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30-Minute Creamy Taco Soup

30-minute creamy taco soup made in one pot with browned ground beef, beans, and Rotel, simmered until thick and flavorful. Cream cheese and heavy cream create an orange, velvety broth, finished with melty cheddar and crunchy tortilla chips.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Calories: 540

Ingredients
  

Soup base
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 onion
  • 3 garlic
  • 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained
  • 1 can (15 oz) corn, drained
  • 1 can (10 oz) Rotel tomatoes
  • 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
  • 1 packet (1 oz) taco seasoning
  • 1 packet (1 oz) ranch dressing mix
  • 3 cup beef broth
  • 8 oz cream cheese, cubed
  • 0.5 cup heavy cream
Toppings
  • shredded cheddar
  • sour cream
  • tortilla chips
  • jalapeños
  • cilantro

Equipment

  • 1 Dutch oven

Method
 

Brown the beef
  1. Brown the ground beef in a large pot over medium-high heat, then drain the fat. Keep it moving until no pink remains.
Sauté aromatics
  1. Sauté the onion for 3 minutes, until softened. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute, stirring until fragrant.
Build the soup
  1. Add the beans, corn, Rotel tomatoes, diced tomatoes, taco seasoning, ranch dressing mix, and beef broth to the pot. Bring everything to a boil, bubbling across the surface.
Simmer and cream it
  1. Simmer for 10 minutes, then reduce heat to low. The mixture should look slightly thickened.
  2. Add the cream cheese and stir until completely melted. Scrape the bottom and sides so it turns glossy and smooth.
  3. Stir in the heavy cream. Simmer for 3-4 minutes until heated through and steaming.
Serve
  1. Ladle the soup into bowls and top with shredded cheddar, sour cream, and crushed tortilla chips. Add jalapeños and cilantro for brightness.

Notes

Pro tip: cube the cream cheese so it melts faster and stays silky—then stir until no lumps remain. Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 3 days in a sealed container; reheat gently until steaming. Freezing: yes, but the creamy texture may loosen slightly when thawed and reheated. For a lighter option, swap half-and-half or evaporated milk for heavy cream (the soup will be slightly less rich).