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    Home » Recipes » Soups & Stews

    Beef Taco Soup Recipe (Keto Friendly)

    Published: Jan 11, 2023 by seekinggoodeats · This post may contain affiliate links

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    Pinterest pin with creamy beef taco soup.

    Creamy Taco Soup (Keto Taco Soup) with ground beef, onions, peppers, taco seasonings, cream, and ooey gooey melted cheese - this will surely be a hit in your house. Make this easy weeknight Mexican-inspired soup recipe in your Instant Pot or on the stovetop. Bonus: it's low carb, keto, and gluten free - with no added sugar.

    A red bowl of creamy taco soup garnished with sour cream, cheese, and green onion.
    Jump to:
    • Keto Taco Soup Recipe Video
    • You will love this Recipe for Taco Soup
    • Beef Taco Soup ingredients
    • Taco Soup Recipe Easy variations
    • How To Make Taco Soup
    • How to serve this Recipe for Taco Soup
    • How to store Beef Taco Soup
    • Taco Soup Recipe top tips
    • Easy Taco Soup Recipe FAQs
    • More Instant Pot Soup Recipes
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Keto Taco Soup Recipe Video

    If you love taco soup recipes, be sure to try this easy 7 Can Taco Soup and Chicken Fajita Soup - both can be made in your Instant Pot or Crockpot!

    You will love this Recipe for Taco Soup

    It's delicious! Watch out, this creamy taco soup is addicting! It has the perfect balance of flavor and texture - and yummy melted cheese. 😊 Your family will eat every last drop.

    Two ways to make it! You will love this recipe for taco soup - it can be made in your Instant Pot or on the stovetop. Both options make for easy cooking - and cleanup! The perfect soup for busy weeknights!

    Make it a low fat or keto taco soup! The recipe can be adapted for either a low fat diet or a keto diet. See the Variations section below.

    Here are the ingredients and equipment you'll need to make this keto taco soup recipe:

    Beef Taco Soup ingredients

    • Ground Beef - 80/20 ground beef was used in this recipe, but leaner ground beef would also be fine.
    • Onion - yellow or white onion.
    • Bell pepper - any color of pepper can be used.
    • Garlic Cloves
    • Beef Broth
    • Diced tomatoes - crushed tomatoes or another kind will work too.
    • Salsa - use any favorite salsa.
    • Taco Seasoning Mix - our homemade mix is easy, but store-bought packets are fine too! Be sure to check the label and make sure it is appropriate to your dietary needs (gluten-free, sugar-free, etc.).
    • Cream Cheese - should be very soft before adding it to the soup. Light cream cheese would also work great if you are wanting to cut the fat content.
    • Heavy Cream - fat-free half and half can be substituted for heavy cream.
    • Cheddar Cheese - use mild, medium, or sharp.

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot - or other pressure cooker brand.

    Taco Soup Recipe Easy variations

    There are so many ways you can adapt or customize this taco soup recipe to your taste and dietary needs:

    • Lower the fat in this soup by using fat-free half-and-half and light cream cheese. Use half the amount of cheese, and use lean ground beef. Cook the ground beef first, drain the fat, and set the meat aside. Cook the vegetables, then add the beef back in and proceed with the recipe! Enjoy!
    • Substitute ground chicken, ground turkey, or lean ground beef.
    • Feel free to add more veggies. Squash, zucchini, or even riced cauliflower taste great. Beans and corn are good too (if you’re not following a keto diet).
    • If you like things spicy - add hot sauce or cayenne pepper to taste.

    How To Make Taco Soup

    Here are the steps for making this creamy beef taco soup recipe (easy Instant pot and stovetop instructions provided:

    1. Saute Vegetables and Beef

    In an Instant Pot or soup pot, saute ground beef, onion, and bell pepper over medium-high heat until the beef is no longer pink.

    sauteeing the ground beef and vegetables in an instant pot.

    2. Add Soup Ingredients

    Add garlic cloves, beef broth, tomatoes, salsa, and taco seasoning. Stir to combine.

    adding beef broth to the instant pot.

    3. Cook

    Creamy taco soup can be cooked in an Instant Pot or on your stovetop.

    Instant Pot

    Set pot to high pressure - 2 minutes. Once the cooking cycle is complete, allow pressure to release naturally.

    Stovetop

    Bring to a simmer, cover, and reduce heat to low. Continue to simmer for 30 minutes.

    4. Add Dairy Ingredients

    Add very soft cream cheese, heavy cream, and cheddar cheese to the pot. Stir until the cheeses are melted, and the soup is blended.

    Adjust seasoning and serve. Enjoy!

    Adding cream and cheese to the pot.

    How to serve this Recipe for Taco Soup

    This creamy taco soup is really a meal in one, but here are a couple of ideas of what you can serve as a side dish:

    Garnish with your favorite taco toppings such as sour cream, salsa, cheddar cheese, green onion, olives, avocado, and fresh cilantro.

    If you’ve got carb lovers in your house, this soup is great topped with crumbled tortilla chips or corn chips.

    Simple Meal idea! Serve with a fresh green salad drizzle with Avocado Dressing, or try our layered salad.

    A cheese quesadilla is the perfect thing to serve for your non-low carb followers. While cheese crisps would work for low carb and keto followers.

    How to store Beef Taco Soup

    Refrigerate: Let the soup cool completely, then transfer it to an air-tight container. Refrigerate for up to 3 days.

    A note on freezing: typically, you should not freeze soups that contain dairy because the fats from the cream will often separate and give the soup a fine, slightly curdled look. That separation of the fats does not affect the taste, however. I have frozen this soup before and got a very slight separation. Before reheating, I refreshed it with a little more cream and some freshly grated cheese, and it was still delicious!

    Taco Soup Recipe top tips

    • Make-ahead tip: Follow the recipe instructions all the way through, let it cool, then store it in an airtight container in your refrigerator. Just reheat when you’re ready for lunch or dinner. The flavor gets even better with time!
    • Use our Copycat Taco Seasoning Mix for the best taste. It's a lot healthier than store-bought packets.
    • Try and use freshly grated cheese! Pre-grated cheese in packages is coated with cellulose (a wood pulp) that absorbs moisture and prevents the cheese from clumping. Unfortunately, this also keeps the cheese from melting properly.
    • The nutritional analysis was calculated using my homemade taco seasoning packet - which has no sugar added and is gluten-free. If you choose a store-bought seasoning packet - be sure to read the contents of the ingredients before purchasing and using.

    Easy Taco Soup Recipe FAQs

    Can I make creamy taco soup on my stovetop?

    Absolutely! This taco soup can easily be made on your stovetop.Brown the beef and cook along with the vegetables. Add the broth and seasonings, cover, and let simmer on the stove for about 30 minutes to blend flavors.
    Add heavy cream, cheddar cheese, cream cheese, and salsa. Stir until cheeses are melted and soup is blended.

    Can I use ground chicken or ground turkey instead of beef?

    Ground chicken or ground turkey can be substituted in this recipe. While it will take away from the beefy taste of the original recipe it is still quite delicious, and I've made it many times this way!

    Is beef taco soup keto?

    Yes! This recipe is the perfect keto taco soup with only 5.5 grams of net carbs, 35.3 grams of fat, and 23.7 grams of protein. No beans, corn, or rice are used in this recipe. Creamy cheese goodness that's so satisfying.

    How can I lower the fat in this recipe?     

    You can lower the fat in this recipe by using half and half or a low fat half in half, and a fat-free cream cheese. You can also use lower fat ground beef, or switch to ground turkey or chicken.
    Note that if you use half and half the soup may be waterier. You can thicken the soup with a little cornstarch if desired.

    Are store-bought taco seasoning packets gluten free?

    As with any store-bought product, it varies among brands. Taco seasoning packets may or may not be gluten-free - always check the label. This recipe's nutritional analysis is calculated by using our homemade taco seasoning mix - which is gluten-free.

    What is the difference between taco soup and tortilla soup?

    Tortilla soup contains pieces of fried corn tortilla while taco soup does not. Both taco soup and tortillas soup are very similar in ingredients with usually broth, corn, beans, and seasonings such as cumin, chili powder, etc. Tortilla soup is often made with chicken and taco soup with beef, but either one can be used in both soups.

    Why is my taco soup so watery?

    If your taco soup is too watery, it may be that you added too much broth or water. While this recipe doesn’t call for any additional vegetables, the addition of too many or using frozen vegetables can make soup watery.

    More Instant Pot Soup Recipes

    Here are some more easy and delicious slow cooker or Instant Pot soup recipes you can try! All our low carb, sugar-free, gluten-free, and keto recipes. Enjoy!

    • a bowl of cheesy keto broccoli soup with beer and bratwurst
      Keto Broccoli Cheese Soup with Beer & Brats (Instant Pot + Stovetop)
    • Square image of vegetable beef soup served in a white bowl and garnished with fresh parsley. Soup has many colors from the different vegetables.
      Instant Pot Vegetable Beef Soup
    • Square image of soup in a group bowl and garnished with sour cream, extra cheese, and cilantro.
      Green Enchiladas Chicken Soup (Slow Cooker + Instant Pot)
    • Featured image of a white bowl full of soup that is garnished with fresh herbs. Colored carrots were used to make the soup beautiful.
      Instant Pot Chicken Soup

    If you tried this Creamy Taco Soup, I'd love for you to come back and give the recipe a star rating and/or a review in the comments! 🙂 Let's stay connected, so please share photos of your creations with me and others on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest!

    📋 Recipe

    Square side image of soup served in a red bowl on a wooden cutting board. Soup is garnished with sour cream, tomato, green onion, and cheddar cheese. A spoon is ready for you to take a bite.

    Easy Taco Soup

    The perfect easy weeknight recipe. With ground beef, onions, peppers, taco seasonings, cream, and cheeses, your whole family will LOVE this creamy beef taco soup.
    4.59 from 106 votes
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    Author Kori
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Soup Recipes
    Cuisine Mexican
    Servings 10 servings
    Calories 442 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 2 pounds ground beef (80/20)
    • 1 small onion (chopped)
    • 1 bell pepper (chopped)
    • 2 garlic cloves (minced)
    • 24 oz beef broth
    • 28 oz diced tomatoes (crushed tomatoes are fine too)
    • double recipe taco seasoning mix (or 2 store-bought packets)
    • 4 ounces salsa
    • 4 ounces softened cream cheese (light cream cheese may be used)
    • 1 cup heavy cream (fat free half and half can also be used)
    • 2 cup cheddar cheese

    Instructions
     

    • In an Instant Pot or soup pot, saute ground beef, onion, and bell pepper over medium-high heat until the beef is no longer pink.
      sauteeing the ground beef and vegetables in an instant pot.
    • Add garlic cloves, beef broth, tomatoes, salsa, and taco seasoning. Stir to combine.
      adding beef broth to the instant pot.
    • INSTANT POT: Set pot to high pressure - 2 minutes. Once the cooking cycle is complete, allow pressure to release naturally.
      STOVETOP: Bring to a simmer, cover, and reduce heat to low. Continue to simmer for 30 minutes.
    • Add very soft cream cheese, heavy cream, and cheddar cheese to the pot. Stir until the cheeses are melted, and the soup is blended.
      Adding cream and cheese to the pot.
    • Adjust seasoning, serve and garnish with your favorite taco toppings. Enjoy!

    Video

    Notes

    • Use our Copycat Taco Seasoning Mix for best taste - plus it's healthier than store-bought packets.
    • Try and use freshly grated cheese! Pre-grated cheese in packages is coated with cellulose (a wood pulp) that absorbs moisture and prevents sticking of the cheese. Unfortunately, this also keeps the cheese from melting properly.
    • Feel free to make some substitutions. Keep the onions for flavor, but feel free to add more veggies. Squash, zucchini, or even riced cauliflower taste great. Beans and corn are good too (if you’re not following a keto diet). Use ground chicken or ground turkey as a substitute for the beef too!
    • NOTE: on 1/11/23 this recipe was refreshed with Instant Pot and stovetop instructions, new images, and an updated video.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 8ouncesCalories: 442kcalCarbohydrates: 7.1gProtein: 23.7gFat: 35.3gCholesterol: 115.3mgSodium: 912mgFiber: 1.6gSugar: 2.1g

    © 2023 Seeking Good Eats™

    Make this Instant Pot Creamy Taco Soup recipe and you'll be addicted! 🙂 This creamy, delicious Instant Pot beef taco soup gets gobbled up quickly. With ground beef, onions, peppers, taco seasonings, cream, and cheeses, your whole family will love this tasty, healthy recipe. Using your pressure cooker this low-carb and keto soup recipe is an easy-to-make weeknight dinner. #souprecipe #tacosoup #beeftacosoup #instantpot #pressurecooker #onepot #soup #Mexican #lowcarb #keto #healthyrecipe

    More Soups & Stews Recipes

    • Square feature image of crockpot chicken fajita soup served in a yellow bowl. Chunks of chicken and colorful peppers in green, red, and yellow show in the creamy broth. The soup is garnished with sour cream, cilantro, and green onion.
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    • Green chili pork stew with potatoes, pulled pork, hominy, and queso fresco cheese.
      Green Chili Pork Stew Recipe
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      Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
    • beef stew served in a white bowl with a spoon and garnished with chives.
      Hawaiian Beef Stew (Slow Cooker)

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Francis says

      October 04, 2020 at 2:01 pm

      I made this soup and it was so delicious and super easy in my Instant Pot!! My whole family loved it and I even froze some for lunches later! 🙂 Thanks!!!

      Reply
      • seekinggoodeats says

        October 04, 2020 at 2:03 pm

        Thank you!! So glad you loved the recipe. I actually just pulled the ingredients out to make this soup today! 🙂

        Reply
      • Marilyn says

        March 27, 2023 at 1:31 pm

        how did the soup do when frozen?. Am Leary to freeze with the cheese.

        Reply
    2. Jay says

      October 05, 2020 at 12:57 am

      This looks delicious. Can it be made on the stovetop or in a crock-pot? I don't have an Instant Pot.

      Reply
      • seekinggoodeats says

        October 07, 2020 at 7:50 pm

        It will work on your stovetop, in a crockpot or Instant pot 🙂

        Reply
    3. Kim says

      October 07, 2020 at 5:55 pm

      This soup is amazing!! I am about to try the tomato basil recipe next!! Thank you for making keto so easy.

      Reply
      • seekinggoodeats says

        October 07, 2020 at 7:49 pm

        Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it! 🙂 Let me know what you think!

        Reply
    4. Rita says

      December 30, 2020 at 10:14 am

      This really was easy, thank you. We’re not following a low carb keto diet but as with many of your recipes they work for everyone. To lower the fat content we used a lower fat ground beef, fat free cream cheese and fat free sour cream plus added black beans. We also used fat free half and half but then thickened the broth with a little cornstarch! It was so delicious!

      Reply
      • seekinggoodeats says

        December 30, 2020 at 10:16 am

        Thank you! We are a family with mixed dietary requirements so I try to make all my recipes adaptable for whatever situation you're in. 🙂 So happy you loved the recipe. I love your ideas for making this a lower fat taco soup!! Sounds so delicious.

        Reply
    5. Nicole says

      January 15, 2021 at 12:25 pm

      Can you add the cream cheese and whipping cream from the beginning and have it taste good? Or does the cheese not do well when cooking for a long time?

      Reply
      • Kori says

        January 15, 2021 at 12:27 pm

        Hello! You need to add it at the end so the cream and cheese does not break apart and curdle. I hope you enjoy the soup! 🙂 Let me know how it turns out...

        Reply
    6. Michelle says

      January 15, 2021 at 3:25 pm

      Could I use queso blanco cheese instead?

      Reply
      • Kori says

        January 15, 2021 at 4:06 pm

        I haven't tried it but I bet that would be quite good! 🙂 Let me know what you think

        Reply
    7. Jessica says

      January 28, 2021 at 1:32 am

      How would we do this if we were to use a crockpot instead? Add the cheese the last 30min maybe?

      Reply
      • Kori says

        January 28, 2021 at 8:37 am

        I think it would work fine! You'll have to pre-cook the beef I believe then add everything but the dairy ingredients. The dairy would be added at the end (last 30 minutes or so). The soup would be done once the vegetables are tender. Another tip: soften the cream cheese in the microwave so its warm, but not hot, and soft. It melts way easier. Hope you enjoy let me know how it turns out - I'm a huge crockpot lover 🙂

        Reply
    8. Corey says

      February 14, 2021 at 7:32 pm

      Is it seriously 2 minutes? Or is that a typo? I can’t even set my pressure cooker to that low of a time.

      Reply
      • Kori says

        February 15, 2021 at 8:06 am

        Yes, it's 2 minutes. 🙂 It's to blend the flavors of the soup - as the meat is already cooked. What brand of pressure cooker do you have? What is the lowest time pressure it goes? I would like to do some research in case anyone else a similar pot. I have 2 different brands (Instant Pot and Ninja Foodi) and they both go as low as 0.

        Reply
      • Kori says

        February 15, 2021 at 8:08 am

        You can do 5 minutes, it's fine.

        Reply
    9. Liz says

      February 15, 2021 at 10:34 am

      Can you use boneless chicken breasts?

      Reply
      • Kori says

        February 15, 2021 at 10:59 am

        Sure! 🙂 That would be quite delicious. The pressure cooking time would be 8 minutes with the chicken.

        Reply
        • Liz says

          February 15, 2021 at 12:03 pm

          So you would Add the chicken raw and let cook in the crockpot?

          Reply
          • Kori says

            February 15, 2021 at 1:49 pm

            Yes - here's what I would do. These are the exact instructions re-worded for adding chicken... 🙂

            Saute onion, and bell pepper over medium heat until vegetables are tender.

            Add raw boneless skinless chicken breast (or thighs), garlic cloves, chicken broth (or beef broth), tomatoes, salsa, and taco seasoning. Set pot to High pressure, 8 minutes. Once the cooking cycle is complete, allow pressure to release for 10 minutes.

            Remove chicken and shred, then add back to pot.

            Add softened cream cheese, heavy cream, and cheddar cheese to the pot. Stir until cheeses are melted and soup is blended.
            Serve and garnish with your favorite taco toppings! Enjoy

            Reply
    10. Nancy E Woodruff says

      September 10, 2021 at 11:13 pm

      I am going to prepare this soup within the next few days. It looks amazing! I have a feeling it is going to go into regular rotation with my winter soups that I eat all year long.

      Reply
      • Kori says

        September 14, 2021 at 10:55 am

        So happy you are trying the beef taco soup recipe! It's one of my family's favorites. I hope you enjoy 🙂

        Reply
    11. Jennee says

      November 10, 2021 at 8:08 pm

      How long do u do a natural release for?

      Reply
      • Kori says

        November 11, 2021 at 11:35 am

        Hello, there is not actually a set time. Depending upon the amount of pressure built inside, the amount of contents, and other factors, it could take a varying amount of time for the cooker to release all of its steam (usually no more than 30 minutes, though). Letting it release pressure naturally is really just allowing the flavors to blend more so if you don't want to wait you can release the pressure immediately, or maybe wait 10 to 15 minutes and quick release. Hope that makes sense! 🙂 Enjoy!

        Reply
    12. Lisa says

      January 07, 2022 at 3:58 pm

      We’ve had temperatures of -6 all week so I’ve been making lots of soups. I have to say, this one will be going in my regular rotation. I used leftover meatloaf in place of the hamburger, but everything else was the same. My husband loved it! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe.

      Reply
      • Kori says

        January 25, 2022 at 8:56 am

        Thank you so much! I am happy that this soup brought you some comfort when you were sick - and it was easy to make while you were sick! Hope you are better! 🙂

        Reply
    13. Emily says

      January 17, 2022 at 9:00 am

      Do you drain the grease off of the burger before you add all the other ingredients first?

      Reply
      • Kori says

        January 17, 2022 at 10:29 am

        Hello! Because the meat is cooked with vegetables (onion, bell pepper, garlic), you do not want to drain the fats as you will also lose the juices and flavor from the vegetables. Two ways around this, you can use a lower-fat beef and continue with the recipe as is - or, you can cook the beef first, drain its fat, then add the vegetables and continue on from there. 🙂 Hope you enjoy!

        Reply
    14. Suzie Dallan says

      January 23, 2022 at 2:16 pm

      How long do you cook in a crockpot?

      Reply
      • Kori says

        January 24, 2022 at 9:28 am

        Well, the soup would be done once the vegetables are tender so I'd say 4 to 6 hours. You'll have to pre-cook the beef first, then from there add everything but the dairy ingredients. The dairy would be added at the end (last 30 minutes or so). Another tip: soften the cream cheese in the microwave so its warm, but not hot, and soft. It melts way easier. Enjoy! 🙂

        Reply
    15. Tammy says

      January 23, 2022 at 5:21 pm

      This recipe is fabulous!! Instapot made it super easy.

      Reply
      • Kori says

        January 24, 2022 at 9:29 am

        Thank you!! Super happy you loved the soup. I love making it in the Instant Pot too!

        Reply
    16. Lynn says

      October 08, 2022 at 12:37 pm

      My neighbor made this and shared it with me. I'm Obsessed! It's so delicious. I am planning on making a lighter version to add to my weight watcher recipes. How many servings does this make?
      Thank you!

      Reply
      • Kori says

        October 08, 2022 at 12:54 pm

        Awww, thank you so very much for trying it out! I'm so happy you love it! It makes about 8 to 10 servings 🙂

        Reply
    17. Cree says

      January 31, 2023 at 10:19 pm

      5 stars
      I absolutely love this recipe! I didn't have bell pepper, so I added frozen corn instead.

      Reply
      • seekinggoodeats says

        February 01, 2023 at 8:17 am

        That sounds delicious! Glad you enjoyed it! 🙂 Thank you

        Reply

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    Hello! I'm Kori and I am a food LOVER. I've had a lifelong passion for cooking and eating (of course)! At some point that catches up with you, right? Older and wiser, I now watch what I eat more closely. What's the hardest and most frustrating part? Finding recipes that are healthy, easy to make, AND taste great.

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