Easy Taco Soup ~ Bags To Dishes~
How To Make An Easy Taco Soup Recipe
One of my Bags to Dishes favorite recipes is the Easy Taco Soup Recipe. And by the way, thank you all so much for all of the wonderful comments on my Bags to Dishes series! More information on Bags to Dishes can be found in the series of recipes so that you can have all of the recipes I use in my bags to dishes meals. Be sure to read the original post to find out how you can convert your own meals into shelf stable ones in order to have your family’s favorite recipes available with the grab of a bag, like this Easy Taco Soup!
Taco Soup (my mom calls it Sante Fe Soup) is one of those incredibly flavorful meals that involves nothing more than opening a few cans and packets, stirring together, and simmering. It has all sorts of wonderful veggies in it, but you can add even more if you like.
Customize your taco soup to your likin’
This version of taco soup recipe can also be customized when it comes to serving. I sometimes top mine with cheese or sour cream but we often just leave it as it because it is already so good! If’ I’m really wanting a heartier meal or need to stretch it to feed more, I serve it over rice, which I purchase for less than half the retail price by buying in bulk.
Taco soup ingredients are easy
When you’re ready to make it, this entire meal comes together in less than 15 minutes. I gather up all of the canned goods and then measure out the spices into a bag. You can use spice packets if you prefer (just one packet ranch dressing mix and one packet taco seasoning of your choice along with a little onion powder) but I buy those in bulk at Sam’s to save money.
I alternate between using Dehydrated Ground Beef and black beans but I never hesitate to use black beans in place of beef in a Bags to Dishes recipe, so you go with whatever you want.
Main options/alternatives for beef in this taco soup recipe
- Dehydrated Ground Beef
- Ground Beef from Freezer (label it for this bag meal so you don’t use it for something else)
- Canned Black Beans (drained and rinsed)
- Canned Chicken, etc
In your bag for this soup you’ll need to assemble :
- Beef Option (choose one from above)
- Kidney beans
- Corn
- Ro-tel*
- Tomato sauce
- A seasoning bag of onion powder
- Ranch dressing mix
- Taco seasoning mix
Actual recipe is below. Be sure and print out a copy of the recipe to include in the bag. That’s it!
I usually make anywhere from 2-4 Taco Soup Bag meals at a time.
What is Rotel?
*Rotel is diced tomatoes with green chilies. If you can’t get it where you live, you can substitute a 14 ounce can of diced tomatoes and a 4 ounce can of chopped green chilies. You’ll have a wee bit more tomatoes and chilies in your soup but it will be fine. Another option is to move to where they sell Rotel but I’m guessing that may be out of most people’s budgets and it would be cheaper just to buy the substitution ingredients.
Now let’s get cookin’…
- To make this meal, open all cans and dump everything into a pot along with the water. I don’t drain anything with the exception of those times I use black beans. I always drain and rinse black beans before adding them to a recipe because the liquid in the can imparts an overwhelming black bean taste to the dish if you don’t.
- Bring this just to a boil over medium high heat and then reduce heat and let it simmer for a few minutes.
- In about fifteen minutes, you can have supper 🙂
This is one of six Bags to Dishes recipes that I’ve shared with you.
If you make up four of each of those, then you could have 3 days each week for the next month that you don’t have to worry about what’s for supper!
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef frozen, dehydrated, or substitute 1 can black beans that have been rinsed
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 2 cans kidney beans
- 1 can corn
- 15 ounce can Ro-Tel
- 15 ounce can Tomato Sauce
- 3 Tablespoons Taco Seasoning Mix or 1 packet
- 3 Tablespoons Ranch Dressing Mix or 1 packet
- 1 +1/2 cups water
Instructions
To assemble: Measure out all spices and seasonings and place in small zipper seal bag. Place bag in 2 gallon zipper seal bag along with all other ingredients, except water. Include printed copy of this recipe.
To make:
- Open all cans but do not drain, with the exception of black beans, if using. Black beans should be drained and rinsed. Dump all ingredients into a medium pot. Stir.
- Bring just to a boil over medium high heat and then reduce to low and simmer 5-10 minutes.
Serve warm, as is or with toppings of your choice such as cheese, sour cream, tortilla chips, salsa, avocado, etc. (We just usually serve it as it is)
Nutrition
For more bags to dishes recipes see these recipes:
Wild Rice and Chicken Casserole,
“Try not to become a person of success, but rather try to become a person of value.”
~Albert Einstein
I have been waiting for this very recipe since hearing about this and so much more at the Becoming 2014 conference.
Have enough ingredients in pantry right now to make up 2 bags, using a can of chicken inone, Thank you!
Searching for a dehydrator, can’t wait to start experimenting using your tips…
Hi Christy,
I have been wanting to ask you this question since I saw your video on dehydrating ground beef…
Have you ever dehydrated cooked chicken in small pieces (like small cubes)?
Could it be done? Have you experimented with other meats?
In our house we have been on the fence trying to decide to get set up for pressure canning or dehydrating.
Your video has made my husband and I think twice about canning.
So now I am wondering what the limits of dehydrating are… 🙂
Thank you Christy and GOD BLESS~
I agree with the first comment-er, it make a ton! This is in regular rotation during the fall/winter months at our house. I can probably get 3 extra freezer packages out of the one recipe, which is great when I don’t want to cook. Thanks for all of your wonderful posts and recipes Christy! and, I love the Bags to Dishes, will be making some up this weekend! Have a great day!
Regards,
Christy
Hi Christy!
I always add a HUGE velveeta cheese to my taco soup! It take a lil extra time for all of it to melt but it’s worth it !!! I wash my hands and tear the velveeta up in chunks first! DELICIOUS!
Thank you for sharing your tip Laura, will have to try it sometime!
You could also use the instant black beans from Thrive that have already been pre soaked before they are freeze dried. I love using them as you just add a bit more water to the recipe and throw them in the pot! In fact, you could use the freeze dried tomatoes and corn to save room in your bag, just remember to add extra water or some stock to the pot for rehydrating these items. I also love the freeze dried ground beef from Thrive! Great recipes Christy! Cannot wait for more of them. I made the enchilada bake recipe the other night and all loved it. The only changes I made were to use whole wheat tortillas and green enchilada sauce as that is what I had on hand. Everyone loved it!
I made a batch of this Monday night and have been eating on it all week. So good and so easy!
You could also use the canned chicken instead of the dehydrated beef in this soup. We alternate between chicken and ground beef all the time.
These bag recipes are pretty neat.
This may be a dumb question, but if using regular ground beef, do I brown first and then assemble the soup to cook?
Yes, and drain ! I add diced onions while frying the hamburger meat, too!
Not to mention that taco soup usually makes a LOT and it freezes extremely well! More suppers where I don’t have to cook! I’ve also served it with cornbread.