Description
Warm Mexican-inspired Creamy Taco Soup brings comfort and zest to dinner tables with its bold, tangy flavors. Hearty ingredients meld together, creating a soul-satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Protein:
- 1 pound ground beef (or ground turkey)
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (10 ounces) can Rotel (diced tomatoes with green chilies)
Beans and Corn:
- 1 (15 ounces) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15 ounces) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15 ounces) can corn, drained
Seasonings and Spices:
- 1 packet (1 ounce) taco seasoning (or 2 tablespoons homemade)
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional, for extra depth)
- 1 teaspoon cumin
Liquid Components:
- 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth (or beef broth)
- 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half)
- 1 tablespoon lime juice (optional, for brightness)
Dairy and Cheese:
- 1 (8 ounces) block cream cheese, softened and cubed
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (or Mexican cheese blend)
Garnishes:
- Sour cream
- Sliced avocado
- Shredded cheese
- Fresh cilantro
- Crushed tortilla chips
- Sliced jalapenos
Instructions
- Initiate the foundation by sautéing ground beef with onions in a spacious pot, rendering the meat until it achieves a rich golden-brown coloration.
- Eliminate accumulated fat, then incorporate aromatic spices including garlic, taco seasoning, paprika, and cumin, allowing the mixture to bloom and release its intense flavors.
- Introduce vibrant ingredients such as Rotel tomatoes, black and kidney beans, and corn into the seasoned meat mixture, then cascade chicken broth over the contents.
- Allow the concoction to gently simmer, creating a harmonious blend of flavors and textures for approximately 10-15 minutes.
- Transition to a lower heat setting and gradually integrate cream cheese cubes, stirring until completely dissolved and creating a luxurious base.
- Enhance the soup’s richness by folding in heavy cream and shredded cheese, whisking until the mixture transforms into a smooth, velvety consistency.
- Brighten the flavor profile with a splash of fresh lime juice, providing a subtle tangy undertone.
- Transfer the creamy taco soup into serving bowls and customize with preferred garnishes like sour cream, diced avocado, or crispy tortilla chip fragments.
Notes
- Swap ground beef for ground turkey or plant-based crumbles to create a leaner, lighter version of the soup that’s equally delicious and satisfying.
- Reduce sodium by using low-sodium chicken broth and homemade taco seasoning, which allows you to control salt content without sacrificing flavor.
- Boost nutritional value by adding extra vegetables like diced bell peppers or zucchini during the simmering stage, creating more texture and increasing vegetable intake.
- Easily make this soup gluten-free by ensuring taco seasoning is certified gluten-free and using corn-based products like tortilla chips for garnishing.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 490 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg