Recipes

[Black Pony]

Try this for a taco soup variation....instead of 2 pounds of ground beef I use 1 pound of ground beef and I pound of sliced smoked sausages.  I brown the beef, onions and smoked sausages together in a skillet and drain and then I build my soup from there.

You might give it a try.  I have switched to this and haven't gone back!

[depglass]

I just use my chili recipe and add an envelope of taco seasoning. 

[coconut1818]

What is the consensus on the beans, drain or not?  Thanks!

[Black Pony]

I drain the beans.  If I use black beans, drain and rinse.

[novamc1]

I've rarely seen a recipe that  explicitly calls for draining canned beans.   The brands I buy usually have very little loose liquid, anyway. 

In fact, Goya pinto beans and whatever (don't recall) brand of black beans I used last week for taco soup were packed fairly solidly in the cans.

I can understand why some people might rinse certain beans for some recipes, though.

[doxie1]

I drain beans to try to reduce the sodium.

doxie

[coconut1818]

I think the next time I make it I will try adding a drained can of white hominy.  Many years ago my Mom & I were in Albuquerque and I had a soup with hominy in it and it was the best soup.  Had pork, hominy, broth, onions and green chilies.  

[jannabelle1]

I guess I've lived in a box all these years - I've never made taco soup until I saw this thread. I had most of the ingredients on hand and made it today - DH and I both thought it was great! Thanks for posting this thread and all of the comments. I only had kidney beans and Northern beans and they tasted fine, but I think I'll use pinto beans and black beans next time. I don't know what it is about the combination of  taco seasoning and Ranch dressing seasoning, but it really gives this soup a great flavor. I used a can of Rotel and a can of plain diced tomatoes as well as the canned corn. It's really a great tasting soup and easy to prepare in the slow cooker. Hubby said "please make this soup again"....it's nice to find something new to make that's easy and tastes so good.

I used: 1 lb. ground beef, browned and drained with chopped onion; 1 can each of Rotel and diced tomatoes; 1 can each of drained northern and kidney beans; 1 packet each of Ranch seasoning and Taco seasoning; 1 small can of sliced black olives; 1 small can of corn, drained; about 2 cups water. Cooked on high 1 hour in slow cooker and 3 hours on low. Delicious!

[HerRoyaLioness]

@jannabelle1- that is pretty much how I made mine, but I didn't even put any onions in when browning the hamburger (next time I will do that) and it still turned out really good, it is a tasty soup!

I think the beans may be the only variable and that is personal taste.

It goes together so fast - no endless chopping of celery, carrots, etc. and tastes so good.  I'm so glad you came out of your box, lol!!  It's nice to find a good simple recipe that you know you'll be making again.

[ID2]

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@doxie1 wrote:

I drain beans to try to reduce the sodium.

doxie 

I only use salt-free canned beans and never drain them when making this soup. I got the recipe here years ago, tweaking it a bit to better suit my dietary needs, and still continue to love it every time I make it.