Creamy Crockpot “Taco” Soup (Keto, Low-Carb & Easy One-Pot Meal!)
Enjoy all the zesty, comforting flavors of taco night in a warm, creamy soup! This Crockpot “Taco” Soup is incredibly easy to make, packed with savory ground meat, zesty tomatoes and chiles, and a rich, cheesy broth. It’s a perfect low-carb, high-protein meal for busy weeknights, with minimal cleanup!
Yields: 6-8 servings Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 3-4 hours (on high) or 6-8 hours (on low)
Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground turkey (or ground beef, pork, or chicken)
- ½ medium onion, chopped
- 1 (8-ounce) block full-fat cream cheese, softened slightly
- 1 (10-ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chilies (Rotel-style, check for no added sugar)
- 1 packet (1 ounce) taco seasoning (check label for no added sugar or starch)
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can chicken broth (check label for no added sugar or MSG)
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (or Mexican blend), divided
- ½ cup mild diced jalapeños (from a can, or fresh if preferred; adjust to taste)
Equipment:
- Large skillet (for browning meat)
- Crockpot (slow cooker)
- Whisk or spoon
Instructions:
- Brown Meat & Season: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground turkey (or your chosen ground meat), breaking it up with a spoon. Once fully cooked, drain any excess grease thoroughly. Return the meat to the skillet.
- Add Taco Seasoning: Add the taco seasoning packet to the browned meat in the skillet. Stir well. Add about ¼ cup of water or chicken broth to the skillet with the meat and seasoning, stir, and bring to a gentle simmer for 1-2 minutes to help the seasoning coat the meat.
- Combine in Crockpot: Transfer the seasoned ground meat to your crockpot. Add the chopped onion, softened cream cheese, diced tomatoes with green chilies, heavy whipping cream, chicken broth, and diced jalapeños.
- Slow Cook: Stir all ingredients in the crockpot until well combined.
- Cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours.
- OR cook on LOW for 6-8 hours.
- Stir the soup occasionally (about halfway through the cooking time) to ensure even melting of the cream cheese and blending of flavors.
- Add Final Cheese: About 30-60 minutes before serving, add 1 ½ cups of the shredded cheese to the crockpot. Stir until the cheese is completely melted and incorporated into the soup, making it wonderfully creamy.
- Serve & Garnish: Ladle the hot soup into bowls. Garnish each serving with the remaining ½ cup of shredded cheese and any desired keto-friendly toppings like sour cream, fresh cilantro, or sliced avocado. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Recipe Analysis & Dietary Classification
- High Protein: Yes, this recipe is very high in protein. Ground meat, cream cheese, and shredded cheese all contribute significantly to the protein content, making it very filling.
- Low-Carb: Yes, this recipe is low-carb. All ingredients are carefully selected to minimize carbohydrate content.
- Keto: Yes, this recipe is keto-friendly.
- Ground Turkey/Meat, Onion, Cream Cheese, Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies, Taco Seasoning, Heavy Whipping Cream, Chicken Broth, Shredded Cheese, Diced Jalapeños: All are standard keto ingredients.
- Crucial Checks: Remind users to verify taco seasoning (ensure no sugar/starches/maltodextrin), diced tomatoes with green chilies (no added sugar), and chicken broth (no added sugar or MSG).
- Gluten-Free: Yes, this recipe is naturally gluten-free, assuming your taco seasoning and broth are certified gluten-free.
