Fall is OFFICIALLY here! That means so many different things. For our farm family, it brings harvest time and lots of fall field work. We’ve already finished chopping our corn. Combining comes next, and then hauling manure and plowing the fields all need to happen before the snow flies.
But the new season also brings pumpkin patches, pumpkin spice (here’s a great pumpkin squash recipe!), matching family Halloween costumes, and SOUP! Our middle son has been begging me to make soup all summer. I kept putting him off because the weather was just too beautiful this year. Who wants a steaming bowl of soup when it’s hot outside? (Not me!) But the time has finally come. We’re officially back to making soup for lunch at least once a week.
Soup Season Is Here!
I have a few different soup recipes in my rotation that are always big hits with our family. They love my homemade chicken noodle dumpling soup, stuffed green pepper soup, and chicken wild rice soup. I also have a SUPER easy 8-can dump soup recipe that’s perfect when I’m short on time. But today, I’m sharing my personal favorite: Taco Soup!
I actually got this recipe from a church friend about 15 years ago. She brought it to a women’s Bible study, and it was a HUGE hit. I asked for the recipe, and have been making it ever since. The number of times I’ve made, (and shared), this recipe over the years would be impossible to count. Once people try it, they love it!
One of the things I appreciate most is just how simple it is. I’ve made a few tweaks over the years. And at this point, I do a lot more “eye measuring” than pulling out actual measuring cups. But thankfully, it’s also a pretty forgiving recipe and hard to mess up.
My Great Jones Cookware Makes Soup Even Better
When I’m making soup or cooking for our whole family, I need cookware that can handle a LOT of food. Two of my favorites are Great Jones The Dutchess and Great Jones Big Deal. Both give me plenty of room for big family-sized recipes, which is especially helpful with soup. There’s nothing worse than realizing halfway through cooking that I chose a pot that’s too small! (Please tell me that I’m not the only one who has done this!?) But now, onto the recipe.
Easy Taco Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 6 cups water
- 4 beef bouillon cubes
- 2 cups medium salsa
- 3/4 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 cup Acini di Pepe, uncooked
- Sour cream, for serving
- Shredded cheese, for serving
- Additional taco-style toppings of your choice, such as black olives, freshly diced peppers, diced tomatoes, tortilla chips, avocado, green onions, or cilantro
Instructions
- Season the ground beef to your preference, then brown it together with the diced onion in a large pot or Dutch oven. Once the beef is fully cooked, drain any excess grease if needed.
- Add the water, beef bouillon cubes, salsa, chili powder, and cumin. Stir everything together, turn the burner to medium, and cover the pot. Continue heating until the soup comes to a boil, stirring periodically.
- Once boiling, add the uncooked pasta. Leave the pot uncovered and cook at a medium boil for approximately 12 minutes, or until the pasta is cooked to your liking. Be sure to stir frequently, especially once you add the pasta, to keep it from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- Ladle the soup into bowls and let everyone customize their own with shredded cheese, sour cream, crushed tortilla chips, or whatever taco toppings they love.
- Then dig in and enjoy!
Make It Your Own
A big reason this taco soup has stayed in my recipe rotation for so many years is because it’s incredibly easy to customize. Want it spicier? Use hot salsa or toss in some jalapeños. Feeding kids (or adults) who prefer things mild? Stick with mild salsa like I do. (The green lid jar from Aldi is my go-go.) You could add black beans or corn to bulk it up, sprinkle fresh avocado or cilantro over the top, and serve it alongside warm cornbread or even garlic bread. My favorite topping for this soup is the cheese. I LOVE how melts and incorporates into the soup. My kids really enjoy the sour cream and how it turns this into a creamy soup.
More About Great Jones
I LOVE using my Great Jones cookware whenever I’m cooking for my family. Beyond being functional for the amount of cooking I do, I love how the pieces look good, too. I can take a pot straight from the stovetop to the table and feel good about serving from it; even when we have company over.
Great Jones offers cookware, bakeware, and kitchen tools with an emphasis on combining function with colorful, distinctive designs. And they totally nail it! The Dutchess is their enameled cast-iron Dutch oven, while Big Deal is a roomy stainless-steel stockpot. Both styles make sense for soups, pasta, stews, and other big-batch family meals. They are both go-to choices I reach for often.
Final Thoughts
There’s just something about the first chilly days of fall that makes a big pot of homemade soup taste even better. And after waiting all summer, my son is extremely happy that soup season has finally returned! After making this taco soup for roughly 15 years, I think it’s safe to say this recipe has earned its permanent spot in our family’s fall and winter meal rotation. We highly suggest you consider adding it to yours too! Plus, be sure to read my full Great Jones review to learn even more about their cookware too.
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