Name: Easy Taco Soup with Ranch Seasoning
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1 lb ground beef; 1 large chopped onion (cooked with beef); 2 cans kidney beans; 1 can corn; 1 can Ro-Tel diced tomatoes and green chilies (10-ounce), undrained; 1 can tomato sauce (15-ounce); 1 packet taco seasoning mix; 1 packet ranch dressing mix; 1 1/2 cups water

Let me introduce you to the world’s easiest supper. This taco soup is ground beef, beans, corn and Ro-Tel simmered with a packet of taco seasoning and a packet of ranch dressing mix, and you dump every can into the pot without draining a single one. If you love chili or tacos, this is the bowl for you.

Bowl of easy taco soup topped with sour cream and shredded cheese

A Quick Look At The Recipe

Recipe Name: Taco Soup
Serves: 4
Main Ingredients: ground beef, chopped onion, kidney beans, corn, Ro-Tel tomatoes (15-ounce), tomato sauce (15-ounce), packet taco seasoning mix, packet ranch dressing mix
Why You'll Love It: Taco Soup is so incredibly quick and easy but the flavor alone will win you over. You're just not going to believe how great this tastes!

This recipe has the family seal of approval, and I keep the ingredients on hand all the time since nearly all of them are pantry staples. If you’d like to see how I keep shelf-stable meals like this one organized, take a look at my Bags to Dishes meal kits.

How do you make taco soup?

Brown 1 pound of ground beef with a chopped onion. Add it to a pot with 2 cans of kidney beans, a can of corn, a can of Ro-Tel, a can of tomato sauce, a packet of taco seasoning, a packet of ranch dressing mix and 1 1/2 cups of water. Don’t drain the cans. Bring it to a boil, then simmer for 15 minutes. Supper’s ready in about 45 minutes.

Why the Ranch Packet Matters

Taco seasoning alone makes a good soup, but the ranch dressing mix is what gives this one its savory, slightly tangy depth and keeps folks asking what’s in it. The two packets season everything at once, so there’s no measuring spices.

Leaving the cans undrained matters too. The liquid from the beans, corn and Ro-Tel becomes the broth, along with a cup and a half of water, so the soup ends up thick and hearty instead of watery.

Ingredients for Easy Taco Soup

Ingredients for taco soup including ground beef, canned beans, corn, Ro-Tel, tomato sauce, taco seasoning and ranch mix

Ground beef: About a pound, browned with a chopped onion. I brown beef ahead of time and freeze it in meal-sized portions, so most nights I just grab a bag from the freezer. When I want the whole recipe shelf-stable, I dehydrate ground beef instead.
Kidney beans: Pinto or black beans work in their place, or use a mix.
Ro-Tel: Original Ro-Tel adds a little heat. Use the mild version if you’re feeding young kids.
Taco seasoning and ranch dressing mix: One packet of each.

You’ll find the exact amounts in the recipe card below.

Helpful Tips Before You Start

Don’t drain any of the cans. That liquid is the broth.
If your beef is already cooked, the soup is ready as soon as it has simmered for 15 minutes.
Ground turkey or shredded rotisserie chicken can stand in for the beef.
For the crock pot, brown the beef and onion first, then cook everything on low for 5 to 6 hours.

How to Make Easy Taco Soup

1Brown the Beef

Brown the ground beef with the chopped onion in a skillet or right in your soup pot, and drain off the fat.

2Dump Everything in the Pot

Add the kidney beans, corn, Ro-Tel and tomato sauce without draining any of the cans, then stir in the taco seasoning, ranch dressing mix and 1 1/2 cups of water.

3Simmer and Serve

Bring the soup to a boil, then lower the heat and let it simmer for 15 minutes. Ladle it into bowls and add your favorite toppings.

Pot of easy taco soup with beans and corn

What to Serve with Taco Soup

I like mine with a dollop of sour cream and a handful of shredded cheese, and a bag of tortilla chips on the side never hurts. For a bigger spread, set out a bowl of copycat Chipotle guacamole or a batch of cinnamon tortilla chips for dessert.

Bowl of taco soup with tortilla chips and toppings

On a game night, it’s great next to a pan of layered Tex Mex dip or a platter of easy taco pizza. Leftovers keep in the fridge for up to 3 days, and I store them in glass containers so the tomato-based soup doesn’t stain.

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Taco Soup FAQs

Do you drain the beans and corn for taco soup?

Leave every can undrained. The liquid from the beans, corn and Ro-Tel is a big part of the broth, and draining them leaves you with a thin, bland soup.

Can I make taco soup in a slow cooker?

It works well in a slow cooker, it just takes longer. Brown the beef and onion first, add everything to the crock pot and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours.

How do I make taco soup thicker?

Let it simmer uncovered for an extra 10 minutes, or mash a few of the beans against the side of the pot with a spoon before serving.

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