Delicious and the best Taco Stew Recipe - Oh Sweet Basil (2024)

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This taco stew is the recipe most requested by anyone who knows my mom and now you can try it too! It’s like taco soup but thicker like a chili.

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Taco stew is an easy weeknight dinner recipe that the whole family loves. We love to top it with our favorite taco toppings and everyone can totally customize their own bowl.

So I call this a stew because I add potatoes, carrots and peas to it. That totally qualifies as stew, right?! It’s a little more hearty and chunky than our Instant Pot taco soup or even our taco ground beef chili.

Ok, back to the toppings…there’s something about the Fritos and the soup. I’m serious. I never, and I mean never, think to buy Fritos, but they are a total necessity for topping off the taco stew. I think it’s that crunchy corn taste that works so well with everything.

Ingredients for Taco Stew

I love that this recipe is mostly a pantry meal. It is so nice when you’re on a tight budget or just don’t have time to get to the store. It also cannot be easier! Here is what you will need:

  • Yukon Gold Potatoes: yukons have the best flavor and keep the best texture when added to a soup or stew – you could also use red potatoes as a substitute
  • Carrots: peeled and cut into bite size pieces
  • Onion: just a yellow onion works great
  • Hamburger: 80/20 or 85/15 works great – if you want to go a little healthier, try ground turkey or chicken
  • Frozen Peas: just toss them in frozen, and they’ll be heated through in no time
  • Diced Tomatoes: you can use any brand you want
  • Tomato Sauce: any brand works great
  • Taco Seasoning: you can use a store bought packet or make your own
  • Corn: just open a can of corn and toss it in, no need to drain
  • Chili Beans: pinto beans or black beans also will work great, undrained
  • Kidney Beans: no need to drain these either

The measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe at the end of the post.

Which Potatoes are Best for Stew?

My mom always uses Russet potatoes for stew but I think that’s just because we bought them cheap for baked potatoes etc. Russet potatoes are not a good potato for soups and stews as they end up a bit mealy in texture.

Choose red or golden yukon potatoes when making a soup or stew as they have a different amount of starch so your potatoes will be soft and creamy and not crumble in the soup.

What Type of Beef is Best for Stew?

You can use any cut of beef for a beef stew, round, chuck roast, chuck shoulder, etc. (like in our classic beef stew recipe) but in this taco stew recipe we stick with ground beef to give that taco flare.

Can Taco Stew Be Made in the Slow Cooker?

Yes! This is a great slow cooker meal! You will want to brown the hamburger with the onions beforehand on the stove top. Then you can toss all the ingredients into the slow cooker along with the hamburger (that has been drained) and cook it on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours.

Storing, Reheating, and Freezing Taco Stew

To store stew, place it in an airtight container and allow it to cool almost completely then place it in the fridge for up to 5 days. Save all the toppings to add right before serving.

To reheat a single serving of taco stew, I just zap it in the microwave. If I’m going to reheat more than that, I do it on the stovetop over medium heat until it is warmed through.

Yes!! Stew freezes really well! Just cool the stew completely and place in freezer bags or snag yourself our favorite Food Saver. Stew can be frozen for up to 2 months if you’ve pressed out all of the air and sealed it properly.

It’s freezing cold outside right now and we are in the thick of soup season. I actually hate the cold weather, but I can’t get enough soups, stews and chilis! This taco stew is next on my soup menu!

Watch Taco Stew Recipe Video

More Easy Soup RECIPES:

  • Chicken Noodle Soup
  • Meatball Soup
  • Butternut Squash Soup
  • Irish Beef Stew
  • Instant Pot Taco Soup
  • Roasted Tomato Basil Soup
  • Chicken Pot Pie Soup
  • Brown Butter Cauliflower Soup
  • Instant Pot Turkey Chili
  • Cheesy Southwestern Chicken Tortilla Soup
  • All our SOUP RECIPES!

Taco Stew

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3.70 from 72 votes

Servings: 8

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 30 minutes mins

Total Time: 45 minutes mins

Description

This taco stew is the recipe most requested by anyone who knows my mom and now you can try it too! I beg you try this and you won’t regret it!

Ingredients

  • 8 Yukon Gold Potatoes, peeled and diced or 8 red potatoes
  • 3-4 Carrots, peeled and diced
  • 1 Onion , chopped
  • 1 pound Hamburger
  • 1 package Frozen Peas, small package
  • 1 can Tomatoes, 16 oz
  • 1 can Tomato Sauce, 8 oz
  • 1 package Taco Seasoning, or roughly 1/4 cup
  • 1 can Corn, undrained
  • 1 can Chili Beans, undrained
  • 1 can Green Beans, undrained
  • 1 can Kidney Beans, undrained

Instructions

  • In a large pot add a drizzle of olive oil and place over medium heat.

  • Cook the onions until tender, about 3 minutes.

  • Add the carrots and potatoes and add just enough water to cover them.

  • Cook until tender.

  • In a separate pan, over medium heat cook the hamburger, drain the grease and add to the water and tender veggies.

  • Add all of the remaining ingredients and cook until heated through.

  • Serve with shredded cheese, sour cream and fritos!

Notes

To make in the slow cooker, do the first and second step and then dump everything in the slow cooker. We actually love to cook extra ground beef one night and save it for the taco stew to take less time. 🙂

reheat stew in a pot on the stovetop, or in the microwave

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 473kcalCarbohydrates: 96gProtein: 17gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 1452mgPotassium: 1638mgFiber: 14gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 5245IUVitamin C: 66mgCalcium: 164mgIron: 7mg

Author: Sweet Basil

Course: 100 + BEST Easy Beef Recipes for Dinner

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FAQs

What to add to beef stew to make it amazing? ›

Vegetables: small chopped carrots, celery, and onion or shallot practically melt into the sauce. Mushrooms: button mushrooms are a nod to the quartered mushrooms many classic beef stew recipes call for, but are thinly sliced instead of being left in bigger pieces. Garlic: minced garlic brings lots of cozy flavor.

How do you make tacos taste better? ›

Salsa and guacamole are great, but look to mix it up with fresh radish, chicharrones, or pickled onion. A fresh, warm tortilla is made better by a crunchy counterpart.” One of Romero's favorite toppings is a morita pepper and peanut salsa, which lends a spicy, smoky, crunchy lift to any taco.

How to make stew better? ›

If so here are some tips for making your stews tasty and have your family begging you for more!
  1. Choose your ingredients wisely. ...
  2. Start off with a good flavour base. ...
  3. Add vegetables. ...
  4. Add flavourings to taste. ...
  5. Add Herbs and/or Spices. ...
  6. Spices: (Optional) ...
  7. Add stock or wine/beer. ...
  8. Add thickeners.

What items should be on a taco bar? ›

HOW DO YOU SET UP A TACO BAR?
  • Proteins.
  • Beans.
  • Rice (or other grains)
  • Veggies.
  • Salsas.
  • Cheeses.
  • Lettuce and slaws.
  • Guacamole, cremas, sour cream.

How to deepen the flavor of beef stew? ›

Try adding soy sauce or Worcestershire for extra savory (or umami) flavor, a touch of honey or brown sugar for sweetness, lemon zest or vinegar for brightness or chili powder or smoked paprika for spice and depth.

What is the secret to tender beef stew? ›

The most important key to making stew meat tender is being sure to cook it for a long time. If you want super tender beef, you'll need to cook it on a low heat in a Dutch oven on the stove or a slow cooker for at least a few hours.

Does stew taste better the longer it cooks? ›

Don't Stew the Stew Too Long Either

It might seem that cooking your beef stew on low for 8 hours will make it even better, but that is not true at all.

What vegetables are good in beef stew? ›

Although I added carrots, little red potatoes, rutabaga and cremini mushrooms, you have plenty of options. Parsnip, turnip, pearl onions, squash and fennel will also work. Stir them in gently and immediately return the pot to the oven for the final hour of cooking.

Why do you put brown meat in stew? ›

Very simply put, browning equals flavor. As beef sears, the outside caramelizes, adding extra flavor to the beef, not to mention creating these tasty little browned bits that form on the bottom of the pot. Without browning, the finished stew just won't taste as good and the sauce won't be as dark.

How many tacos will 1lb of meat make? ›

How much ground beef per taco? Each taco shell or small soft taco-size tortilla fits about 2 ounces or 1/4 cup of meat. If you add diced onions, you could stretch a pound of ground beef to make about a dozen tacos. With just the meat and spices, you can make about 8 tacos from a pound of meat.

What are 5 condiments for tacos? ›

Some condiments for tacos are cheese, sour cream, hot sauce, taco sauce, jalapeño peppers, and tomatoes. There are many possibilities of what you could use. It just depends on what you like!

What kind of tomatoes for tacos? ›

Tomatoes add color and freshness to a taco. Roma tomatoes are nice because they are “meaty” and will hold nicely. Purchase vine ripened tomatoes to get a bright red color and better flavor. It's best to remove the seeds before chopping so the juice doesn't water down your taco.

How to make the perfect beef stew and the common mistakes to avoid? ›

The Five Most Common Beef Stew Mistakes
  1. Choosing a meat that's too lean. Stew is not meant for all cuts of meat. ...
  2. Putting too much flour on the stew meat before sautéeing them. ...
  3. Not using wine. ...
  4. Putting the meat and vegetables together in one pan. ...
  5. Not cooking it enough.
Jun 28, 2020

How to enhance beef flavor? ›

Beef tastes great when seasoned with oregano, rosemary, sage, garlic or a combination of these seasonings. Poultry gets an added burst of flavor with spices like paprika, lemongrass and saffron. Fish can be made more flavorful with dry mustard powder, thyme and turmeric.

What vegetables can you add to beef stew? ›

Although I added carrots, little red potatoes, rutabaga and cremini mushrooms, you have plenty of options. Parsnip, turnip, pearl onions, squash and fennel will also work.

What can I add to canned beef stew to make it taste better? ›

You can add many vegetables to your beef stew to balance out the meatiness of the dish. On top of the list, of course, are potatoes, carrots, and onions. But you can also toss mushrooms, winter squash, and cauliflower into stew recipes.

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