Taco Soup Recipe (Instant Pot or Slow Cooker!) - Oh Sweet Basil (2024)

This Instant Pot Taco Soup recipe is an easy weeknight dinner, that’s full of all your favorite Mexican flavors. Serve with cheese, sour cream and avocado!

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Taco Soup Recipe (Instant Pot or Slow Cooker!) - Oh Sweet Basil (1)

The Best Taco Soup Recipe

Hi everyone! I’m Jennifer from Deliciously Sprinkled and I’m SOOO excited to share this delicious Instant Pot Taco Soup recipe with all of you today!

With the holiday’s in full swing, it seems like we are just so busy that I don’t have time to make dinner and I’m really sick of eating out all the time. So I decided I was going to start using my Instant Pot that I got for my birthday to hopefully help me make dinner quicker and easier.

Well you guys, I seriously LOVE my Instant Pot. After I got over the first initial intimidation of it, I learned that it’s really so simple to use and it’s so nice that I can have dinner ready in less than 30 minutes.

So if you’re like me and just got an Instant Pot and don’t know what to make in it, this easy taco soup is the perfect recipe to try first. My family loves this soup, my husband said he could eat this everyday!

Taco Soup Recipe (Instant Pot or Slow Cooker!) - Oh Sweet Basil (2)

Taco Soup Ingredients

This Instant Pot taco soup uses surprisingly few ingredients to achieve its rich flavor. For this easy soup recipe, you’ll need olive oil, ground beef, onion, canned corn, pinto beans, Rotel (a mixture of diced tomatoes and green chilies), diced tomatoes, ranch seasoning mix, taco seasoning, and beef broth.

Note that you’ll be using dry ranch seasoning and NOT ranch dressing. Ranch seasoning comes in small packets, and you can usually find them in the spice aisle.

How to Make Taco Soup in an Instant Pot

One of my favorite things about the Instant Pot is that you can saute meat and veggies right in the pot, so there’s no need to dirty a bunch of different pots and pans. You’ll first need to saute the ground beef and onions together until browned.

After you’ve browned the meat, just dump the corn, beans, rotel, diced tomatoes, ranch seasoning mix, taco seasoning, and beef broth into the pot. Stir and then set the Instant Pot to the soup setting for 20 minutes.

Once the soup is done, serve with your favorite toppings.

Our Favorite Taco Soup Toppings

You can top your taco soup with anything you’d put on a regular taco! Some of our favorite taco soup toppings include:

  • Shredded cheese
  • Sour cream (or Greek yogurt)
  • Fritos
  • Pickled jalapeños
  • Avocado
  • Diced tomato
  • Hot sauce
  • Chopped onion
  • …and more!

Taco Soup Recipe (Instant Pot or Slow Cooker!) - Oh Sweet Basil (3)

What to Serve with Taco Soup

This Instant Pot taco soup is incredibly hearty as is, but it’s nice to serve something alongside it. A few of our favorite sides to serve with this taco soup are:

  • Sweet Cornbread
  • Grilled Corn, Avocado, and Tomato Salad
  • Frito Salad
  • Mexican Street Corn (Elote)
  • Mexican Fried Rice

Can I Make Taco Soup in a Slow Cooker?

Absolutely! To make this easy taco soup in a slow cooker, you’ll need to brown the meat and onions in a skillet before transferring the mixture to a slow cooker. Dump in the rest of the ingredients, then let the taco soup cook on low for 5 to 6 hours.

Can I Make Taco Soup with Ground Turkey?

Yes, both ground turkey and ground chicken would work well in this taco soup recipe. You’d still want to use beef broth though, since it adds so much flavor to the soup!

Can I Freeze Taco Soup?

Definitely. Instant Pot taco soup freezes incredibly well. You’ll first need to let it cool to room temperature, and then you can store it in freezer-safe bags or jars. When you’re ready to enjoy the frozen soup, simply set it in the fridge to thaw overnight.

Taco Soup Recipe (Instant Pot or Slow Cooker!) - Oh Sweet Basil (4)

Tips for Making Instant Pot Taco Soup

When making taco soup in the Instant Pot, make sure to factor in the amount of time your machine needs to build up and release the pressure. We always forgot to do that when we first started cooking with an Instant Pot, so dinner was on the table late a few times!

This is a fairly flexible recipe, so you’re welcome to swap out some of the ingredients based on what you have on hand. You can use different kinds of beans, omit the corn, and so on to suit your preferences.

If you prefer your homemade taco soup on the spicy side, add in a dash of hot sauce (either to the whole pot of soup, or just into your bowl). A little goes a long way, so be careful!

Read more: Have you heard about our Instant Pot Cheat Sheet? It has all the details for cooking the basics in your Instant Pot.

You can find all of our beef recipes here.

Instant Pot Taco Soup

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4.11 from 55 votes

Servings: 4 -6

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 20 minutes mins

Additional Time: 20 minutes mins

Total Time: 50 minutes mins

Description

The BEST recipe for Instant Pot Taco Soup, this soup is full of all your favorite Mexican flavors and makes the perfect weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

  • 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
  • 2 pounds Ground Beef
  • 1 Medium Onion, chopped
  • 1 can Corn, 15.25 oz.
  • 1 can Pinto Beans, 16 oz., drained and rinsed
  • 1 can Rotel Diced Tomatoes and Green Chilies, 10 oz.
  • 2 cans Diced Tomatoes, 14.5 oz.
  • 1 packet Dry Ranch Seasoning Mix
  • 2 packets Taco Seasoning
  • 2 1/2 cups Beef Broth

Instructions

FOR THE INSTANT POT:

  • Set the instant pot to "Saute" and add olive oil.

  • Once hot, add the ground beef and onions, cook until meat is browned.

  • Turn off instant pot and drain meat.

  • Put the meat back into the instant pot.

  • Add corn, beans, rotel, diced tomatoes, ranch seasoning and taco seasoning.

  • Add beef broth and stir.

  • Place the lid on and set the valve to "Sealed".

  • Press the "Soup" button and set timer for 20 minutes.

  • Once the soup is done, turn valve to "Quick Release".

  • Serve soup with shredded cheese, avocado, sour cream and Fritos.

FOR THE SLOW COOKER:

  • Heat a pan to medium heat and add olive oil. Once hot, add the meat and the onions. Cook until meat is browned. Drain.

  • Add meat and onions to the slow cooker. Add corn, beans, rotel, diced tomatoes, ranch seasoning and taco seasoning. Add beef broth and stir.

  • Cook on low for 5-6 hours or high for 4 hours.

  • Serve soup with shredded cheese, avocado, sour cream and Fritos.

Equipment

Notes

Left overs can be stored in the refrigerator, or even frozen.

Nutrition

Serving: 1BowlCalories: 831kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 47gFat: 55gSaturated Fat: 19gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 26gTrans Fat: 3gCholesterol: 161mgSodium: 1582mgPotassium: 1538mgFiber: 6gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 678IUVitamin C: 37mgCalcium: 155mgIron: 8mg

Author: Sweet Basil

Course: 100 + BEST Easy Beef Recipes for Dinner

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FAQs

How do you thicken taco soup? ›

Addition of Cornstarch or Flour: Create a slurry by mixing equal parts cornstarch or flour with water. Stir this mixture into the soup and let it simmer for a few minutes until it thickens. Ensure there are no lumps by gradually adding the slurry while stirring constantly.

Is soup better in a pressure cooker? ›

The pressure cooker has no rival when it comes to preparing soup quickly and easily. Not only do pressure cookers speed up cooking time, but they're also energy efficient. With so many different pressure cookers, it can be overwhelming to pick the one that's right for you.

What ingredient makes soup thicker? ›

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute.

What is the best ingredient to thicken soup? ›

Add flour or cornflour

Put a tablespoon of either into a small bowl and stir in 2-3 tbsp of the soup until you have a smooth mixture. Stir this back into the soup and bring it to a simmer. Cook for a few minutes to allow the starch granules to burst to thicken, and to cook out any flour flavour.

Is it better to slow cook or pressure cook soup? ›

The Verdict: While the pressure cooker prepared a superior tasting dish, it all comes down to how you want to spend your time. The slow cooker is great for hands off cooking. The pressure cooker is fast and provides a better result, but you need to be in the kitchen the entire time it's on the stove.

Is soup better in slow cooker or pressure cooker? ›

Yes, if you are using meat and dried beans and/or lentils as the pressure cooker cuts down on cooking time dramatically! For other soup vegetables not so much unless you're in a hurry, when it would speed things up. Otherwise the slow cooker is a better option for long slow cooking.

What tastes better slow cooker or pressure cooker? ›

There is no difference in taste, provided the food is seasoned equally. The issue here is texture, and the time it takes to cook. A pressure cooker will cook very quickly, and depending on the cut of meat can take up to 1/2 the time or less. The food will come out very tender, also.

Why is my taco soup so watery? ›

There are several reasons why taco soup may turn out thin and watery. One common reason is using too much broth or liquid in the soup. Additionally, not simmering the soup for long enough can lead to a thin consistency.

What can I use to thicken my tortilla soup? ›

Yes, adding cream or milk is an excellent way to thicken your chicken tortilla soup and add richness. Simply stir in a small amount of heavy cream, half-and-half, or milk towards the end of cooking. Let it cook for a few additional minutes to incorporate the flavors.

How do you fix watery tacos? ›

Corn starch is a good way to thicken up the water into something more saucy. This is my preferred method if the extra water actually has flavor, because it adds a nice sauciness to the dish. Make a corn starch 'slurry' by mixing cold water and some corn starch, then add that to the hot dish that still cooking.

How do you thicken taco soup without cornstarch? ›

Thickening your soup without using flour or cornstarch is easier than you might think. By incorporating ingredients such as vegetable purees, mashed potatoes, beans or legumes, coconut milk, or a roux substitute, you can achieve the desired consistency while adding extra flavor and nutrition.

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