What to Do with Leftover Taco Soup (20 Easy Ideas)

When it comes to leftover taco soup, there’s no such thing as too much.

But what if you just can’t eat another bite?

See Also: What to Serve with Taco Soup? 30 Best Side Dishes

What to Do with Leftover Taco Soup

We’ve got 20 ideas for how to use up leftover taco soup, and they’re all super-delicious.

Read Also: The 10 Best Toppings for Taco Soup

What to Do with Leftover Taco Soup?

If you have leftover taco soup, then you can do a lot with it. You can use the leftovers in tacos, burritos, or enchiladas. You can also use it as a base for other soups or casseroles.

Keep reading for more ideas!

1. Use It as A Sauce for Nachos

Nachos

This is the best way to use up leftover taco soup if you want something quick and easy—and delicious!

Just combine your leftovers with some nacho cheese or queso blanco and spread it on a baking sheet lined with tortilla chips.

You can also mix in shredded cheese or sour cream if you want extra flavor or richness.

Pop it into the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes until the sauce is bubbling and starting to brown around the edges of the chips.

Then remove from the oven and serve while still warm!

2. Use It as A Sauce for Enchiladas

Chicken enchiladas

Leftover taco soup is the perfect foundation for a spicy enchilada sauce.

All you need to do is add some red chile powder, cumin, garlic powder and oregano to the soup along with a little water or broth until it forms a smooth sauce.

Then spoon it over your favorite enchiladas and bake until hot and bubbly!

3. Use It as A Sauce for Burritos

Burritos

Add a little of your favorite salsa to the soup (or use salsa verde), then heat it up in the microwave until hot and add a few spoonfuls on top of your burrito with some cheese and sour cream.

You’ll be so happy you did!

4. Make an Egg Scramble with Cheese and Bacon in It

Egg Scramble with Cheese and Bacon
Source: www.goodto.com

You know how people always say that bacon makes everything better?

Well, they’re right!

Just add some extra cheese and eggs (and maybe some tortilla chips) to the leftover soup, then scramble it all together like normal.

This is a great way to turn your soup into a delicious breakfast!

5. Freeze It Into Ice Cube Trays

We’re not kidding when we say that tacos are one of the most versatile foods out there.

You can make them with different fillings and toppings, so why not turn your leftover soup into a frozen treat?

Simply place your leftover soup into ice cube trays and freeze overnight.

Then pop them out of the tray and store them in a freezer bag or container until you need some creamy frozen goodness!

6. Make a Taco Salad with The Soup as The Base

Taco Salad

This is an easy way to turn leftover taco soup into something new and different without having to cook anything at all!

Just chop up some lettuce, tomatoes, and avocado and add them to your favorite tortilla chips or baked corn chips (just make sure they have no added oils).

Then top with some shredded cheese or sour cream and dig in!

7. Add Some Rice to The Soup and Make Rice Bowls

taco rice bowl
Source: ourlifetastesgood.com

If you’ve got a little bit of taco soup left over and want something more substantial than a bowl of soup, this is the perfect solution.

Just add some rice to your leftover taco soup (or vice versa), mix it all together, and enjoy!

8. Spoon Over Your Favorite Pasta Dish

Pasta Dish

Taco soup makes a great topping for pasta dishes like spaghetti or macaroni—the heat from the soup will warm up the noodles and add delicious flavor.

Just mix in some sour cream or Greek yogurt to cool it down and make it even tastier.

9. Make a New Batch

Taco Soup

If you have extra ingredients lying around, use them up by making another batch of taco soup—we won’t judge if you add more cayenne pepper or even try adding cauliflower instead of potato!

It’ll be just as good as before… maybe even better!

10. Use It as A Dip for Veggies Such as Carrots or Cucumbers

Cut up some veggies like carrots or cucumbers and serve them with a side of your soup!

This is a great option if you don’t want to take the time to make an entirely new meal—just toss those veggies in with your leftover taco soup, and you’re good to go!

11. Use It as A Dip for Crackers, Chips, & More

Sure, we’re always down for a bowl of soup—but it’s always even better when there are other things to dip in it!

You can use your leftover soup as a dip for everything from crackers to tortilla chips and even raw veggies.

Just make sure you don’t add too much salt or spice when heating the dip back up—you want to keep the taste of your taco soup intact!

12. Use It in Place of Chicken Stock when Making Rice

Just saute some onions, garlic, and cumin, then add cooked rice and the soup into a large saucepan and cook until all liquid has been absorbed by the rice, about 20 minutes.

13. Top a Baked Potato with It

Baked sweet potatoes

You can make a baked potato into a super-fast meal by topping it with taco soup and some cheese, sour cream, and cilantro (if you have any).

You will never look at baked potatoes the same way again!

14. Turn It Into a Soup-Based Casserole

This is one of our favorite ways to turn leftovers into an entirely new dish.

Take your leftover taco soup, stir in some cooked rice or quinoa, and bake until bubbly in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20 minutes.

Top with cheese (we recommend shredded cheddar), sour cream, fresh diced tomatoes or avocado slices, and fresh chopped cilantro for a delicious dinner that’s full of fiber and protein—and will keep you full for hours!

15. Add It to Your Morning Eggs

Scrambled eggs

Just heat up your taco soup with some water or milk (depending on how thick you want it), then pour it over your scrambled eggs.

The warm spices will wake up your taste buds in the morning—and make sure your kids get a nutritious breakfast!

16. Add It to Your Next Batch of Chili

chili

If you love chili but are looking for something that’s a little different than normal, try adding leftover taco soup to your chili recipe!

You can make a big batch of chili by adding one pound of ground beef or ground turkey along with one small onion diced finely (we recommend using Vidalia onions when making chili).

Then add three cloves minced garlic and two tablespoons chili powder (you can also add some cayenne pepper if you like things extra spicy!).

Add salt and pepper to taste before stirring in your soup!

17. Add It to Your Vegetable Stir-Fry

Vegetable Stir-Fry

If you’re looking for a way to use up all those veggies in your fridge, stir fry is one of the easiest ways to do it.

Just add some taco soup and whatever leftovers you have lying around (e.g., chicken or steak) and get cooking!

18. Make Tacos

tacos

This is one of our favorite ways to use up leftover taco soup because it’s so easy!

All you need are tortillas, taco meat (we recommend making your own), shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes or salsa and cheese—just like a regular taco but with soup instead of meat or beans!

You can also add guacamole for an extra special touch if you’d like…just be sure not to add too much liquid from your leftover soup when mixing it into your guacamole so that it doesn’t get too watered down (or else your guac will become runny).

19. Make A Breakfast Bowl

Loaded Breakfast Taco Bowls
Source: paleorunningmomma.com

Take some of that leftover soup, add some diced onion and bell pepper, stir in some eggs (even better if you scramble them first), and then fry it up in a pan for about five minutes until everything is cooked through.

Top with cilantro, avocado slices and cheese if desired—and enjoy!

20. Put It in a Wrap

Wrap

Take one tortilla, add some lettuce or spinach, top it with some cheese or sour cream, then add your taco soup as the main portion of this delicious wrap.

The crunchy veggies and chewy tortilla will complement each other perfectly—and the chili taste of the soup will make this meal a favorite lunchtime treat!

How Long Will Taco Soup Last in The Fridge?

Taco soup can last in the fridge for about 3 to 5 days.

It’s best to store in an airtight container, so that it doesn’t dry out or pick up any funky flavors from other foods.

If you want to keep it longer than 3 to 5 days, you can freeze it in portions and defrost when ready to eat.

You can also cook up a big batch, then freeze it in smaller portions—this way you’ll always have some on hand!

Can You Freeze Leftover Taco Soup?

Yes, you can freeze leftover taco soup.

To freeze leftover taco soup, you need to first let it cool completely.

Then, divide the soup into smaller portions (like 1 cup) and freeze them in freezer bags or containers. You can also use a vacuum sealer.

When you’re ready to eat your frozen soup, take out as much or as little as you need from the freezer and reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop.

How Do You Make Taco Soup with Leftover Taco Meat?

Taco soup is delicious, but it’s also really easy to make. You can use leftover taco meat, or you can make your own fresh taco meat for the soup.

  1. The first thing you need to do is boil up some ground beef until it’s cooked through, then drain the grease and set aside.
  2. Next, cook up some onion and garlic in a little bit of oil over medium heat until soft. Add in some spices—we recommend chili powder or cumin—and stir them in until they’re fragrant.
  3. Then add in your cooked ground beef, along with any vegetables that are going into your soup (we like to use corn and beans).
  4. Finally, add in some canned tomatoes and tomato sauce and let everything simmer for about 30 minutes before serving.

That’s it!

taco soup

What to Do with Leftover Taco Soup (20 Easy Ideas)

You may have heard that you should throw away your taco soup, but we're here to tell you that's just not true!
Taco soup is delicious, and it's great for leftovers. If you reheat it and add some cheese? You've got yourself a brand new meal!
It's also a great way to use up leftovers from other meals. Let's say you made spaghetti one night and had some extra sauce. You can use that sauce in taco soup and make something new out of it!
And finally—and most importantly—it's just plain wasteful to throw away leftover soup!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Soup
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 4 people
Calories 320 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • Use It as A Sauce for Nachos
  • Use It as A Sauce for Enchiladas
  • Use It as A Sauce for Burritos
  • Make an Egg Scramble with Cheese and Bacon in It
  • Freeze It Into Ice Cube Trays
  • Make a Taco Salad with The Soup as The Base
  • Add Some Rice to The Soup and Make Rice Bowls
  • Spoon Over Your Favorite Pasta Dish
  • Make a New Batch
  • Use It as A Dip for Veggies Such as Carrots or Cucumbers
  • Use It as A Dip for Crackers, Chips, & More
  • Use It in Place of Chicken Stock when Making Rice
  • Top a Baked Potato with It
  • Turn It Into a Soup-Based Casserole
  • Add It to Your Morning Eggs
  • Add It to Your Next Batch of Chili
  • Add It to Your Vegetable Stir-Fry
  • Make Tacos
  • Make A Breakfast Bowl
  • Put It in a Wrap

Instructions
 

  • Pick your favorite idea from this list to use up your soup.
  • Prepare the rest of your Mexican meal.
  • Be ready to munch in no time!
Keyword What to Do with Leftover Taco Soup
Benjamin Happy Muncher

Hi, I'm Benjamin. I love cooking, long walks, and my girlfriend! Here you’ll find simple and delicious recipes that you can make in 30 minutes or less.

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