The air is getting cooler, the leaves are changing colors, and the smell of pumpkin spice is in the air. We are running around trying to find the fall and winter gear while the kids are doing some type of practice or activity almost every night after school. There’s all the homework to help with and maybe your husband is stuck in front of the TV, transfixed by football, hockey, or playoff baseball. (Okay, I am the one flipping between all the different hometown teams playing on national TV while trying to find at least one pair of matching gloves for my 4 year-old to wear to daycare tomorrow.) All of this chaos and plethora of sports can only mean one thing: it’s fall!
As we dive into the chillier and busier season, we all struggle with figuring out what to feed the family for dinner every night. It’s not necessarily about having the ingredients or the ability to cook something yummy and nutritious, it’s about finding the time when you are a busy mom trying to tackle the to-do list and still hoping to catch the game on TV.
Growing up, my favorite thing to eat was soup. I love all kinds of soup and the cold fall and winter nights were always better when my mom made soup for dinner. Now, as a wife and mother, I have found that soup helps to bring my own family together; it’s hard to eat soup while sitting on the couch or while you are on the run! To really enjoy a bowl of warm soup, you have to be sitting down at a table. But do you know what’s even better than a good soup? A good soup that’s easy to prepare!
My husband is a bit of a picky eater and isn’t a big soup fan like me. He is, however, a huge taco fan so we have compromised and I make taco soup for my family. This recipe is a fun twist on Taco Tuesday, and is also fun and easy to make for a bigger crowd.
Easy Crockpot Taco Soup
- 1 pound browned ground beef (substitute with ground turkey or chicken for a healthier option)
- 1 onion chopped (optional)
- 1 can black beans
- 1 can kidney beans
- 1 can whole kernel corn, drained
- 2 cans diced tomatoes
- 1 can chopped green chilies
- 1 can Rotel
- 1 package taco seasoning
- 1 package dry ranch dressing mix
- 2 ½ cups water
Place everything in a large crockpot and cook on low for 5 or more hours. Serve with sour cream, shredded cheese, tortilla chips, and salsa. For easy cleanup use a crockpot liner!
This delicious soup is sure to please everyone in the family, especially the picky ones because they can control what tops their soup. Serve it up on a chilly weekday evening, or have your friends over and let them dig in while you all watch the game together on Sunday afternoon.
Check out other Duluth Mom recipes and food prep stories here!
