Taco Soup

[samanthad8883]

I found this when trying to alter our "normal" winter meals. We now choose this over our normal Chili.

1 lb hamburger, cooked and drained
1 can mild chili beans (do not drain or rinse)
1 can of black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can of whole kernel corn (drained only)
2 cans diced tomatoes and green chilis
1 package of taco seasoning
1 package of ranch dressing mix

I put all of it in and then add the two packets last.

Instead of crackers we either dip with chips or smash them up.
Garnish with shredded cheese, sour cream, and jalapeños.

Just writing this has made me hungry.

[enginerd]

I have been making taco soup for years and it is also one of our favorites. I have frequently changed it up to incorporate what I have on hand and it is always good. Sometimes I use V-8 juice, tomato juice, garden tomatoes, canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, or whatever. We like to put shredded cheese on top too.

[Domestic Gal]

I made this just yesterday.
I use whatever meat I have on hand. Yesterday I used up some cubed turkey.
I have made it with chicken, beef and turkey.
I like to top it with cheese and sour cream and eat it like a dip with tortilla chips.

[samanthad8883]

You can also throw in rice or noodles to make it go further.

[hopeky94]

I've seen (and tried!) different versions of this soup before, and in my experience, the key to having that great flavor are just 3 ingredients: taco seasoning, ranch mix, and some sort of tomato base (diced, juice only, etc) preferably with green chilies or other spicy kick to it.

I've used chicken or turkey instead of beef (or made it meatless); switched out the beans (usually using black beans and/or red beans, drained & rinsed); left out the corn (for a friend with an intolerance to it); and used spicy V8 (and/or my parents' home-canned spicy tomato juice) instead of or added to the diced tomatoes with green chilies...

Of course, each variation has a slightly different taste... but as long as I used the 2 mixes and a spicy tomato base, I still got that underlying flavor that makes this soup so awesome! :)

My only real objection to this soup is: the sodium content... I use the "reduced sodium" taco seasoning (which I'm sure still has plenty of salt), but I'm pretty sure the ranch mix is pretty high in sodium... Any ideas or suggestions to lower the sodium in this, without losing the flavor? Are there any cheap taco or ranch mixes out there that are low-salt, or maybe a tried-n-true low/no salt homemade version of either one??

With high blood pressure & heart disease on both sides of my family, I'm always looking for easy recipes, lower in sodium and fat but still big in down-home, country-type flavor! :) TIA for any and all help!!

[jaxsalads]

I made this today for the first time ever... used boca crumbles that i got super cheap from publix this last week (first time i ever tasted them) and topped it with some cheddar and the jalapeno sour cream from breakstone.

was delicious and everyone loved it..

[crazybmb]

I may try this when it gets colder or i could just turn down the air conditioner

[sandratesch]

I found this when trying to alter our "normal" winter meals. We now choose this over our normal Chili.

1 lb hamburger, cooked and drained
1 can mild chili beans (do not drain or rinse)
1 can of black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can of whole kernel corn (drained only)
2 cans diced tomatoes and green chilis
1 package of taco seasoning
1 package of ranch dressing mix

I put all of it in and then add the two packets last.

Instead of crackers we either dip with chips or smash them up.
Garnish with shredded cheese, sour cream, and jalapeños.

Just writing this has made me hungry.

going to try! thanks for sharing

[jenrose]

Does this come out thick like chili or more soupy?