Creamy Beef Taco Soup with Cream Cheese Thickener
A savory, spiced soup featuring ground beef and a rich cream cheese base for a satisfying keto dinner. This mexican-inspired keto ready in about 40 minutes pairs ground beef, olive oil, large, diced onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large, diced onion
- 2 cloves, minced garlic
- 1, diced green bell pepper
- 1 can (14 oz), no salt added diced tomatoes
- 1.5 cups beef broth
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 4 oz, cubed cream cheese
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- to taste salt
- to taste pepper
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add 1 lb ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned (6-7 minutes). Drain excess fat.
- Step 2: Add 1 large diced onion, 2 minced garlic cloves, and 1 diced green bell pepper to the pot, cooking for 5 minutes until vegetables soften.
- Step 3: Stir in 1 can diced tomatoes (with juice), 1.5 cups beef broth, 1 tbsp chili powder, 1 tsp cumin, and 1/2 tsp smoked paprika. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes.
- Step 4: Reduce heat to low and stir in 4 oz cubed cream cheese until melted and soup thickens. Stir in 1/4 cup sour cream. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Creamy Beef Taco Soup with Cream Cheese Thickener take to make?
Total time is about 40 minutes (15 min prep + 25 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Creamy Beef Taco Soup with Cream Cheese Thickener?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep ground beef from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Creamy Beef Taco Soup with Cream Cheese Thickener?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Creamy Beef Taco Soup with Cream Cheese Thickener for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Creamy Beef Taco Soup with Cream Cheese Thickener?
Mexican keto like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
Used frozen vegetables instead of fresh and honestly couldn't tell the difference.
- ★★★★☆
Solid recipe. Not groundbreaking but definitely making it again.
- ★★★☆☆
Average. The concept is good but execution needs work on seasoning.
