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Best 30-Minute Taco Soup Recipe – Easy Budget Dinner

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This cozy 30-minute taco soup is a quick, budget-friendly, and crowd-pleasing dinner made with simple pantry staples. Perfect for busy weeknights, it delivers rich, slow-cooked flavor in under half an hour.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 packet taco seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes with green chiles
  • 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (15 ounces) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (15 ounces) corn, drained
  • 2 cups beef broth (low-sodium)
  • Shredded cheddar cheese (for topping)
  • Sour cream or Greek yogurt (for topping)
  • Tortilla chips or strips (for topping)
  • Fresh cilantro, chopped (for topping)
  • Diced avocado or guacamole (for topping)

Instructions

  1. Brown the beef: Place a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned (about 5-6 minutes). Drain off excess fat.
  2. Sauté the aromatics: Return the pot to medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Bloom the tomato paste: Push the onion and garlic to one side. Add the tomato paste to the hot surface and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, until it darkens slightly.
  4. Add the seasonings: Sprinkle the taco seasoning, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper over the meat and onions. Stir and cook for 30 seconds to bloom the spices.
  5. Pour in the liquids and canned goods: Add the diced tomatoes with green chiles (undrained), black beans, kidney beans, corn, and beef broth. Stir to combine.
  6. Simmer and develop flavor: Bring the soup to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  7. Taste and adjust: After 15 minutes, taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Add a squeeze of lime juice if desired.
  8. Serve with toppings: Ladle the soup into bowls and let everyone customize with cheese, sour cream, tortilla chips, cilantro, and avocado.

Notes

For a leaner option, use ground turkey or chicken. For a vegetarian version, swap beef for two cans of black beans and use vegetable broth. To reduce sodium, use no-salt-added canned goods and homemade taco seasoning. The soup thickens as it sits; add a splash of broth when reheating if needed.

Nutrition

Keywords: taco soup, 30-minute dinner, easy budget dinner, ground beef soup, weeknight dinner, one-pot meal, comfort food

Find it online: https://lucastable.com/best-30-minute-taco-soup-recipe-easy-budget-dinner/