Hearty & Easy Slow Cooker Beef Enchilada Soup: Your Ultimate Dump-and-Go Weeknight Meal
Imagine walking through your door after a long, demanding day, not to the daunting task of preparing dinner, but to the enticing aroma of a warm, comforting meal that practically cooked itself. This isn’t a fantasy; it’s the everyday magic of this incredible Slow Cooker Beef Enchilada Soup! Truly living up to its “dump and go” reputation, this recipe redefines ease. Simply gather your ingredients, open a few cans, combine everything in your trusty crock pot, set it to low, and let the slow cooker work its wonders. By the time you return home, you’ll be greeted by a rich, savory, and incredibly satisfying bowl of Beef Enchilada Soup, brimming with vibrant Mexican-inspired flavors. It’s the ultimate hassle-free solution for busy weeknights when you crave a homemade, hearty dinner without the fuss and extensive cleanup.
From Family Tradition to a New Culinary Discovery
In our home, the annual Halloween Soup Supper is more than just a meal; it’s a cherished tradition. Year after year, without fail, my children eagerly request their beloved classics: the soul-warming Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup and the luxuriously creamy Broccoli Cheese Soup. While these are undoubtedly comforting and universally adored, I found myself yearning for something new to introduce to our festive spread. I wanted a dish that would bring a fresh burst of flavor and excitement, something that could stand proudly alongside our traditional favorites and offer a delightful culinary surprise.
This year, the stars aligned, and I decided to unveil the Beef Enchilada Soup. The anticipation was palpable, and I was eager to see if this new contender could win over the hearts of my toughest critics – my own family. From the moment the first spoonful was tasted, any doubts evaporated. The reaction was nothing short of enthusiastic! Everyone absolutely LOVED it. The robust, slightly spicy notes of the enchilada sauce, perfectly complemented by the tender ground beef, hearty pinto beans, and sweet Mexi-Corn, created a symphony of flavors that delighted every palate. It brought a wonderful new dimension to our cherished soup supper, solidifying its place as a new, highly-requested family favorite. This experience was a delightful reminder that sometimes, stepping beyond tradition can lead to discovering extraordinary new dishes that enrich our culinary memories for years to come.
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Print Recipe
Beef Enchilada Soup
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground beef browned and drained
- 1 large onion chopped
- 1 – 15oz can of Mexican stewed tomatoes undrained
- 1 – 15oz can pinto beans undrained, liquid and all
- 2 – 11oz cans of Mexi-Corn drained
- 2 – 10oz cans enchilada sauce red or green, adjust to your preference
- 2 cups shredded Mexican Blend cheese plus extra for topping
- 6 corn tortillas cut into strips, for serving (optional)
Instructions
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Lightly grease your slow cooker insert with cooking spray (like Pam). In a large skillet, brown the ground beef with the chopped onion over medium-high heat until the beef is no longer pink and the onion is softened. Drain any excess fat and transfer the beef and onion mixture into your prepared slow cooker.
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Add the Mexican stewed tomatoes (undrained), pinto beans (undrained), drained Mexi-Corn, and both cans of enchilada sauce to the slow cooker with the beef.
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Fill one of the empty enchilada sauce cans with water twice (equivalent to two cans of water) and add it to the crock pot. This will provide the necessary liquid for the soup.
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Stir all the ingredients thoroughly to combine them well, ensuring everything is evenly distributed.
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Cover the slow cooker and cook on the LOW setting for 6-8 hours, or on HIGH for 3-4 hours, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully and the ingredients to become tender.
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Approximately 30-60 minutes before you plan to serve, stir in the 2 cups of shredded Mexican Blend cheese. Continue to cook until the cheese is completely melted and fully incorporated, making the soup wonderfully creamy and cheesy. If using, add the corn tortilla strips at this point or just before serving for a softer texture.
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Serve hot, topped with extra shredded cheese, a dollop of sour cream, fresh cilantro, sliced avocado, or your favorite enchilada soup toppings. Enjoy your hearty and flavorful meal!
Nutrition
Calories: 837kcal |
Carbohydrates: 58g |
Protein: 61g |
Fat: 41g |
Saturated Fat: 18g |
Polyunsaturated Fat: 18g |
Trans Fat: 1g |
Cholesterol: 175mg |
Sodium: 1472mg |
Fiber: 10g |
Sugar: 16g
Why You’ll Fall in Love with This Slow Cooker Beef Enchilada Soup
This isn’t just another recipe to add to your collection; it’s a culinary revelation for anyone who appreciates deeply flavorful, hearty meals but struggles with time constraints. Here’s why this Slow Cooker Beef Enchilada Soup is destined to become a beloved staple in your meal rotation:
- Effortless Preparation, Maximum Flavor: True to its “dump-and-go” promise, the hands-on preparation for this soup is remarkably minimal. The only initial step is browning the ground beef and onion to build a robust flavor foundation. After that, your slow cooker takes over, doing all the hard work while you go about your day. You come home to a ready-to-eat, delicious dinner!
- Authentic and Rich Mexican-Inspired Flavors: This soup masterfully captures the essence of classic beef enchiladas in a comforting, spoonable form. The combination of savory ground beef, robust enchilada sauce, diced Mexican stewed tomatoes, tender pinto beans, and sweet Mexi-Corn creates a complex, deeply satisfying flavor profile that is both familiar and exciting.
- The Epitome of Comfort Food: On a chilly evening, after a long day, or when you simply crave a warm hug in a bowl, this soup delivers. Its hearty ingredients and rich broth provide an unparalleled sense of comfort and satisfaction that truly warms you from the inside out.
- A Guaranteed Family Favorite: With its approachable flavors and customizable toppings, this soup is a proven hit with both children and adults. The mild spice level can be easily adjusted to suit everyone’s preferences, making it an excellent way to introduce new and exciting flavors to your family in a universally appealing format.
- Highly Versatile and Customizable: While utterly delicious as written, this recipe also serves as a fantastic canvas for your culinary creativity. Feel free to experiment with different types of beans, add a variety of vegetables like bell peppers or zucchini, or adjust the heat level with extra chilies or a dash of hot sauce.
- Perfect for Efficient Meal Prep: This Beef Enchilada Soup reheats beautifully, making it an ideal candidate for meal prepping. Prepare a large batch at the beginning of the week for effortless lunches or dinners, or freeze individual portions for convenient, ready-made meals on busy future evenings.
Expert Tips for Elevating Your Slow Cooker Beef Enchilada Soup
Even with a recipe as straightforward as this, a few expert tips can transform your Beef Enchilada Soup from simply good to absolutely extraordinary:
- The Importance of Browning: Do not skip the initial step of browning the ground beef and sautéing the onion. This seemingly small step is critical for developing rich, deep savory flavors (the Maillard reaction) and ensuring the best texture for your beef. Draining the fat afterward prevents the soup from becoming greasy.
- Optimal Liquid Levels: The instruction to use the empty enchilada sauce cans to measure the water is a clever trick. It ensures you capture every last bit of flavor from the cans and achieve the perfect soup consistency. Slow cookers retain a lot of moisture, so adding too much liquid upfront can result in a thinner soup than desired.
- Strategic Cheese Addition: For the creamiest, meltiest results, incorporate the bulk of the shredded cheese during the final hour of cooking. This allows the cheese to fully melt and meld into the soup without separating or becoming oily from prolonged heat exposure. Always save a little extra for a fresh topping!
- Selecting Your Enchilada Sauce: The choice between red and green enchilada sauce significantly impacts the soup’s flavor profile. Red sauce generally offers a deeper, earthier, and often spicier taste, while green sauce tends to be brighter, tangier, and sometimes milder. Feel free to use your preferred type, or even a combination!
- Adjusting the Spice to Your Liking: If you’re a fan of a fiery kick, consider adding a finely diced jalapeño or serrano pepper along with the onion (adjusting for spice tolerance, of course!). A pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of your favorite hot sauce stirred in at the end can also provide an extra boost of heat. For a milder soup, stick to mild enchilada sauce.
- Don’t Skimp on the Garnishes: Toppings are essential for both enhancing flavor and adding visual appeal. Fresh cilantro, a generous dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt, creamy sliced avocado, crunchy crushed tortilla chips, or a sprinkle of extra shredded cheese can truly elevate each serving.
Perfect Serving Suggestions for Your Hearty Enchilada Soup
This robust and satisfying soup is perfectly capable of being a standalone meal, but it also shines when paired with a few simple yet complementary sides:
- Crispy Tortilla Strips or Chips: For an irresistible textural contrast, serve your soup with a side of freshly made crispy tortilla strips (easily baked or fried from corn tortillas) or your favorite store-bought tortilla chips. They’re perfect for dipping and scooping!
- A Light Green Salad: A crisp, refreshing green salad dressed with a bright lime vinaigrette offers a wonderful counterpoint to the rich, warm flavors of the soup, cleansing the palate with every bite.
- Warm Cornbread: Few things pair as perfectly with a hearty soup as a slice of warm, buttery cornbread. It’s ideal for soaking up every last drop of the delicious broth.
- Mexican Rice or Refried Beans: For an even more substantial meal that embodies a full Mexican feast, consider serving small portions of fluffy Mexican rice or creamy refried beans on the side.
- Fresh Topping Bar: Set up a ‘topping bar’ with an array of garnishes such as fresh cilantro, diced red onion, pickled jalapeños, crumbled cotija cheese, and various hot sauces, allowing everyone to customize their bowl to their heart’s content.
Storing and Reheating Your Delicious Leftovers
One of the many advantages of this Slow Cooker Beef Enchilada Soup is its excellent potential for leftovers. It stores and reheats beautifully, making it a fantastic option for meal prep or quick future dinners:
- Refrigeration Guidelines: Ensure the soup has cooled completely to room temperature before transferring it into an airtight container. Properly stored, it will maintain its delicious flavor and quality in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Freezing for Future Meals: This soup is very freezer-friendly! Pour cooled soup into freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags, remembering to leave about an inch of headspace to allow for expansion. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. For best results, thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Effortless Reheating: To reheat, gently warm the soup on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until it is heated through. You might find it has thickened slightly in the refrigerator, so feel free to add a splash of water or chicken broth to achieve your desired consistency. For individual servings, the microwave works perfectly in 30-second intervals, stirring between each to ensure even heating.
Embrace the Simplicity and Flavor of Slow Cooker Meals
The slow cooker stands as an indispensable appliance for any busy home cook, magically transforming basic ingredients into rich, complex, and deeply satisfying meals with minimal effort. This Hearty & Easy Slow Cooker Beef Enchilada Soup perfectly encapsulates the very essence of slow cooking: convenience, incredible flavor, and immensely rewarding results. It serves as a wonderful reminder of how effortless it can be to consistently put a delicious, homemade dinner on the table, even on the most hectic of days.
Whether you’re on the hunt for a new family favorite, an ingenious solution for busy weeknights, or simply a comforting bowl of soup to warm your soul, this Beef Enchilada Soup recipe is guaranteed to deliver on all fronts. Give it a try, savor the incredible flavors, and experience the pure joy of effortless cooking. We’d love to hear about your experience – don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave your comments below!