This Cheesy Taco Soup is a flavor-packed fiesta that’s ready in just 25 minutes! It’s a hearty and satisfying soup that’s loaded with ground turkey, beans, corn, and tomatoes, all simmered in a flavorful broth and topped with a generous amount of melted cheese. It’s perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, a casual get-together, or any occasion where you crave a comforting and delicious meal.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Flavorful and hearty: This soup is packed with a variety of textures and flavors, from the savory ground turkey to the sweet corn and spicy chili beans.
- Quick and easy: It’s ready in just 25 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
- Crowd-pleaser: This soup is a hit with both kids and adults.
- Versatile: You can easily customize it with your favorite taco toppings.
Ingredients for Cheesy Taco Soup
This recipe uses simple, pantry-friendly ingredients to create a flavorful and satisfying soup. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Olive Oil: For browning the ground turkey.
- Ground Turkey: A lean protein source that adds a savory flavor to the soup.
- Kosher Salt, Garlic Powder, Chili Powder, Cumin: A blend of spices that create a warm and inviting flavor.
- Reduced Sodium Chicken Broth: Forms the base of the soup’s flavorful broth.
- Chili Beans: Pinto beans in a chili sauce, adding a spicy kick and hearty texture.
- Black Beans: Adds a creamy texture and a boost of protein and fiber.
- Petite Diced Tomatoes: Adds acidity and sweetness to the soup.
- Corn: Provides a touch of sweetness and a pop of color.
- Salsa: Adds a fresh and zesty flavor.
- Velveeta Cheese: Creates a smooth and creamy cheese topping.
(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card directly below.)
How to Make Cheesy Taco Soup
Step 1: Brown the Ground Turkey
In a large soup pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the ground turkey, salt, garlic powder, chili powder, and cumin. Cook and crumble the ground turkey until it’s no longer pink. Drain any excess grease from the pot.
Step 2: Simmer the Soup
Add the chicken broth, chili beans (undrained), black beans (drained and rinsed), diced tomatoes (undrained), corn (drained), and salsa to the pot. Stir to combine. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover with the lid, and simmer for 15 minutes.
Step 3: Add the Cheese
Stir in the cubed Velveeta cheese and cover the pot with the lid. Let the soup simmer for 3-5 minutes, or until the Velveeta cheese is melted and smooth. Stir to combine.
Step 4: Serve and Enjoy!
Serve the soup hot with your favorite taco toppings. Tortilla chips or strips, sour cream, and shredded cheese are all great options.
Tips for Making the Recipe
- Chicken broth: If you use full-salt chicken broth, reduce the amount of salt added to the soup.
- Velveeta cheese: Velveeta cheese is recommended for its smooth melting properties, but you can experiment with other types of cheese if you prefer.
- Chili beans: Choose your preferred level of heat for the chili beans (mild, medium, or hot).
- Corn: Use any variety of canned corn you like, such as yellow, white, or southwestern corn.
- Make it spicy: Use hot salsa, Rotel tomatoes, green chilies, or jalapeños to add extra heat to the soup.
How to Serve Cheesy Taco Soup
- Weeknight dinner: This soup is perfect for a quick and easy weeknight meal.
- Casual gathering: It’s also a great option for a casual get-together or potluck.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheating
Reheat the soup gently on the stovetop or in the microwave until heated through.
FAQs
Can I use ground beef instead of ground turkey?
Yes, you can use ground beef instead of ground turkey.
Can I make this soup in a slow cooker?
Yes, you can! Simply brown the ground turkey on the stovetop, then transfer it to a slow cooker with the remaining ingredients. Cook on low for 6-8 hours, or until the flavors have melded.
My soup is too thick, what should I do?
If your soup is too thick, you can thin it out with a bit more chicken broth or water.
Can I freeze this soup?
Yes, you can freeze this soup. Allow it to cool completely, then transfer it to freezer-safe containers or bags. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
There you have it! A simple and delicious recipe for Cheesy Taco Soup. I hope you enjoy it!
PrintCheesy Taco Soup Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Description
This Cheesy Taco Soup is a quick and easy meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights. It’s loaded with ground turkey, beans, corn, and a creamy cheese sauce, making it a hearty and flavorful dish.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 (14.5 oz) can reduced-sodium chicken broth
- 1 (15 oz) can chili beans, do not drain
- 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15 oz) can petite diced tomatoes, do not drain
- 1 (15 oz) can corn, drained
- 1 cup salsa
- 8 ounces Velveeta cheese, cubed
Instructions
- Brown Turkey: In a large soup pot (with a lid) over medium-high heat, add olive oil, ground turkey, salt, garlic powder, chili powder, and cumin. Cook and crumble until ground turkey is no longer pink. Drain grease from the pot.
- Add Ingredients: Add the chicken broth, chili beans, black beans, tomatoes, corn, and salsa into the soup pot. Stir to combine.
- Simmer: Bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium-low, and cover with the lid. Let simmer for 15 minutes.
- Add Cheese: Stir in the cubed Velveeta cheese and cover with the lid. Let simmer for 3-5 minutes or until the Velveeta is melted. Stir together to combine.
- Serve: Serve with your favorite taco soup toppings. Tortilla chips or strips, sour cream, and shredded cheese are great options.
Notes
- Chicken Broth: The recipe has been tested with reduced-sodium chicken broth. If you use full-salt chicken broth, reduce the salt slightly (1/2 teaspoon).
- Velveeta Cheese: Velveeta cheese is recommended for its smooth melting texture. If you use shredded cheese, it may work, but it won’t melt as smoothly.
- Chili Beans: These are pinto beans in a chili sauce. You can get them in ‘mild’, ‘medium’, or ‘hot’ heat.
- Corn: Get creative and use any variety of canned corn.
- Make It Spicy! Use hot or medium salsa. Use a can of Rotel instead of diced tomatoes. Add a can of diced green chilies or chopped jalapeños in with the other canned ingredients. Top the soup with shredded pepper jack cheese and/or sliced fresh jalapeños.
- Storage: Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Serving
- Calories: 450kcal
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
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