Busy weeknights call for simple, flavorful meals, and this 5-Ingredient Crockpot Taco Soup delivers! With minimal prep and just a handful of ingredients, you’ll have a hearty, comforting soup packed with bold taco flavors. Lean ground beef, diced tomatoes with chilis, and creamy, melty goodness come together in a soup that’s perfect for weeknight dinners. Top it with shredded cheese and cilantro for an extra layer of deliciousness, and let your slow cooker do the work while you enjoy a stress-free meal!

Imagine walking through the door after a long day of school, work, extra-curricular activities, and anything else that came your way to the irresistible aroma of a hearty dinner. This is the best taco soup recipe for busy nights as it offers a delicious, no-fuss meal that everyone will love.
If you like quick and simple meals like this one then you’ll want to check out our Easy Crockpot Chicken Enchiladas Casserole, packed with flavor and Stove Top Chicken Thighs, which are ready to serve in under 30 minutes.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Incredibly Easy to Make: With only five ingredients, it is the ultimate weeknight dinner for busy families or individuals seeking a simple yet homemade dinner with flavor.
- Customizable: Our easy crockpot soup recipe can easily be adapted to personalize the toppings if desired. From cheese and sour cream to avocado and tortilla chips, there are many options to make this a fun meal to serve.
- Perfect for Busy Schedules: Easily brown the ground meat before tossing everything into the slow cooker before you start the day. Come home to a delicious meal that is ready to enjoy.
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef ✅
- 1 packet gluten free taco seasoning
- 3 cups chicken broth ✅
- 2 cans diced tomatoes with chilis and onions ✅
- 4 ounces cream cheese ✅
- shredded Mexican cheese ✅ optional for topping
- cilantro optional for topping
Gluten-Free Guide: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten.
How To Make 5 Ingredient Taco Soup
Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook until cooked through. Make sure to break up any large chunks of beef with a spatula for even cooking. Drain any excess fat if necessary.
Next, transfer the browned beef to the slow cooker and add the taco seasoning, chicken broth, and diced tomatoes. Stir then cover the crockpot with its lid.
Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 2-4 hours. Once cooking time is up, add the cream cheese. Breaking it into smaller pieces will help it to melt faster. Cover and let melt for 10-15 minutes until fully softened. Stir until the cream cheese is blended in.
Ladle the hot taco soup into bowls and serve topped with your favorite taco toppings such as shredded cheese and cilantro. For more popular options, keep scrolling!
Best Taco Soup Toppings
The fact that everyone in the family can customize their bowl to suit their taste is one of the best features of this homemade soup. For options beyond shredded cheese and cilantro, consider:
- Sour cream or Greek yogurt
- Avocado or guacamole
- Tortilla chips or crushed corn chips
- Jalapenos or red pepper flakes
- Red or green onions
- Lime juice
- Pico de Gallo or salsa
- Corn kernels
- Black olives
- Black or pinto beans
Recipe Notes and Variations
- Swap the ground beef with ground chicken, turkey or pork for a leaner option.
- Use half ground beef and half ground sausage to elevate the flavor.
- Opt for a low sodium chicken broth to reduce the sodium content of the soup.
- Make vegetarian by swapping the ground beef with lentils, beans or another plant-based meat alternative.
- Serve with a slice of Artisan Bread, Gluten Free Corn Bread Muffins or Gluten Free Dinner Rolls. You could also serve over jasmine rice, basmati rice, brown rice, quinoa or cauliflower rice to make it a heartier meal.
- Add chili powder or jalapenos for a spicy kick.
- Our slow cooker taco soup recipe is gluten-free; however, always verify store-bought ingredients before using. It is especially important to check the taco seasoning as many brands use gluten-containing ingredients.
Kids In The Kitchen
Cooking tips and suggestions for kids making this recipe.
- “Cooking until browned” means to cook meat until there is no pink. Breaking into small chunks, letting simmer, stirring then repeating until fully cooked is the best method for browning meat.
- Kids can help tear open the packets of taco seasoning or learn how to make a homemade seasoning in under 5 minutes. Create an activity for your kids while also saving money with our Gluten Free Taco Seasoning step-by-step recipe.
- While the soup cooks, explain to your kids why adding cream cheese to the soup will help to thicken the consistency (the high fat content and creamy consistency).
Frequently Asked Questions
The cream cheese will thicken the soup so adding a bit more than in the original recipe can give it a thicker texture. Adding in shredded cheese will also do the trick. Another great option would be to blend a portion of the soup with 1/2 cup of beans then stir all together.
With the addition of cream cheese, this taco soup recipe is not dairy-free. However, the cream cheese can be swapped with a dairy-free cream cheese product. For more dairy free recipes, check out our Dairy Free Chicken Pot Pie, Dairy Free Sugar Cookies Recipe, Dairy Free Ranch Dressing Recipe and Dairy Free Rice Pudding.
Yes! This quick and easy taco soup can be made on the stovetop if you have the time to stir as it simmers. Brown the beef first then add the remaining ingredients. We recommend letting the soup simmer for at least 15 minutes for the flavors to develop before adding the cream cheese.
Storage Instructions
Not only is this crockpot soup great for busy nights but it is a wonderful meal to prep in advance. Making a full batch allows you to serve for dinner then store the leftovers either in the fridge or freezer.
Fridge: For the fridge, store in a container once completely cooled for up to 3 days. Kids can pack in a thermos for school, parents can enjoy as a work from home lunch, or it can be reheated for dinner.
Freezer: For a freezer meal, portion into shallow containers to easily reheat individual servings or toss into a large container for a bulk portion. A freezer friendly tip for soup is pouring it into a Ziploc bag (once cooled) then storing flat in the freezer. This will save you space.
Reheating Instructions
From the fridge, reheat in a microwave safe bowl in 30-second increments. You can also toss in a pot over medium heat until hot. Thaw frozen soup in the fridge overnight or pour into a pot over medium heat to quickly bring up to temperature.
More Easy Soup Recipes with Few Ingredients
- Green Chili Chicken Soup
- Broccoli Cauliflower Cheese Soup
- Chicken Sausage Soup
- 3-Ingredient Corn Soup Recipe
- Low Sodium Ramen Noodles
CKC Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.
The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.
5 Ingredient Crockpot Taco Soup
Equipment
- can opener
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef ✅
- 1 packet gluten free taco seasoning
- 3 cups chicken broth ✅
- 2 cans diced tomatoes with chilis and onions ✅
- 4 ounces cream cheese ✅
- shredded Mexican cheese ✅ optional for topping
- cilantro optional for topping
Instructions
- ⭐️Brown the beef. Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook until cooked through.1 pound lean ground beef
- Add the ingredients to the slow cooker. Add the browned beef, taco seasoning, chicken broth, and diced tomatoes to the slow cooker. Stir then cover.1 packet gluten free taco seasoning, 3 cups chicken broth, 2 cans diced tomatoes with chilis and onions
- Cook. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 2-4 hours. Once cooking time is up add the cream cheese. Cover and let melt for 10-15 minutes. Stir until the cream cheese is blended in.4 ounces cream cheese
- Serve. Serve topped with your favorite taco toppings such as shredded cheese and cilantro.shredded Mexican cheese, cilantro
Video
Notes
Toppings
- Sour cream or Greek yogurt
- Avocado or guacamole
- Tortilla chips or crushed corn chips
- Jalapenos or red pepper flakes
- Red or green onions
- Lime juice
- Pico de Gallo or salsa
- Corn kernels
- Black olives
- Black or pinto beans
Nutrition
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