Taco stew is a quick and easy supper that you can make in 30 minutes. It’s a hearty soup that contains beef, beans and corn seasoned with taco seasoning.
It’s also super flexible and can be made to fit your family’s preferences! You can easily change it up by substituting ingredients or adding your favorite taco toppings!
Ingredients
Taco stew is a hearty meal that can be made in a single pot. It’s made with ground beef, tomatoes, corn and beans for a flavorful, filling soup that everyone will love!
You’ll need some basic ingredients for this recipe including ground beef, onions, bell peppers and canned tomatoes. You can also add a few spices to give this recipe some extra flavor such as garlic powder or chili powder.
To start this recipe, brown the meat with a little onion over medium-heat in a large soup pot or Dutch oven. Drain any excess fat and add the rest of the ingredients to the pot.
The stew is very easy to make and will be ready in less than an hour. It can be served immediately or stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
This taco stew is a simple one-pot meal that is perfect for the weeknight dinner table! You can serve it with a slice of bread or tortilla chips and top it with your favorite taco toppings.
You can add a variety of taco toppings to this recipe including sour cream, shredded cheese, salsa, cornbread croutons, sliced avocado and cilantro. You can also set out a tray of toppings so that each person can choose what they want to add to their bowl of soup!
Step 1: Brown Meat
Browning meat is an important step in many recipes. It creates a rich crust on the meat, which helps it to retain its shape as it is slowly cooked. It also helps the meat to absorb a lot of flavor.
Depending on your personal preferences, you may want to brown the meat before stewing it. However, this step is not necessary for every recipe.
After the meat is browned, drain off any excess grease. This will help the taco meat to cook evenly and keep its delicious color.
If you prefer, you can add a tablespoon of cornmeal or masa harina to the meat during cooking for even more texture and flavor.
You can also use a potato masher to break up the meat, which is an excellent way to get the pieces nice and fine!
The next step is to mix together the seasoning. This mixture consists of ground cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, chili powder, and kosher salt and pepper.
Once the taco seasoning is added to the meat, you can simmer it for 10 to 15 minutes. Then, you can serve the taco stew immediately or store it in the freezer for later use.
Step 2: Saute Onions
Sauteing onions in oil until they are tender is a great way to bring out their natural sweetness. It also helps to reduce the harsh onion flavor.
To saute the onions, heat a wide, thick-bottomed pan over medium high heat. Coat the bottom of the pan with olive oil or a combination of oil and butter, if using (about 1 teaspoon per onion).
Add the onion slices to the pan and stir to coat them in the oil. Spread them out evenly over the pan and cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are tender.
Once the onions are tender, remove from the pan. If you want the onions to be more caramelized, you can continue to cook them over low heat for a few minutes until the edges just begin to brown.
If you are not using the recipe right away, you can keep the cooked onions in a tightly covered container for up to a week or freeze them for up to 3 months. It’s a great way to have them on hand for many different recipes.
Once the onions are cooked, add the meat back to the pot. Add the spices and simmer, covered, 15 to 20 minutes.
Step 3: Add Beans
The beans are one of the main ingredients in this recipe, and you’ll need to add them when you start cooking the meat. You can either use canned beans, or make your own.
To prepare the beans, first drain the juices and rinse them thoroughly. Rinsing the beans will reduce the amount of salt they contain.
You can also try using different types of beans, such as pinto or black beans instead of kidney beans. However, be sure to rinse them well to prevent them from overcooking.
Once you’ve added the beans, all you need to do is stir in some of your favorite spices. You can add cumin, chili powder or oregano to enhance the flavor of this taco soup. You can also sprinkle the soup with a little bit of cilantro or serve it with tortilla chips and sour cream.
Step 4: Add Tomatoes
Tomatoes are the backbone of this taco stew, providing a rich, hearty base to all the other ingredients. This recipe uses fire-roasted tomatoes, but you can also use regular diced tomatoes.
Add the ground beef and onions to a large pot over medium-high heat. Cook, breaking the meat up as you go, until it is no longer pink and the onion is softened, about 6 to 8 minutes.
Next, add the beans and corn to the mixture, along with the tomato sauce, green chilies, and taco seasoning. Stir to combine.
Continue to simmer until the flavors blend. This can take up to 30 minutes.
Then, transfer the mixture to a slow cooker and cook on low for about six hours or high for about three. This makes for an easy, delicious meal that’s perfect for a busy weeknight.
You can serve this soup with shredded cheese, sour cream, tortilla chips, or other toppings of your choice. It’s a great way to make your favorite taco dishes in a quick, healthy, and delicious soup format!
Step 5: Add Garlic
If you want to make this recipe even more flavorful, you need to add fresh garlic! It does not take long to cook, but it will bring out the full flavors of the spices in the taco seasoning mix.
For an authentic Mexican taco flavor, you need to use a mix of chili powder, onion powder, dried oregano, paprika, cumin, salt and sugar. You can also buy a store-bought mix that has these ingredients or even create your own from scratch!
If you are using a store-bought mix, be sure to read the ingredient list closely. They may contain ingredients like sugar, sodium, and wheat flour.
Step 6: Add Taco Seasoning
Taco seasoning is a pantry staple that gives dishes a rich, spicy flavor. It can be used as a dry brine for meats, a seasoning for casseroles, or even a flavor booster for chili.
Most commercial brands contain salt, warming spices (such as paprika, oregano, and chili), onion powder, and garlic powder. This homemade taco seasoning mix is pared-down, easy to make and gives a lot of flavor without all the extra ingredients found in store-bought taco seasoning.
Aside from making tacos, this recipe works well as a base for other Mexican-inspired meals such as fajitas or enchiladas. It’s a great one-pot meal that comes together quite quickly.
You can easily make this soup ahead of time, so it’s perfect for a busy weeknight! Just thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat it, stirring occasionally.
If you like your chili spicy, you can add a bit of hot smoked paprika or chipotle chile powder. If you prefer it mild, leave out the paprika and use less cayenne pepper. You can also increase the amount of seasoned ground beef if you want to add more spice to this recipe.