Description
This creamy taco soup is a comforting and flavorful dish that combines seasoned ground beef, tomatoes with green chilies, black beans, corn, and a blend of spices, all simmered together and enriched with cream cheese for a smooth, creamy texture. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, this soup is easy to prepare and can be customized with your favorite toppings like cheddar cheese, avocado, cilantro, and crunchy tortilla strips.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 2 (10 ounce) cans Ro-tel diced tomatoes & green chilies (with juices)
- 1 (14 ounce) can black beans (drained & rinsed)
- 1 (12 ounce) can corn (drained)
- 1/2 red bell pepper (chopped)
- 1/2 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
Seasoning
- Salt & pepper (to taste)
Toppings (optional)
- Grated cheddar cheese
- Avocado slices
- Cilantro
- Tortilla strips
Instructions
- Brown the Beef: Add the ground beef to a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Brown it, breaking it up with your spoon as you go along, for about 10 minutes. If there’s excess fat, spoon most of it out to keep the soup from getting greasy.
- Add Remaining Ingredients: Pour in the chicken broth, diced tomatoes with green chilies (including juices), black beans, corn, chopped red bell pepper, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, ground cumin, and smoked paprika. Stir well to combine.
- Simmer the Soup: Increase the heat to high and bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer uncovered for 8 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare your desired toppings.
- Add Cream Cheese and Season: Cut the softened cream cheese into smaller pieces and add them to the soup. Stir frequently until the cream cheese has fully melted and incorporated, creating a creamy texture. Season the soup with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with optional toppings such as grated cheddar cheese, avocado slices, fresh cilantro, and crunchy tortilla strips for added flavor and texture.
Notes
- Use softened cream cheese for easier melting and smoother texture.
- You can substitute ground turkey for a leaner option.
- Adjust the level of spiciness by choosing mild or hot diced tomatoes with chilies.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the ground beef and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and can be reheated gently on the stovetop.
