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Crockpot Taco Soup

A volume-first crockpot taco soup that turns one batch into multiple dinners—serve it as soup, taco bowls, nachos, or burrito filling. Freezer-friendly and real-life tested.
12–16 servings
Prep Time:
10 minutes
Level:
Beginner

This is one of those “stop cooking dinner every single day” recipes. One big crockpot of taco soup gives you a base that can be dinner tonight… and then it becomes taco rice bowls, nachos, burritos, or loaded baked potatoes later without starting over. It’s volume-first, freezer-friendly, and built for real households—because the goal isn’t a new recipe. The goal is a repeatable plan that makes dinner stop acting like a daily emergency.

Ingredients

Protein

  • 2–3 lb cooked taco meat (ground beef or turkey), already seasoned

Tomato + Broth

  • 1 (6 oz) can tomato paste

  • 4 cups chicken broth (start here; add more later to thin)

  • 2 (14.5 oz) cans diced tomatoes (or 1 (28 oz) can)

Veg

  • 1–2 cups frozen peppers/onions (or 1 large onion + 1 bell pepper, diced)

Beans

  • 2–3 cups cooked beans (Instant Pot red beans work great) OR

  • 2 cans beans (black, pinto, kidney, etc.), drained


    (Optional thickener: keep ½–1 can NOT drained.)

Seasoning

  • 1 packet taco seasoning (or 3 Tbsp homemade)

  • 1–2 tsp garlic powder

  • Salt + pepper to taste

Optional “Make It Better” Add-Ins (pick 1–3)

  • 1 cup frozen corn (adds bulk + sweetness)

  • 1 can Rotel (swap for one can of tomatoes for heat)

  • 1 tsp cumin + 1 tsp smoked paprika (deeper flavor)

  • 1–2 Tbsp lime juice at the end (wakes it up)

Instructions

  1. Add tomato paste to the crockpot.

  2. Pour in chicken broth and whisk/scrape until the paste dissolves smooth.

  3. Add diced tomatoes, peppers/onions, taco meat, and beans.

  4. Add taco seasoning + garlic powder + pepper. Stir well.

  5. Cook Low 6–8 hours or High 3–4 hours.

  6. Taste at the end and adjust:

    • Too thick? Add broth in ½–1 cup splashes.

    • Too thin? Crack the lid the last 30–60 minutes, or mash a scoop of beans and stir back in.

    • Needs “more”? Add salt first, then more taco seasoning, then a squeeze of lime if it tastes flat.

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