Name: Vegetarian Taco Soup from the Pantry
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 sweet onion (diced); 1 green bell pepper (diced); 1 jalapeño (seeded and minced); 2 cloves garlic (minced); 2 cups vegetable stock; 2 14 ounce cans fire roasted diced tomatoes; 1 14 ounce can black beans; 1 14 ounce can great northern beans; 1 14 ounce can pinto beans; 2 teaspoons chili powder; 1 teaspoon ground cumin; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; ½ teaspoon smoked paprika; ½ teaspoon dried oregano

It is no secret we’re obsessed with soup at my house — it’s filling, hearty, loaded with great ingredients and usually straightforward to prepare.

This particular soup is one of those recipes that may truly surprise you with simply how easily it comes together. After sautéing the onion, bell pepper and jalapeño, all that’s left is opening a bunch of canned ingredients and adding them to the pot. The soup simmers for simply about 15 minutes and until the flavors have melded into a completely irresistible meal!

Beyond being simple, this vegetarian taco soup is also packed with flavor! You may have tried other taco soup recipes, but this one’s certainly my go-to! It’s so satisfying and especially straightforward!

What’s in Vegetarian Taco Soup?

Not only is taco soup packed with flavor, but it’s truly versatile! Below, I’ve listed my regular ingredients with some substitution options. Feel free to substitute or completely leave out any ingredient to suite your family’s taste preference. Here’s the lineup:

Olive oil. Helps the onion brown without burning. Feel free to swap out your go-to neutral cooking oil.
Sweet onion. You can also use a yellow onion or shallot. Only use what you have on hand!
Bell pepper. I’m using green bell pepper in this dish, but any color will work!
Jalapeño. Adds a bit of spice, but it is completely optional! You could also swap out the jalapeño for 1 (4 ounce) can of green chilies or 2 minced chipotle peppers in adobo.
Vegetable stock. This helps thin the soup, so it isn’t too thick. Feel free to use as much or as little as you like to get the right consistency!
Fire roasted tomatoes. A regular here using fire roasted tomatoes for extra flavor, but plain diced tomatoes would work as well!
Beans. I’m using black beans, great northern beans and pinto beans, but you can use any combination you like!
Spices. If you don’t want to make a from-scratch spice blend, feel free to swap the spices (chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt, paprika, oregano) for 2 tablespoons of your go-to store-bought taco seasoning.

Shortcut tip. Most grocery stores sell diced onion and even bell pepper, in the produce section of the store. Alternatively, frozen diced onions and/or bell peppers are often found by the other frozen veggies and can be used in this dish. Or, use a food processor to quickly dice up the veggies.

vegetarian taco soup ingredients divided into small bowls

How to Make Vegetarian Taco Soup:

Making this good soup recipe is such a breeze! And it takes simply 20 minutes to cook. Whoop! Here’s the simple process, but for the full, printable recipe, reference the recipe card at the bottom of the page.

Sauté. Add the olive oil to a large heavy bottomed skillet or dutch oven set over medium heat. Then, sauté the onion until soft, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the bell pepper, jalapeño, and garlic and cook for an additional minute.
Simmer. Add the vegetable stock and gently scrape the bottom of the pan to release any browned bits. Add the remaining ingredients and bring soup to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for an additional 5 minutes, or until your desired thickness.
Serve. Enjoy the soup with your desired toppings!

using a ladle to serve soup out of a large pot

Vegetarian Taco Soup Toppings:

As much as A regular here this vegetarian taco soup recipe as-is, it’s even tastier with plenty of toppings. Here are some of my go-to topping ideas:

Sour cream. For extra creaminess, this earns a repeat to add a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt to our taco soup. You can even find vegan sour cream options!
Shredded cheese. A MUST for taco soup! The cheese gets all melty and flavor-packed.
Avocado or guacamole. Feel free to add some avocado slices or even a spoonful of guacamole.
Tortilla chips or strips. Enjoy your taco soup with chips or add in some tortilla strips for the dependable crunch!
Cilantro. If you like fresh cilantro, sprinkle some over the top for freshness and flavor.
Cornbread. Enjoy your taco soup with crumbled cornbread for the go-to comfort food meal!
Lime. Squeeze a bit of fresh lime juice over the top for the reliable finishing touch!

Taco Soup Spiciness:

I rate this soup as mild. And, toppings like cheese, sour cream, and avocado will also decrease the heat level quite a bit.

If you don’t plan on adding some of these toppings and are sensitive to spicy foods, you can omit the jalapeño.

On the other hand, if you enjoy a kick of heat and would like this taco soup to be spicier, you can increase the heat by leaving the seeds in the jalapeño and possibly even adding one more. You can also add 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes and/or 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper.

Storing & Freezing Tips:

To store. This vegetarian taco soup will keep in your fridge for about 3 days. Once your soup is completely cooled, simply place it in an airtight container (or multiple, if you’d like to meal prep it) and store it in the fridge. To reheat it, simply do so in the microwave with a microwave safe bowl, or feel free to reheat it on the stovetop. Add your toppings once you’re ready to serve!

To freeze. Yes, you can freeze this soup! Follow the instructions above, but instead of placing the soup in the refrigerator only put it in your freezer for up to 3 months. To reheat, simply thaw it overnight and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave when you’re ready to eat.

bowl of vegetarian taco soup with a spoon in it

This vegetarian taco soup is the dependable unfussy dinner option that the whole family will love! It’s healthy, satisfying, full of flavor, and takes simply minutes to put together.