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Slow Cooker Taco Soup blends ground beef, taco seasoning, ranch seasoning, salsa, pinto beans, black olives, and fire-roasted corn, simmering into a rich and flavorful Tex-Mex classic with a deliciously upgraded twist!
This is our favorite soup for feeding the entire family for weeknight dinners, game days, or potlucks! We also make Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup and Slow Cooker Tomato Soup often!

Taco soup is a classic recipe, but you must try this one! The mixture of the ranch seasoning with the taco seasoning can’t be beaten! It’s a meal that is a crowd pleaser and great topped with cheese and sour cream. Another spicy soup we love to make is Nacho Soup, or Slow Cooker Creamy Taco Soup.
The Ingredients
Canned goods and fresh ingredients come together for this perfect soup. Find the full recipe in the recipe card below the images.
- Ground Beef: any type will do; however, it’s best to use ground sirloin or ground round beef if you want less fat content.
- Seasonings: mild taco seasoning and ranch seasoning combine to create a classic Tex-Mex flavor customary to most taco-based meals.
- Salsa: We like to use refrigerated style salsa from the store. The jarred variety tastes too vinegary.
- Fire Roasted Canned Corn: adds a fire-roasted flavor to the soup and makes it unique from other recipes. If you have frozen corn on hand, you can use 2 cups.
- Beans: a must-have in taco soup, and it adds an additional filler and flavor. We use canned pinto beans in this taco soup recipe.
- Black Olives: can be left whole (as pictured) or sliced. We LOVE the black olives in our taco soup. We accidentally bought whole olives once and haven’t looked back. SO GOOD!
Variations
- In addition to the corn, you can add diced tomatoes, green chiles, onions, and jalapenos.
- The meat can easily be changed out for ground chicken or ground turkey. The overall flavors of the soup will not be affected much, if at all.
- If you don’t like pinto beans, change them for black beans or kidney beans.
- To get a spicier soup, choose hot taco seasoning mix, add a can of hot green chiles, and/or add some hot sauce like Cholula.
How to Make Slow Cooker Taco Soup
You can make this in four easy steps with my guide.

Step One – Brown and crumble the ground beef in a skillet on the stovetop over medium heat. Drain any excess grease before adding it to the crockpot.
Step Two – Add all ingredients into the slow cooker. Be sure to drain the corn, beans, and olives before adding.
Step Three – Pour water into the slow cooker.
Step Four – Stir everything until well combined and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours.
My Serving Suggestions
Toppings: Add classic toppings such as tortilla strips, shredded cheese, a dollop of sour cream, pico de gallo, sliced green onions, and fresh cilantro. Crunchy topping options are fritos, tortilla chips or saltine crackers.
Rice: To make this serve more people, ladle over white rice.
Other Sides: Serve with slow cooker cornbread or charred flour tortillas.
Slow Cooker Taco Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb. lean ground beef
- 30 oz. pinto beans , (two 15-oz. cans) drained and rinsed
- 14 oz. salsa, I use a refrigerated salsa such as Baja Fresh Refrigerated Style Salsa (any size salsa works, 14-16 oz.)
- 15 oz. can fire roasted corn, drained (or regular corn) Can use 2 cups frozen corn.
- 1 oz. Ranch dressing seasoning mix
- 1.25 oz. mild taco seasoning
- 6 oz. can whole black olives, drained (or a 3.8 oz. can sliced olives)
- 3 cups water
Instructions
- Cook and crumble the ground beef on a skillet on the stove top. Drain the grease if any, add the ground beef to the slow cooker.
- Add the pinto beans, salsa, corn, olives, ranch seasoning mix, taco seasoning and water to the slow cooker with the beef. Stir.
- Cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours or LOW for 6-8 hours.
- Serve with desired topping and enjoy!
Sarah’s Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
More Mexican-Style Recipes:
Mexican Chicken Soup and Taco Stuffed Peppers are hearty, flavorful meals packed with classic taco-night ingredients.
Slow Cooker Chile Verde and Slow Cooker Taco Meat are perfect for building burritos, bowls, or tacos.
For party-style dishes, try 7 Can Soup, Taco Dip, or Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas—they’re easy to prep and always a hit.
While I have used many on-line recipes..and re-used most of them..I have never written a comment. I made this soup last night and it was not only easy, IT WAS DELICIOUS!! I had to write and recommend it and say thank you for sharing it. I made it as directed then added crumbled corn chips and cheese. Will be adding this to my rotation!!!
Thank you! This truly is a family favorite!
Allergic to MSG!!!
Can’t use ranch dsg.
I have made this recipe twice. First time was following the directions as stated, and it was great. Second time I made it I used chicken stock instead of water for the extra flavor and added 1 1/2 cups rice. This turns it from a soup to a flavorful burrito filling which I like.
I switch beef for chicken (I pulled the chicken with forks once it was cooked). It was delicious. However, I followed the recipe for the quantity of salsa, taco spices and ranch seasoning and it was way too spicy (for me). So next time, I will reduce by half.
This looks delicious, but a bit thin for my tastes… what would you recommend for thickening it up? (Or can I just cut how much water is added?)