This Queso Keto Taco Soup is a game-changer for low-carb dinners! Simmered with ground beef, tangy tomatoes, and melted cheese, it’s like your favorite queso dip transformed into a hearty, spoonable meal. Whether you’re using an Instant Pot or slow cooker, this creamy, zesty soup will quickly become a staple in your keto meal rotation.
When starting a keto diet, finding recipes that satisfy cravings can be a challenge. This low-carb keto taco soup with ground beef has become a family favorite. It’s easy to make, packed with flavor, and perfect for busy weeknights. The cream cheese and taco seasoning blend to create a rich, cheesy flavor that’s absolutely delicious. As a homeschooling mom of four, I appreciate how quick and easy this keto taco soup is to make. It’s a secret weapon on busy evenings when we’re juggling activities. The comforting flavors and simple prep make it a staple in keto meal planning.
Why This Keto Taco Soup Works
This keto soup recipe is effortless to make with only a few simple ingredients. This crock pot low-carb taco soup needs five simple ingredients and a few hours of simmering to give you an amazing soup for lunch or supper. Well, five if you lump spices into one ingredient. Here is the thing with this soup, use the seasonings you like.
Key Ingredients
- Ground Beef: Acts as the rich, savory, and protein-rich foundation to the soup. Using an 80/20 beef for extra flavor is a great choice, but use what you prefer. You can use ground beef with a lower fat content but please don't use the super low fat kind, it really takes the flavor out of the meat. Any other ground meat should work just fine here.
- Rotel Tomatoes (or diced tomatoes with green chilis): This is simply a can of diced tomatoes with green chilis already added.
- Cream Cheese: Adds fat and a rich, creamy texture that makes the soup similar to an authentic queso dip. I highly recommend making sure your cream cheese is at room temperature before adding to the crockpot. Sometimes when you mix cold dairy ingredients with warm ingredients, it can prevent the dairy from completely integrating with the other ingredients or may even cause it to curdle.
- Beef Broth: Is the backbone of your soup’s flavor.
- Taco Seasonings: Traditional taco seasoning can carry extra carbs. I use a combination of adobo seasoning, chili powder, and cilantro.
Optional Toppings
- Jalapenos
- Avocado
- Fresh cilantro
- Shredded cheese
- Sour cream
- Red onions
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here is the step-by-step guide to making an amazing keto taco soup without beans.
Stovetop Instructions
- Grab your favorite large pot and set it over medium heat. Toss in the ground beef and diced onion. Brown ground meat until fully cooked. This usually takes about 8-10 minutes. Once it’s nicely browned, drain off the excess grease.
- Add the cream cheese to your beef and onion mixture. I find it’s easier if the cream cheese is softened, so take it out of the fridge about 30 minutes before you start cooking or pop it in the microwave for a few seconds. Use a wooden spoon to mix it in well, breaking up any large chunks.
- Add in the rest of your ingredients - the Rotel tomatoes (or diced tomatoes with green chilies), beef broth, heavy cream, and taco seasoning. Give it all a good stir to combine.
- Bring to a boil, reduce to medium heat, and simmer for 15 minutes. Add cream cheese and shredded cheese.
- Then, decrease the stovetop heat to low and simmer for an additional 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Crock-Pot Instructions
- In a skillet on the stove, crumble and cook ground beef, diced onion, and garlic over medium heat. Drain the grease.
- Transfer the mixture from the pan to a slow cooker. Add the cilantro, Rotel, and beef broth, and stir to combine.
- To your Crock Pot, add the browned ground beef, chopped onions, cubed cream cheese, canned tomatoes with green chilies, and spices.
- Stir to combine ingredients. Add beef broth and heavy cream and stir again.
- Set Crock Pot to cook on “high” for 2 hours or on “low” for 4 hours.
- After cooking, stir the mixture before transferring soup to bowls and top with desired garnishes.
Instant Pot Instructions
- Set Instant Pot to "Sauté" mode. Brown ground beef with onions and garlic, and drain grease.
- Stir in seasonings, add cream cheese, and stir to melt. De-glaze pan with broth.
- First, brown the ground beef and onions on the saute setting and drain. Next, add beef broth, Rotel tomatoes, and spices.
- Close the lid and set the cooking time for 5 minutes on "Soup" mode. Let the pressure naturally release for 5 minutes.
- After that, pop the lid off and stir in the softened cream cheese and heavy cream. Switch the Instant Pot back to the sauté function and let it simmer for 5-10 minutes to meld all those tasty flavors.
Tips and Tricks for the Best Keto Taco Soup
- Swap the Beef: Don’t have ground beef in your kitchen? Use ground pork, ground turkey, shredded chicken, or sausage.
- Soften the Cream Cheese: Pop the cream cheese in the microwave for a few seconds or leave it at room temperature until soft. The cream cheese needs to be at room temperature or it won't fully break down into the soup. Cutting the cream cheese into cubes also works best.
- Simmer, Don’t Boil: Keep it low and slow.
- Taste and Adjust As Needed: One of the best things about cooking is that you get to taste everything before it’s served! If you think the soup needs more heavy cream, beef, or seasonings, adjust the amount of ingredients you use.
Important Considerations for Slow Cooking
While some suggest throwing all the ingredients in the crockpot for Taco Soup, dairy products such as heavy cream and cream cheese can curdle if added before the last hour of cooking time. To ensure the best quality of this recipe, I would suggest adding the drained browned ground beef, diced onion, beef broth, diced tomatoes, and spices first. Allow it to slow cook for 2 hours on high or 4 hours on low. I would follow the general guidelines mentioned above for cooking dairy in the slow cooker.
Read also: Delicious Keto Crockpot Meals
Serving Suggestions
Pair this delicious taco soup with a simple leafy garden salad, avocado salad, or some fresh salsa for a perfect match. And if you’re in the mood for dipping, go for low-carb tortillas or crunchy pork rinds.
Variations and Substitutions
- Dairy-Free Option: I haven’t tried making a dairy-free keto taco soup myself, but I did some digging, and you might be able to use dairy-free cream cheese and coconut cream instead of cream cheese and heavy cream.
- Spice It Up: My family LOVES this soup spicy! If you love spicy food, consider adding some extra red pepper flakes and top it with jalapeños!
- Throw In some Veggies: Sneaking in some veggies is totally okay. Don't want meat? Swap all of the meat for beans and corn instead, or add hearty vegetables like zucchini or diced peppers. If you aren’t doing low-carb, feel free to add corn and black beans.
- Thickening: If you want to thicken up the taco soup, use xanthan gum powder.
Storage and Freezing Instructions
So you’re left with leftovers? Lucky you!
- Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container without garnishes and eat within 5 days.
- Freezer: When I have leftovers, I sometimes freeze them for later. Here’s a tip I learned from experience: cream soups can get a bit separated when frozen and thawed. Don’t worry - it’s still safe to eat and can be fixed! Thaw the soup in the fridge overnight when you’re ready to eat it. As you reheat it, use a whisk to stir it well. This helps bring the soup back together. If it still seems a bit grainy, I’ve found that blending it for a few seconds can make it creamy again.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don’t Use Low-Fat Ingredients: It is tempting to grab that low-fat cream cheese, but fat is needed to make keto work.
- Seasoning can have fillers: Read labels even on your seasonings. A lot of taco seasonings have fillers.
- Adding Dairy Too Early: Dairy, like heavy cream and cream cheese, can curdle if added too early.
The Keto Diet and Taco Soup
If you’re like a lot of people, you’re probably curious about the keto diet. Queso Keto Taco Soup reminds me of my favorite queso dip. It mouthwatering cheesy goodness with taco soup delicious is quick and easy. The resulting soup is warming, flavorful, and filling - and low in carbs.
Is Taco Soup Keto-Friendly?
Traditional taco soup often includes beans, which are high in carbs. This keto taco soup recipe skips the beans and relies on high-fat ingredients like ground beef and cream cheese to keep the carb count low.
Read also: Crockpot Ham: Keto Edition
Read also: Low-Carb Crockpot Recipes