taco – FoodWatcher

Taco burgers

What’s a taco burger, a friend asked me when I told her what I was cooking for dinner. I explained it was all…
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What’s a taco burger, a friend asked me when I told her what I was cooking for dinner. I explained it was all…

Everyone loves this easy taco soup recipe! It’s full of flavor and quick to whip up, topped with all your favorite taco toppings. If you love tacos and you love soup…well, taco soup is a no brainer! It’s a Tex Mex invention like taco salad, basically a mashup between a Mexican tortilla soup and American chili. Each bowl is warming, savory and smoky, and a cozy canvas for toppings like sour cream and crushed tortilla chips. The best part: it’s done in 30 minutes and customizable for eaters of any diet! This makes it endlessly versatile and an ideal weeknight meal. This easy taco soup recipe was a hit in our house: and we hope it will be in yours, too! Let’s get cooking. Ingredients in this easy taco soup There’s nothing traditionally Mexican about taco soup: in fact, it’s a Tex Mex invention: chili meets tortilla soup. In fact, it’s closer to chili than anything: it’s just more aggressively taco-spiced. For this recipe, we put a spin on our tortilla soup to add “taco meat” and more taco seasonings. Here are the basic building blocks of this easy taco soup recipe: Taco meat: You can use either plant-based veggie crumbles […]

A Couple Cooks – Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

Everyone loves this easy taco soup recipe! It’s full of flavor and quick to whip up, topped with all your favorite taco toppings.

If you love tacos and you love soup…well, taco soup is a no brainer! It’s a Tex Mex invention like taco salad, basically a mashup between a Mexican tortilla soup and American chili. Each bowl is warming, savory and smoky, and a cozy canvas for toppings like sour cream and crushed tortilla chips. The best part: it’s done in 30 minutes and customizable for eaters of any diet! This makes it endlessly versatile and an ideal weeknight meal. This easy taco soup recipe was a hit in our house: and we hope it will be in yours, too! Let’s get cooking.

Ingredients in this easy taco soup

There’s nothing traditionally Mexican about taco soup: in fact, it’s a Tex Mex invention: chili meets tortilla soup. In fact, it’s closer to chili than anything: it’s just more aggressively taco-spiced. For this recipe, we put a spin on our tortilla soup to add “taco meat” and more taco seasonings. Here are the basic building blocks of this easy taco soup recipe:

Taco meat: You can use either plant-based veggie crumbles or ground beef for meat lovers. This makes it work for vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, or meat-eating diets (see below).
Onion, bell pepper and garlic: This mix of fresh veggies hits the spot
Beans and corn: We like a mix of black beans and pinto beans
Canned tomatoes: Fire-roasted tomatoes have the best flavor, but use whatever you can find
Taco seasonings: Use a mix of cumin, oregano, garlic powder, and cumin
Adobo sauce: This smoky sauce from inside a can of chipotle peppers is the magic ingredient (see below).

Taco soup for any diet: use veggie crumbles or beef!

These days, families are balancing lots of different eating styles at a single table. So we’ve started to make our recipes versatile for many different diets. This easy taco soup recipe works with meat or for vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free diets. Here’s how you can do it:

Use plant-based crumbles. These days there are lots of vegan meat substitutes at the grocery store: and many are less processed than in the past. But be picky when you’re at the store: look for veggie crumbles with a short ingredient list and whole food ingredients. Also, experiment with brands to find a texture you like. So far, we’ve liked Beyond Meat crumbles best: they’re made of pea protein and have a meat-like texture.
Or, use ground beef. You can simply swap in 1pound ground beef in this recipe. Cook it before you start and drain it.

Other recipes where we use this customizable approach? Try our Quick Chili, Sheet Pan Nachos, and Taco Salad.

Adobo sauce adds smoky flavor and body

The flavor secret to this taco soup recipe? Adobo sauce! This magic ingredient brings nuance, body and a lightly smoky flavor to the broth. We use this trick all the time, and it’s especially helpful in adding flavor to vegan and vegetarian recipes. Here are a few notes on what to look for at the store if you haven’t worked with this ingredient:

Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce are easy to find at most grocery stores near the Mexican products. The can includes chipotle chiles: smoked and dried jalapeños that are rehydrated and canned, and adobo sauce, a purée of tomato, vinegar, garlic, and other spices.
You’ll use the sauce, not the chipotle peppers. Use a spoon to remove the adobo sauce from the can, working around the hot peppers.
The quantity below adds a moderate level of spice to the soup. It’s not ultra spicy. You can add more to taste!
What to do with the leftovers? Refrigerate or freeze the remainder, and use it for more adobo sauce recipes, like vegetarian fajitas or enchilada sauce.

Taco soup toppings

Just like chili, the best part of taco soup is the toppings! It tastes great as is, but even better dressed up with garnishes. The taco soup is plant-based and vegan without the garnishes, so for a vegan meal simply add plant-based toppings. The first four are required toppings in our mind, then we’ve got some optional ideas:

Crushed tortilla chips or homemade crispy tortilla strips
Sour cream (or cashew cream)
Hot sauce like Cholula
Fresh cilantro
Shredded cheese, optional
Avocado slices
Sliced green onions
Pickled jalapenos or pickled onions

What would you add to your taco soup? Let us know if you try the recipe below and what you think!

This taco soup recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

Easy Taco Soup Recipe

(6 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

5 from 6 reviews

Author: Sonja Overhiser
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 4
Diet: Vegan

Print Recipe

Description

Everyone loves this easy taco soup recipe! It’s full of flavor and quick to whip up, topped with all your favorite taco toppings.

Ingredients

1 yellow onion
1 green bell pepper
4 medium garlic cloves
15-ounce can black beans
15-ounce can pinto beans
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 cups (10 to 12 ounces) plant-based crumbles* (or 1 pound cooked and drained ground beef)
1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes, fire roasted if possible
1 1/2 cups frozen corn
1 1/2 tablespoons adobo sauce (from 1 can chipotle peppers in adobo sauce)
1 quart (4 cups) vegetable broth
1 tablespoon each dried oregano and cumin
1 teaspoon each garlic and onion powder
1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more for sprinkling
Toppings: shredded cheese (optional), sour cream (or cashew cream), hot sauce, sliced avocado or pickled jalapenos (optional), crushed tortilla chips

Instructions

Dice the onion. Dice the green pepper. Mince the garlic. Drain and rinse the beans.
In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and green pepper and saute for 5 minutes. Add the garlic and saute for 1 minute.
Stir in the veggie crumbles (or ground beef) for 1 minute. Then add the tomatoes, beans, corn, adobo sauce, broth, oregano, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, and kosher salt. Bring to a simmer, then simmer for 10 minutes. Taste and add additional adobo sauce or kosher salt if desired.
To serve, ladle the soup into bowls and allow to cool to warm. Top with cheese, sour cream, hot sauce, and crushed tortilla chips.

Category: Soup
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Soup

Keywords: Taco soup, Easy taco soup, Taco soup recipe, Easy taco soup recipe

More favorite soup recipes

Soup is always a winning dinner idea: most of the time it’s easy, healthy, and delicious! Here are a few soup recipes to try:

Try fan favorite Creamy Tortellini Soup
Load on the veggies with Garden Vegetable Soup
Go cozy with Wild Rice Mushroom Soup or Loaded Potato Soup
Make everyone’s favorite into a soup with Easy Pizza Soup
Try healthy and satisfying Best Ever Lentil Soup

A Couple Cooks - Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

Epic Breakfast Tacos

This breakfast tacos recipe has irresistible Tex Mex flavor! Whip them up as a fast and easy breakfast idea everyone will love. When it comes to a special breakfast…this one might be our new favorite. Try this epic Breakfast Tacos recipe! These tacos are solidly in Tex Mex, stuffed to the brim with breakfast potatoes, cheesy eggs, cilantro and pickled onions. Alex was inspired by the flavors of breakfast tacos he had in Austin with our native Texan friend, and finally we’ve got a recipe that can recreate some of the magic. It’s the perfect fast and easy breakfast idea to jump start your morning. The back story of breakfast tacos…a Tex Mex tradition Breakfast tacos are a signature of Tex Mex cuisine: a fusion between American and Mexican styles. The idea of the breakfast taquito has been around since the 1950’s. But it was Austin, Texas where the phrase “breakfast tacos” was born, served at the staple Austin restaurant Tamale House. The concept caught on and spread all over Austin, and around the country. The traditional breakfast tacos were simple: a flour tortilla with scrambled eggs, bacon, salsa and cheese. For these breakfast tacos, we’ve created our own spin […]

A Couple Cooks – Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

This breakfast tacos recipe has irresistible Tex Mex flavor! Whip them up as a fast and easy breakfast idea everyone will love.

When it comes to a special breakfast…this one might be our new favorite. Try this epic Breakfast Tacos recipe! These tacos are solidly in Tex Mex, stuffed to the brim with breakfast potatoes, cheesy eggs, cilantro and pickled onions. Alex was inspired by the flavors of breakfast tacos he had in Austin with our native Texan friend, and finally we’ve got a recipe that can recreate some of the magic. It’s the perfect fast and easy breakfast idea to jump start your morning.

The back story of breakfast tacos…a Tex Mex tradition

Breakfast tacos are a signature of Tex Mex cuisine: a fusion between American and Mexican styles. The idea of the breakfast taquito has been around since the 1950’s. But it was Austin, Texas where the phrase “breakfast tacos” was born, served at the staple Austin restaurant Tamale House. The concept caught on and spread all over Austin, and around the country.

The traditional breakfast tacos were simple: a flour tortilla with scrambled eggs, bacon, salsa and cheese. For these breakfast tacos, we’ve created our own spin but kept this straightforward Tex Mex take.

Ingredients for breakfast tacos

Ready to whip up your own version of this breakfast-time delicacy? This recipe is quick and easy to make. Here are the ingredients for these breakfast tacos:

Frozen diced hash brown potatoes: The fried potatoes are reminiscent of another popular taco served at Tamale House, and add fantastic flavor and texture. You can substitute regular frozen hash browns if you can’t find the diced variety. (Of course, you can also make homemade hashbrowns out of real potatoes.)
Scrambled eggs: The other staple in a breakfast taco? Scrambled eggs! Mix them with cheddar cheese to get them nice and gooey.
Hot sauce and salsa: They’re always a necessity!
Cilantro: A little fresh cilantro is crucial for flavor.
Pickled onions: Pickled onions add a zing and a crunch. If you can, make a batch in advance.

You can also add fresh or pickled jalapenos, if you like even more heat! They’re not necessary, but they add great flavor.

More topping ideas

Of course, the sky’s the limit when it comes to breakfast taco toppings! Simple is best with this type of taco, so don’t over do it! But you can use anything else that strikes your fancy, like:

Avocado
Bacon or coconut bacon
Queso fresco or Cotija crumbles
Seasoned black beans
Refried beans (homemade or canned)
Vegan taco meat
Lettuce
Tomatoes

Variation: 5 minute egg tacos!

Want to make an even faster version of these breakfast tacos? Or don’t have potatoes on hand and don’t want to run to the store? Try our 5 Minute Egg Tacos! The egg filling in these tacos is incredible: adding a few simple spices makes it taste more like chorizo than eggs. We highly recommend them: head over to the recipe for more.

Vegan variation

Can you make vegan breakfast tacos? Absolutely! The best way to make this recipe vegan is to substitute our Tofu Scramble for the scrambled eggs. It magically looks and tastes a lot like eggs! Or, you can use our Vegan Taco Meat in place of the eggs. Either one makes for an incredibly tasty vegan breakfast taco.

Tip: warm your tortillas

The other most important thing to note about breakfast tacos: you must warm your tortillas! There’s nothing worse than a cold, tough tortilla. There are a few different methods for doing so. Here’s how to warm tortillas like a pro:

Place them over the flame of a gas burner (preferred!). Place each tortilla directly on a gas burner for a few seconds per side, turning with tongs. This lightly chars the edges and warms the tortillas (so they’ll look like the photos). Then throw them into a tortilla warmer!
Warm them in the oven. If you don’t have a gas burner, you can warm them in the oven. Go to How to Warm Tortillas.

More breakfast recipes

Need more inspiration to start the day? Here are some of our favorite breakfast recipes to power your morning:

Make eggs all the ways: scrambled, sunny side up, over easy, over medium, or over hard
Infuse more veggies with Breakfast Vegetable Scramble or Easy Tofu Scramble
Go for a Breakfast Pizza topped with scrambled eggs
Opt for a Classic Omelette

This breakfast tacos recipe is…

Vegetarian and gluten-free. For vegan, substitute Tofu Scramble for the eggs. Or, go to Black Bean Tacos or Refried Bean Tacos.