Rotel tomatoes to this dish in addition to the diced tomatoes. Also, I could not believe that there was not a suggestion to top not only with cilantro and cheese but sour cream dollop and avocado slices or chunks. That’s the way we make it in Texas and so that’s how I’m topping tonight.
Rene Dale
0What ranch dressing ,dry season ingredients or bottled dressing?
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Rene, The link in the recipe card takes you to my recipe for ranch salad dressing, but you can use bottled if you prefer.
Megan Bowes
0I’ve made this soup a number of times. It is really good. I made it again today for my mother and she loved it! This is definitely one of my faves.
Chelsie
0Love this meal!!!! We did a 1.5x batch and added a couple diced bell peppers! Served with an air fried low carb tortilla, cut up into chips!
Susan
0Delicious! My husband loved this soup. I had to keep him from eating the whole thing. Will definitely be making this again. I used the homemade taco seasoning and the homemade ranch dressing. Best ranch dressing I have ever tasted! I did add a little leftover salsa.
Shree
0This was great. I kicked up the heat and used hot ground pork Will be making it again.
sue y.
0my mom use to make taco soup, she added a can of corn and when you went to serve it, she would use ranch dorito’s she just didn’t make enough lol
Lindsay Reid
0Really great for keto, very filling!
Lex
0I made this for the first time last week. OMG. So tasty! Reheats and microwaves beautifully. This is definitely in my regular rotation. I love soup to begin with, and I love tacos. When I saw the recipe I said I just gotta try it. Great combo and keto too! Win all around!
Dime
0Not bad!! I wanted to love this recipe but the ranch was way overpowering. I also added an onion and more spices/broth once I realized it tasted like ranch. It reheated well.
Beth Jackson
0OMG!! Best soup ever said my non-keto husband! I agree. This is a delicious and flavorful soup. I used taco seasoning and ranch dressing I had on hand and it was still fantastic. Next time, I will make Maya’s taco seasoning and ranch dressing, I am sure that will kick up the yum on thus already yummy soup. Don’t wait, make it tonight!! I topped with half a low carb tortilla that I cut into strips and cilantro and cheese. Leftovers, I topped with cheese, cilantro, and avocado.
Bettye
0I add diced onion & celery and any other vegetable I have around and it makes a nice hearty soup that fills you up.