I love cooking. I love eating. But I absolutely despise doing dishes. The towering pile of greasy pans and sticky utensils is the ultimate buzzkill after a fantastic meal.
If you’re nodding along, then you are my people. We need recipes that deliver maximum flavor with minimal cleanup. That’s why I’m so excited to share my Classic 7 Can Taco Soup – Quick Comfort Food with you today. It pairs wonderfully with other easy meals like our crispy ground beef and potato hash for a complete comfort food lineup.
This is the hero we deserve on a busy weeknight. It’s hearty, delicious, and the cleanup is a dream. Let’s get cooking and keep that sink empty.
Recipe Overview
Before we dive in, here’s the quick lowdown on what you’re making. It’s the perfect snapshot for your meal planning.
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
- Category: Soup
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Servings: 6
The Magic of a One-Pot (or One-Pan) Meal
I live for one-pot wonders. They are the ultimate kitchen hack for anyone who values their post-dinner relaxation time.
Everything cooks together in a single vessel. This means the flavors meld beautifully while you only have one pot to wash. It’s a total win-win situation for your taste buds and your sanity.
All You Need (One Pot & These Ingredients)
Gathering your gear and goods is the first step to a stress-free cooking experience. I promise it’s a short list.
You’ll need one large stockpot or Dutch oven. That’s it for the hardware. The ingredient list is mostly pantry staples, which is a huge time-saver.
The Full Ingredient List
Here is everything you’ll need to make this flavor-packed soup. The beauty is in its simplicity and convenience.
- 1 lb ground beef (or turkey for a lighter option)
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 1 (1 oz) packet taco seasoning
- 1 (1 oz) packet ranch seasoning mix
- 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15 oz) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15 oz) can corn, drained
- 1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes with green chiles (like Rotel), undrained
- 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
- 1 (10.5 oz) can condensed beef broth
- 1 (4.5 oz) can diced green chiles, undrained
PREPARATION
Follow these simple steps for a perfectly cooked soup and an easy cleanup. I’ve included my best tips for keeping things tidy. If you’re looking for another fantastic one-pot meal, you’ll love our Outback-inspired potato soup with its rich, creamy texture.
Classic 7 Can Taco Soup – Quick Comfort Food Recipe
The Full Ingredient List
PREPARATION
Notes
Enjoy your homemade Classic 7 Can Taco Soup – Quick Comfort Food Recipe!
Nutrition Information
- Brown the Beef: In your large stockpot over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef and diced onion together. We’re cooking them in the same pot to build flavor and save on dishes. Drain any excess grease.
- Add the Seasonings: Sprinkle the taco seasoning and ranch seasoning over the cooked beef. Give it a good stir and let it cook for one minute until it’s wonderfully fragrant.
- Combine Everything: This is the best part. Without draining the cans of tomatoes, chiles, or tomato sauce, pour them all into the pot. Add the drained beans, corn, and beef broth. Stir it all together.
- Simmer to Perfection: Bring your soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Let it simmer for about 15 minutes. This allows all the flavors to get to know each other and become best friends.
Pro-Tips for Perfect One-Pot Cooking
A few simple tricks can make your one-pot cooking experience even better. These are lessons I’ve learned the hard way.
First, use the right size pot. A pot that’s too small will bubble over, and a pot that’s too large can cause liquids to reduce too quickly. A 5-6 quart Dutch oven is perfect here.
Second, resist the urge to stir constantly. Let the soup do its thing. A gentle simmer is all you need. Over-stirring can sometimes make beans and other ingredients mushy.
Storing & Reheating (Easy!)
This soup is arguably even better the next day. The flavors have more time to develop and intensify, which is a beautiful thing.
Let the soup cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave or the entire batch on the stovetop over medium heat.
Nutrition Notes
While this is a comforting meal, it’s helpful to know what you’re enjoying. This is a general estimate and can vary based on your specific ingredients.
- Calories: ~350 per serving
- Protein: 22g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 10g
For those watching their carb intake, this soup pairs perfectly with our low-carb zoodle shrimp scampi for a balanced meal plan.
Your One-Pot Questions, Answered
I get a lot of questions about this recipe. Here are the answers to the most common ones to help you out.
Can I make this in a slow cooker?
Absolutely! Brown the beef and onion first, then dump everything into your crockpot. Cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours. It’s one of the best crockpot recipes for a reason.
What are the best toppings for taco soup?
Go wild! I love a dollop of sour cream, a handful of shredded cheese, some crushed tortilla chips for crunch, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice. Avocado slices are also a fantastic addition.
Can I freeze this soup?
You sure can. This dish freezes beautifully for up to 3 months. Just thaw it overnight in the fridge before reheating. It’s a lifesaver for future easy weeknight dinners.
And there you have it. A delicious, hearty meal that satisfies your craving for comfort food without burying you in a mountain of dirty pots and pans. This is what easy weeknight dinners are all about.
You get to enjoy a fantastic, home-cooked meal and still have time to put your feet up afterward. Now that’s my kind of cooking.
I hope this recipe becomes a staple in your home like it is in mine. Enjoy all that flavor (and your clean kitchen!). Let me know how it went by leaving a comment and rating below!