Change up taco night with Taco Chili! Each bite tastes like a hot and hearty taco in chili form. Serve with lots of toppings then dig in!
My oldest’s very favorite food right now is tacos. If you ask him what he wants for dinner, 100% of the time he’ll tell you tacos.
That being said, everyone’s getting a little sick of tacos so I thought I’d switch things up with Taco Chili!
I know – living on the edge – but the second thing my oldest will tell you he wants for dinner after tacos, is soup or chili, so this meal is a win-win at my house.
Each spoonful of Taco Chili tastes like a big bite of a taco, but since it’s thick and hearty it’s perfect for this time of year when you need a dish that will warm you up on chilly (har) nights.
Taco Chili Ingredients
Browned ground beef is simmered with pantry staples including my homemade taco seasoning (or a taco seasoning packet,) diced tomatoes and chilis, tomato sauce, chicken broth, pinto beans, and black olives.
A lot of Taco Soup or Chili recipes call for cans of black beans and corn – which is totally fine – but I wanted this chili to contain the ingredients we actually eat in or with our tacos. That includes refried beans if we’re at a restaurant (aka pinto beans) and black olives.
That said, feel free to include YOUR favorite taco toppers into your pot of Taco Chili!
Top each bowl with more classic taco toppings like sliced green onions and sharp cheddar cheese, plus a crush of tortilla chips to mimic the crunch of a taco shell. Diced avocado, sour cream, and fresh pico de gallo are also divine.
Don’t forget the cornbread!
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Pin ItCrock Pot Instructions
Taco Chili is also crock pot friendly – whee! Add all the ingredients into your crock pot then slow cook anywhere from 4-6 hours on low.
Whether you make Taco Chili on the stovetop or crock pot, leftovers get better and better so they work super well for easy lunches the rest of the week!
Serve with Gluten Free Cornbread
How to Make this Recipe
- For the Crock Pot: brown ground beef with chopped onion then add it to a 6 quart crock pot with chicken broth, canned pinto beans, tomato sauce, canned diced tomatoes and green chilis, sliced black olives, and taco seasoning then cook on low for 4-6 hours.
- For the Stove Top: brown the beef and onions in a soup pot then add the remaining ingredients and simmer for 30 minutes with the lid on, stirring occasionally.
Both methods are super simple – just depends on when you want to eat!
Last step is to scoop the chili into bowls then top with your favorite taco fixins’. Like I said, I love lots of sharp shredded cheddar cheese and green onions, plus crushed tortilla chips for crunch and a side of homemade cornbread.
Couldn’t be more delicious – enjoy!
More Hearty Chili Recipes
- Easy Turkey Chili
- Kickin’ Green Chili
- Signature Chili
- Crock Pot Sweet Potato & Quinoa Chili
- Crock Pot White Chicken Chili
- No Bean Chili
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 15 oz can pinto beans, drained and rinsed, Bush's recommended
- 15 oz can tomato sauce
- 10 oz can diced tomatoes with green chiles
- 3.8 oz can sliced black olives, drained
- 1 recipe homemade taco seasoning, see notes
- Toppings: shredded cheese, green onions, fresh cilantro, tortilla chips, cooked rice
Directions
For the Stovetop:
- Heat a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat then add ground beef and onion and saute until cooked through, breaking beef up as it cooks. Drain if necessary then return to the pot.
- Add remaining ingredients, except toppings, then turn heat up to high to bring to a simmer. Place a lid on top then turn the heat down to low and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste then add more taco seasoning if desired, and then serve with toppings.
For the Crock Pot:
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat then add ground beef and onion and saute until cooked through, breaking beef up as it cooks.
- Drain if necessary then add mixture to a 6 quart crock pot with the remaining ingredients, except toppings, and stir to combine. Cook on low for 4-6 hours then serve with toppings.
Notes
- You can also use 2 Tablespoons of my Large Batch Homemade Taco Seasoning, or a store-bought taco seasoning packet.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
I can’t wait to try this!
I make something similar but serve it with a big hunk of cornbread. Delicious combo!
I’ve never put chicken broth in mine….i think that may have been the missing ingredient!
Looks so delicious! I am sure my brother and sister will definitely love it, thanks a lot.
It’s looks delicious. Awesome dish to try.
This reminds me of a recipe I tend to make every winter, Taco Soup. It’s so delicious. However, I have to say this recipe is winning my heart with it’s easiness and minimum ingredients :). I can’t wait to give it a try!
Tarek & Christina feel like my bffs after watching the show almost daily on maternity leave. Can’t handle their split news today!
Seriously!! Love them so much – I hope they are able to work it out!!
Your taco seasoning is my go to – it’s the best! I saw that Taraq and Christina were separating – so sad – but I will gladly watch Fixer Upper over Flip or Flop. I find Christina annoying high maintenance. The fake eyelashes, the 4″ heels, the perpetual look of disdain…LOL
Wow – another winner, Kristen! As soon as we get our first real snowstorm here, I’m putting this in the crockpot to reward myself after the shoveling. I’ve been using your Taco Seasoning mix on all sorts of dishes (dips, eggs, quiche, chicken, soup) since I made a big jar of it over the summer – despite a huge spice cupboard with lots of southwesternly choices, it’s becoming my “go to” seasoning. You sure are productive – aren’t you supposed to be on a hiatus?? :)
So glad you are loving the seasoning – it’s SO convenient to pull out and use each week! And sigh, yes, technically I should be on hiatus, but I go crazy if I don’t stay busy!
#tommyboy
#nailedit
Yum this sounds so good! Can’t wait to try it. Also, you mentioned Flip or Flop… did you see that they announced they are separating! I am so surprised. I wonder if the show will end?!
I DID ? So sad!
I can’t wait for your gingerbread man recipe!!!! This morning my 7 year old son requested we make them for Christmas goodies, and my first thought was where was I going to find a good and easy recipe for that?!? Thank you in advance, you are a lifesaver!
YAY! Hope you guys love them!
We have “Taco Tuesday” nearly every week as it’s the only meal I can get all three of my kids to agree on! And if I miss it, we can have “Whoa, it’s Taco Wednesday”. It happens.
HA – love it! Got to fit it into the week somehow!
That looks delicious!
Sounds like another great week! I’d be happy to help with the wine-project if I lived any closer ;) We’re all about tacos too, and this looks easy & delicious!