Game Day Taco Soup

Game Day Taco Soup

      When my husband and I were first married we became the unofficial hosts in our family for all the Nebraska Cornhusker football games. I thought it was so fun to have both sets of our parents and occasionally other family members over for football games. I love cooking and hosting, so I had fun planning menus and making food everyone would enjoy! This recipe, which is from my mother-in-law, has to make an appearance every year for a game day. As soon as the weather is barely cool enough for chili my husband requests it.
     A lot has changed since I first started hosting game day at my house. We have a lot more dietary restrictions in our family, but most people can still eat this soup without the toppings. My sister, her husband and three boys usually come over for the game also so it's very loud! I also have become a little more relaxed with what I serve. I like to make things that can be finished cooking when we are ready to eat so that I don't have to spend the whole game in the kitchen. Even though this recipe is fairly simple it really is a delicous taco soup or chili.
   

Game Day Taco Soup

serves 6-8 

Ingredients

- 1 pound ground beef

- 1 envelope taco seasoning or homemade taco seasoning 

(I use homemade so that it's gluten free, recipe is at the end of the post)

-15 oz tomato sauce

- 1 jar medium pace picante (I know there are better salsas out there but trust me on this one, the peppers and onions in the sauce add so much to this and medium is the perfect spiciness without being too spicy once all the other ingredients are added!)

-2-3 cans reduced sodium black beans drained and rinsed ( I add more depending on how many people are coming over)

-1 30 oz can chili beans ( or use two 15 oz if you can't find a 30 oz)

-1 cup water 

Homemade taco seasoning if not using a package seasoning

1 TBSP chili powder 

1/2 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp parsley 

1/4 tsp paprika

1/2 tsp salt ( for tacos I use a whole tsp but I don't want to soup to be too salty)

Directions

1) Brown the ground beef in a large pan 

2) Add the taco seasoning and 1 cup of water to the pan and simmer for a minute to incorporate 

3) Pour the ground beef, tomato sauce, pace picante sauce, black beans,  and chili beans into a large crock pot

3) Cover the crock pot and cook on low for 5-6 hours until ready to serve

4) Top the taco soup with sour cream and cheese, we like to serve it with Fritos! 

I took a picture of the products I use to make the soup, I found all of these at Target.