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This taco stew is the recipe most requested by anyone who knows my mom and now you can try it too! It’s like taco soup but thicker like a chili.
Taco stew is an easy weeknight dinner recipe that the whole family loves. We love to top it with our favorite taco toppings and everyone can totally customize their own bowl.
So I call this a stew because I add potatoes, carrots and peas to it. That totally qualifies as stew, right?! It’s a little more hearty and chunky than our Instant Pot taco soup or even our taco ground beef chili.
Ok, back to the toppings…there’s something about the Fritos and the soup. I’m serious. I never, and I mean never, think to buy Fritos, but they are a total necessity for topping off the taco stew. I think it’s that crunchy corn taste that works so well with everything.
Ingredients for Taco Stew
I love that this recipe is mostly a pantry meal. It is so nice when you’re on a tight budget or just don’t have time to get to the store. It also cannot be easier! Here is what you will need:
- Yukon Gold Potatoes: yukons have the best flavor and keep the best texture when added to a soup or stew – you could also use red potatoes as a substitute
- Carrots: peeled and cut into bite size pieces
- Onion: just a yellow onion works great
- Hamburger: 80/20 or 85/15 works great – if you want to go a little healthier, try ground turkey or chicken
- Frozen Peas: just toss them in frozen, and they’ll be heated through in no time
- Diced Tomatoes: you can use any brand you want
- Tomato Sauce: any brand works great
- Taco Seasoning: you can use a store bought packet or make your own
- Corn: just open a can of corn and toss it in, no need to drain
- Chili Beans: pinto beans or black beans also will work great, undrained
- Kidney Beans: no need to drain these either
The measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe at the end of the post.
Which Potatoes are Best for Stew?
My mom always uses Russet potatoes for stew but I think that’s just because we bought them cheap for baked potatoes etc. Russet potatoes are not a good potato for soups and stews as they end up a bit mealy in texture.
Choose red or golden yukon potatoes when making a soup or stew as they have a different amount of starch so your potatoes will be soft and creamy and not crumble in the soup.
What Type of Beef is Best for Stew?
You can use any cut of beef for a beef stew, round, chuck roast, chuck shoulder, etc. (like in our classic beef stew recipe) but in this taco stew recipe we stick with ground beef to give that taco flare.
Can Taco Stew Be Made in the Slow Cooker?
Yes! This is a great slow cooker meal! You will want to brown the hamburger with the onions beforehand on the stove top. Then you can toss all the ingredients into the slow cooker along with the hamburger (that has been drained) and cook it on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours.
Storing, Reheating, and Freezing Taco Stew
To store stew, place it in an airtight container and allow it to cool almost completely then place it in the fridge for up to 5 days. Save all the toppings to add right before serving.
To reheat a single serving of taco stew, I just zap it in the microwave. If I’m going to reheat more than that, I do it on the stovetop over medium heat until it is warmed through.
Yes!! Stew freezes really well! Just cool the stew completely and place in freezer bags or snag yourself our favorite Food Saver. Stew can be frozen for up to 2 months if you’ve pressed out all of the air and sealed it properly.
It’s freezing cold outside right now and we are in the thick of soup season. I actually hate the cold weather, but I can’t get enough soups, stews and chilis! This taco stew is next on my soup menu!
More Easy Soup RECIPES:
- Chicken Noodle Soup
- Meatball Soup
- Butternut Squash Soup
- Irish Beef Stew
- Instant Pot Taco Soup
- Roasted Tomato Basil Soup
- Chicken Pot Pie Soup
- Brown Butter Cauliflower Soup
- Instant Pot Turkey Chili
- Cheesy Southwestern Chicken Tortilla Soup
- All our SOUP RECIPES!
Watch Taco Stew Recipe Video
Taco Stew
Ingredients
- 1 Onion , chopped
- 3-4 Carrots, peeled and diced
- 8 Yukon Gold Potatoes, peeled and diced or 8 red potatoes
- 1 Pound Hamburger
- 1 Package Frozen Peas, small package
- 1 Can Tomatoes, 16 oz
- 1 Can Tomato Sauce, 8 oz
- 1 Package Taco Seasoning, or roughly 1/4 cup
- 1 Can Corn, undrained
- 1 Can Chili Beans, undrained
- 1 Can Green Beans, undrained
- 1 Can Kidney Beans, undrained
Instructions
- In a large pot add a drizzle of olive oil and place over medium heat.
- Cook the onions until tender, about 3 minutes.1 Onion
- Add the carrots and potatoes and add just enough water to cover them.3-4 Carrots, 8 Yukon Gold Potatoes
- Cook until tender.
- In a separate pan, over medium heat cook the hamburger, drain the grease and add to the water and tender veggies.1 Pound Hamburger
- Add all of the remaining ingredients and cook until heated through.1 Package Frozen Peas, 1 Can Tomatoes, 1 Can Tomato Sauce, 1 Package Taco Seasoning, 1 Can Corn, 1 Can Chili Beans, 1 Can Green Beans, 1 Can Kidney Beans
- Serve with shredded cheese, sour cream and fritos!
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Just wondering if anyone has tried making it in a crockpot?
Yes I have! And it does really well! 😉
At what point did you add everything to the crockpot? And, how long did you cook it for?
Hi Jen, we do steps 1 and 2 and then add to the slow cooker. 🙂
Can this be made ahead and froze for a later date.? Tia
Hi Samantha, this soup freezes quite well. Just make sure that any dairy is added upon serving (cheese etc) and not stored with the soup or it could curdle.
Really like that this recipe incorporates veggies and is still a favorite at my house!. I leave out the peas and kidney beans since my girls don’t care for them. I use a small bag of frozen corn and green beans instead of the canned and microwave them at half the time on the package before adding. Also add a half jar of medium salsa to give it a little more tomato sauce and some kick.
I love the salsa addition! I’ll have to try that!
I made this it is hearty and very very good, the family loved it, will be making it again, thanks for the recipe.
I’m so glad! Thank you Rose!
I have the same question as Barbara, what are chili beans? I went to several stores and was pretty much told there is no such thing I used Hormel chili with beans but not sure that’s what you meant. Came out excellent anyway!
Lisa, I think the store people probably missed it. It’s an easy mistake. Bush’s Beans and S&W make them and I’m positive that Walmart and our two local grocery stores carry them, not sure where you are. They are right by the kidney, pinto, chili section. It really is so easy to miss as there is usually just one small row.
Mine came out bland so I added what I had on hand which was Creole seasoning and it was perfe
Hi Sweet Basil,
Attempting to make your Taco Stew – what are Chili Beans? If you could let me know, it would be much appreciated. Thank you :)!
Looks good but, what size can of tomatoes? What type?
We just use regular cannedt omatoes but you can play with flavors and types. We use 16 oz can.
sounds good except for green beans and chili beans together..we dont eat kidney beans, so we use pintos or chili beans with pintos….and we love green beans..just not together. ( and not crunchy) .but then i live in the south..just not a southern thang….
I actually thought I wouldn’t like it for those very reasons but it works so well I love it! Don’t worry though, you can easily substitute any of the beans for ones you love.
This was a hit! I got my husband and 11 year old son involved with peeling and chopping the potatoes, carrots and onions. I did add a second package of mild chili seasoning (this is all I had), as I thought it could use a little boost in flavor. We loved it! Thank you!
This is perfect for these cold days!