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Kid-Approved Taco Soup Easy Weeknight Dinner

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This quick and easy taco soup with ranch seasoning is a family-friendly weeknight dinner that comes together in about 30 minutes. It’s creamy, mild, and perfect for picky eaters, with simple ingredients and a secret twist that makes it irresistible.

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) ranch dressing mix (I prefer Hidden Valley for consistent flavor)
  • 1 packet (1 ounce) taco seasoning (mild or original, not hot—we’re keeping it kid-friendly)
  • 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (15 ounces) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (15 ounces) corn, drained (or 1 cup frozen corn, no need to thaw)
  • 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes with green chiles (Rotel is my go-to)
  • 1 can (14.5 ounces) tomato sauce
  • 3 cups beef broth (low-sodium preferred, so you can control the salt)
  • Tortilla chips (for scooping and crumbling on top)
  • Shredded cheddar cheese (adds richness and a little salt)
  • Sour cream (a dollop cools and creamifies each bite)
  • Fresh cilantro, chopped (for a pop of color and freshness)
  • Diced avocado (if avocados are on sale—they take it over the top)
  • Lime wedges (a squeeze brightens everything)

Instructions

  1. Brown the beef. Place your pot over medium-high heat and add the ground beef. Break it apart with your wooden spoon as it cooks. You want small, even crumbles—not big chunks. This takes about 5-7 minutes. Once it’s no longer pink, use a slotted spoon to transfer the beef to a plate, leaving about 1 tablespoon of drippings in the pot. If your beef released a lot of fat, drain most of it off, but leave a little for flavor.
  2. Sauté the aromatics. Reduce the heat to medium and add the diced onion to the pot. Cook it in the beef drippings for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it softens and turns translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds—just until fragrant. Don’t let the garlic burn, or it’ll turn bitter.
  3. Add the seasonings. Sprinkle the ranch dressing mix and taco seasoning over the onions and garlic. Stir constantly for about 30 seconds. This toasts the spices and wakes up their flavors. You’ll smell it immediately—that warm, savory aroma that tells you you’re on the right track.
  4. Return the beef and add liquids. Put the cooked ground beef back in the pot. Pour in the beef broth, tomato sauce, and diced tomatoes with green chiles. Stir everything together, scraping the bottom of the pot to release any browned bits—that’s flavor you don’t want to lose.
  5. Add the beans and corn. Dump in the drained black beans, kidney beans, and corn. Stir gently to combine. Don’t worry if the pot looks full—the beans and corn will settle as the soup simmers.
  6. Bring to a boil, then simmer. Turn the heat to high and bring the soup to a gentle boil. This usually takes about 5 minutes. Once it’s bubbling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent anything from sticking to the bottom.
  7. Taste and adjust. After simmering, give the soup a taste. Does it need salt? Probably not—between the seasoning packets and the canned goods, there’s plenty of sodium. But if it tastes flat, add a pinch of salt or a squeeze of lime juice. Sometimes I add another sprinkle of taco seasoning if I want more punch.
  8. Serve with toppings. Ladle the soup into bowls and let everyone customize their own. Tortilla chips for scooping, shredded cheese, sour cream, cilantro—the works. My kids love crushing chips into their soup until it’s practically a dip.

Notes

This soup tastes even better the next day as flavors meld. For a thicker soup, mash some beans against the pot. Use low-sodium broth to control salt. The ranch seasoning packet should be the salad dressing mix, not the dip mix. For a vegetarian version, skip the beef and add an extra can of beans.

Nutrition

Keywords: taco soup, easy weeknight dinner, kid-friendly, ground beef, ranch seasoning, one-pot meal, quick dinner, family dinner

Find it online: https://crispcraving.com/kid-approved-taco-soup-easy-weeknight-dinner/