The first time I made this soup, I knew that we would be doubling the recipe in the future.  Using many ingredients you probably have in your kitchen right now, this Southwest Ground Beef Soup is convenient and low prep.  Our whole family enjoyed this hearty soup, including our toddler.  Ground beef, diced tomatoes, corn, beans, and salsa blend together to make an effortless lunch or dinner.  You can also use your favorite salsa in this recipe.  Also, homemade salsa would be amazing too!

 

 

Method:

Begin by cooking the ground beef and onions until the ground beef is fully cooked and the onions are tender.

Then, stir all of the remaining ingredients, except for the shredded cheese, into the ground beef and onion mixture.

 

I used frozen corn, but canned corn will also work.  For the salsa, I used green salsa verde, but I will also use fresh, homemade salsa in the summer when tomatoes, onions, and tomatillos are fresh in the garden and at local farmers markets.

Bring all of the ingredients in the pot to a boil, and the reduce the heat to let it simmer.  Cover and simmer everything for 15-20 minutes, or until the corn is tender and everything is heated through.

Garnish the soup with shredded cheese.  I also like to add tortilla chips to dip in the soup, and squeezing a fresh lime in the soup gives it an even added layer of flavor.

This Southwest Ground Beef soup is especially flavorful as leftovers.

A few tips:

• Use any kind of salsa that you like.
• Any kind of cheese will do.  I used a combination of monterey jack and cheddar cheese.
• Use any kind of beans that you have or like.  Also, I often add a second can of beans for additional protein and to make an even heartier soup.
• You can use more or less ground beef depending on what you prefer.
• Experiment with toppings such as chips, onions, green onions, and freshly squeezed lime as an example.

Other recipes you might want to try:

Ground Beef Chili Con Carne Soup

Easy and Flavorful Ground Beef Tortilla Soup (Not Spicy)

Enchilada Pie

This Fast and Flavorful Ground Beef and Bean Chili is quick to make, not too spicy, and full of flavor.  The chili has a thicker consistency, which is more like a casserole than a soup.  Since this is a thicker chili, it can be topped on a baked potato, used as a side dish, or have this as a main dish when topped with sour cream, cheese, and more!

 

Method:

First, slice the celery stalks and onion.

Then, place the olive oil in a heated pan, and then add the chopped onion and chopped celery stalks.  Stir to coat them with the olive oil.  Let them cook and soften for a few minutes.

Add the ground beef, stir, and cook until the ground beef is thoroughly done.

While the ground beef is cooking, drain and rinse the kidney beans.

After the meat was browned, I transferred the mixture from the skillet to a larger pot. You can start with a larger pot and make this a one pot dish.  Next, add the cumin, chili powder, salt, crushed tomatoes, drained kidney beans, and green chilies to the dish. 

Stir to combine, and cook the mixture for approximately 10 minutes to warm the chili and blend the flavors.

 

Dish the chili into bowls and serve with toppings such as sour cream, shredded cheese, avocado, and more.  This Fast and Flavorful Ground Beef and Chili would also be delicious on a baked potato or tortilla chips.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 1 pound of ground beef
• 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 celery stalks, chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 28-oz can crushed tomatoes
• 2 15 1/2 ounce cans kidney beans (be sure to rinse thoroughly and drain)
• 1 4-oz can of chopped green chilies

Instructions:

1. In a heated skillet, add the olive oil, chopped celery, and chopped onion.  Let them cook and soften for a few minutes.
2. Add the ground beef and cook until the meat is thoroughly finished.
3. Drain and wash the kidney beans while the ground beef is cooking.
4. When the ground beef is cooked, transfer the mixture to a larger pot.
5. Add the chili powder, cumin, kidney beans, and green chilies to the pot.
6. Cover the pot with a lid and let the chili cook for an additional 10 minutes to warm the chili and blend the cumin and chili flavors.
7. Serve into dishes and eat as a main dish, add toppings such as cheese or sour cream, or top baked potatoes or chips with the Fast and Flavorful Ground Beef and Bean Chili.

 

If you enjoy this recipe, you can also try this Easy and Flavorful Ground Beef Tortilla Soup.  Kids love this chili recipe!