Taco Soup Recipe

My mom has fibromyalgia. Last weekend she and my stepfather came to visit for the first time in a couple of years. During their visit, I wanted to provide gluten-free meals to show her it can be done, and tastily. Knowing we'd be making applesauce during Saturday, I opted for taco soup for dinner as an easy slow cooker meal.

The taco soup was a huge hit (both with our children and with our company). This recipe comes from my friend, though not on her blog. She served this to our family when we were guests for dinner. I quickly asked for the recipe when all of us enjoyed it. I loved that the beans' flavor is disguised in it. Taco soup is the only recipe I make with beans. I should also mention Dorie calls this Santa Fe soup, but I need to keep it simple.

Taco Soup

by ThisSimpleHome.com

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 3-8+ hours

Keywords: slow-cooker gluten-free

Ingredients (8+ servings)

1 lb. cheddar cheese, shredded
1 lb. ground meat, browned, drained, and rinsed
1 can corn, 15 oz. size, undrained (or frozen corn, 12-16 oz size)
1 can kidney beans, 15 oz. size, drained and rinsed
1 or 2 cans diced tomatoes, plain, 14.5 oz size, undrained
2 T. dry taco seasoning or packet

Instructions

1. Prepare a large slow cooker with cooking spray or oil.

2. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker. Cover.

3. Cook on high for 3 hours or low for a longer amount of time (as schedule allows. If cooking for longer than 3 hours, stir occasionally.

4. Serve with tortilla chips to scoop and eat the taco soup.

Please Note:
Stove-top. This can be prepared on the stove-top. I usually cook it for 1-3 hours on the stove over low heat.

Double the recipe. Now when I double the recipe I use 2 pounds of beef, 2 cans of beans, 2 cans of diced tomatoes, but only one can of corn.

Cheese. I have prepared taco soup with Velveeta and cheddar. Velveeta likely melts better, but I didn't notice a difference with cheddar. I prefer cheddar because it's real cheese, and I keep it on hand.

Also cheese. I now let each person sprinkle in the amount of cheese they prefer instead of adding it to the slow cooker. It's also a lot easier to clean the crock!
Corn. I have prepared this with both the frozen and canned corn.
Tomatoes. My friend's recipe calls for two cans of tomatoes.

Beans. If you know someone who has a texture issue with beans, use an immersion blender.
Tortilla chips. Consider having two bags of tortilla chips on hand for this recipe.

I hope you'll give taco soup a try. It's delicious and fun to eat...and quite healthy! We have also served it with cornbread and, most recently, johnny-cakes (from the my new blog Little House Companion) though the tortilla chips are enough.

~ Annette
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