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Crowd-Pleasing Taco Soup with Ranch Seasoning: Easy 30-Minute Dinner

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This crowd-pleasing taco soup with ranch seasoning is the kind of recipe that makes you look like a hero with almost zero effort. It’s the soup that brings back memories and makes new ones with friends and family around the table.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20 works well; drain excess fat after browning)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced (about 1 cup)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced (or 1 teaspoon garlic powder in a pinch)
  • 1 packet (1 ounce) taco seasoning (I prefer Old El Paso or homemade)
  • 1 packet (1 ounce) ranch seasoning mix (Hidden Valley is my go-to)
  • 1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained (fire-roasted adds nice depth)
  • 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
  • 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (15 ounces) kidney beans, drained and rinsed (or pinto beans if you prefer)
  • 1 can (15 ounces) corn kernels, drained (or frozen corn, no need to thaw)
  • 2 cups beef broth (low-sodium is best; you can control the salt better)
  • Shredded cheddar cheese (for topping)
  • Sour cream or Greek yogurt (for topping)
  • Fresh cilantro, chopped (for topping)
  • Diced avocado (for topping)
  • Tortilla chips or strips (for topping)
  • Lime wedges (for topping)

Instructions

  1. Brown the beef: Place your large pot over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and diced onion. Cook, breaking the meat apart with your wooden spoon, until the beef is browned and the onion is soft—about 6 to 8 minutes. If there’s excess fat, carefully drain it off.
  2. Add the aromatics: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant.
  3. Season the meat: Sprinkle the taco seasoning and ranch seasoning over the beef mixture. Stir well to coat everything evenly. Let it cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly.
  4. Add the canned goods: Pour in the diced tomatoes (with their juices), tomato sauce, drained black beans, drained kidney beans, and drained corn. Give everything a good stir.
  5. Pour in the broth: Add the beef broth and stir until everything is well combined.
  6. Bring to a simmer: Increase the heat to high and bring the soup to a gentle boil. Then reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer for 15 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
  7. Taste and adjust: After 15 minutes, give it a taste. Add salt, pepper, or lime juice as needed. If you want more heat, add a dash of cayenne or a chopped jalapeño.
  8. Serve it up: Ladle the soup into bowls and let everyone add their own toppings.

Notes

Don’t skip draining and rinsing the canned beans to avoid a gummy texture. For a thicker soup, mash some beans before adding or let it simmer uncovered for an extra 10 minutes. This soup tastes even better the next day.

Nutrition

Keywords: taco soup, ranch seasoning, easy dinner, 30-minute meal, crowd-pleasing, ground beef, comfort food

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