This 7 Can Taco Soup is the perfect meal to create when you want something easy, quick, and hearty. It’s made with ground beef, bacon, chilies, taco seasoning, and various beans. Once cooked, you can serve this recipe over rice for a more filling meal.
7-can taco soup is a favorite meal in my household, especially when the weather is chilly or rainy. This hearty bean and ground beef soup has the yummy flavor of tacos sans the prep work that comes with tacos. The seasoning, ground beef, and bacon all come together to create an uber-tasty recipe that everyone in the family will love.
This 7-can soup recipe is easy to double or triple to accommodate larger families or more dinner guests. It freezes well, so you can easily reheat leftovers whenever you crave taco soup.
If you’re craving other soup during the week, consider making one of the following recipes: Chicken & Rice Soup, or Dutch Oven Chicken Noodle Soup.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Hearty – The chili beans, veg, and beef provide nutrients, fiber, and protein that help keep you full until the next meal.
- Savory – With ingredients like bacon, beans, and taco seasoning, you’ll find a yummy savory flavor in every bite.
- Full of flavor – Taco and ranch seasoning provide a bold, delicious flavor in this soup.
- A little kick – The green chilies and enchilada sauce provide the perfect amount of heat in this 7-can taco soup dish.
- Easy – Most of the cook time for this dish is hands-off, making it an easy, beginner-friendly dish.
- Convenient – The prep time for this recipe is quick, as you’ll be tossing most of the ingredients directly into the slow cooker.
- Perfect for large families – Since this dish is easy to double or triple, it’s a great recipe for larger families.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Kosher Salt: All of my recipes are tested with Morton kosher salt unless noted otherwise. It is the best salt for everyday cooking because of its size and flavor. If using table salt, the amount should be reduced. I highly recommend picking up some kosher next time you are at the store!
- Enchilada Sauce: Any type of enchilada sauce will work for this 7-can taco soup. If you’re sensitive to heat, reach for the mild sauce. The medium or hot versions will also work well in this dish if you can handle spicier recipes.
- Smoked Paprika: This seasoning adds the perfect smokiness to the dish. Consider using sweet or hot paprika instead if you prefer a slightly sweeter or spicier taste.
Complete list of ingredients and amounts is located on the recipe card below.
How to Make 7 Can Taco Soup
Quick Overview
- Heat olive oil.
- Brown ground beef.
- Add onion and bacon.
- Saute until beef is cooked through.
- Add all ingredients to the slow cooker.
- Cook on low or high.
Step by Step Instructions
Use a spatula to break up beef clumps when browning.
Don’t add beef and onions into the slow cooker until the beef is fully cooked.
Step 1: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil. Add the beef and begin to break it up, and sauté it.
Step 2: Add the onion and bacon. Continue cooking until the onion has softened and the beef is cooked through.
Step 3: Add the beef mixture, black beans, pinto beans, corn, tomatoes, chicken broth, enchilada sauce, green chiles, cumin, garlic, and paprika.
Step 4: Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours.
Recipe Serving Suggestions
Garnish with a dollop of sour cream, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, and tortilla strips (for crunch).
I love serving this 7 can taco soup over rice for a more filling meal. You can include other Mexican-inspired side dishes to create a more filling meal. Here are a few ideas:
Expert Tips
- Drain and rinse beans & corn. Draining and rinsing the beans and corn helps lower the sodium content of this 7-can taco soup recipe. This extra step also ensures the dish does not come out overly salty.
- Make homemade taco seasoning. If you have extra time, you can make a homemade taco seasoning for this easy taco soup recipe. A homemade version of this seasoning ensures it meets your taste preferences. It also allows you to adjust this recipe’s salt amount further.
- Double the recipe. This 7-can taco soup with ranch dressing mix is easy to double or triple for larger get-togethers. It’s also a great recipe to make ahead and freeze. To freeze the extra soup, put it in airtight baggies, ensuring you remove as much air as possible. It can stay in the freezer for up to six months.
Additions & Variations
- Try ground turkey or chicken – You can make this 7-can taco soup leaner and healthier by turning into a turkey or chicken taco soup recipe. Simply replace the ground beef with turkey or chicken in a 1:1 ratio.
- Add cheese on top – Shredded cheese can help boost the flavor of this soup. It also changes the flavor so it’s more similar to tacos. Use any variety you enjoy, such as cheddar or mozzarella.
- Garnish with tortilla strips – Add a sprinkle of tortilla chips on each bowl of taco soup to help create a crispy texture.
- Vegetarian – Use a vegetarian crumbled protein alternative instead of ground beef. Any brand will work for this recipe. When making this swap, you may need to increase the amount of seasoning. Taste the taco soup before covering it and turning on the slow cooker. Also, you’ll need to leave out the bacon and swap to a vegetable broth.
Recipe FAQs
If your taco soup is too thin, you can make a slurry with cornstarch and a small amount of broth. Add the slurry to the slow cooker and continue cooking until the soup broth has thickened.
You can enjoy this 7-can taco soup by itself or dress it up with tortilla strips and shredded cheese.
There are a few reasons why your taco soup came out thinner than you wanted. For one, the beans and corn may not have been fully drained. Or, if you add too much broth, it may cause the soup to be watery. If you’ve used fattier bacon or ground beef, there may be too much grease which can cause the soup to seem watery. In all cases, a cornstarch slurry will help create a thicker broth.
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Easy 7 Can Taco Soup
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound 90/10 ground beef
- 1 large onion, diced
- 4 slices bacon, diced
- 1 15.5-ounce can black beans, drained & rinsed
- 1 15.5-ounce can pinto beans, drained & rinsed
- 1 15-ounce can corn, drained & rinsed
- 1 14.5-ounce can diced or crushed tomatoes
- 1 15.5-ounce can low sodium chicken broth or water
- 1 15-ounce can enchilada sauce, red or green*
- 1 4-ounce can green chiles
- 1 1-ounce packet ranch dressing seasoning
- 1 1-ounce packet taco seasoning
- 1 Tablespoon ground cumin & granulated garlic
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika, optional*
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil. Add the beef and begin to break it up, and sauté it.1 Tablespoon olive oil, 1 pound 90/10 ground beef
- Add the onion and bacon. Continue cooking until the onion has softened and the beef is cooked through.1 large onion, diced, 4 slices bacon, diced
- Add the beef mixture, black beans, pinto beans, corn, tomatoes, chicken broth, enchilada sauce, green chiles, cumin, garlic, and paprika.1 15.5-ounce can black beans, drained & rinsed, 1 15.5-ounce can pinto beans, drained & rinsed, 1 15-ounce can corn, drained & rinsed, 1 14.5-ounce can diced or crushed tomatoes, 1 15.5-ounce can low sodium chicken broth or water, 1 15-ounce can enchilada sauce, red or green*, 1 4-ounce can green chiles, 1 1-ounce packet ranch dressing seasoning, 1 Tablespoon ground cumin & granulated garlic, 2 teaspoons smoked paprika, optional*, 1 1-ounce packet taco seasoning
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours.
Notes
- Kosher Salt: All of my recipes are tested with Morton kosher salt unless noted otherwise. It is the best salt for everyday cooking because of its size and flavor. If using table salt, the amount should be reduced. I highly recommend picking up some kosher next time you are at the store!
- Enchilada Sauce: Any type of enchilada sauce will work for this 7-can taco soup. If you’re sensitive to heat, reach for the mild sauce. The medium or hot versions will also work well in this dish if you can handle spicier recipes.
- Smoked Paprika: This seasoning adds the perfect smokiness to the dish. Consider using sweet or hot paprika instead if you prefer a slightly sweeter or spicier taste.
- Drain and rinse beans & corn. Draining and rinsing the beans and corn helps lower the sodium content of this 7-can taco soup recipe. This extra step also ensures the dish does not come out overly salty.
- Make homemade taco seasoning. If you have extra time, you can make a homemade taco seasoning for this easy taco soup recipe. A homemade version of this seasoning ensures it meets your taste preferences. It also allows you to adjust this recipe’s salt amount further.
- Double the recipe. This 7-can taco soup with ranch dressing mix is easy to double or triple for larger get-togethers. It’s also a great recipe to make ahead and freeze. To freeze the extra soup, put it in airtight baggies, ensuring you remove as much air as possible. It can stay in the freezer for up to six months.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
