Weight Watchers Taco Soup

This Weight Watchers Taco Soup is one of the easiest Weight Watchers friendly recipes I've created. It's a hearty, one-pot mix of lean ground turkey, two kinds of beans, corn and tomatoes simmered in smoky taco spices: healthy, bursting with flavor, and very light on points!

One of the easiest ways to stay on top of your diet and still feel satisfied is to eat hearty soups and stews.

This Weight Watchers Taco Soup recipe is one of our favorites thanks to its amazing flavor and low point value for such a large portion. It also pairs PERFECTLY with our yummy Weight Watchers Banana Bread.

By adding in tons of flavor-rich vegetables and a few spices, you can create a soup that feels like a huge meal without wasting your entire day's points. Each big 2-cup bowl is a perfect lunch or hearty evening meal.

How Many Weight Watchers Points Is This Taco Soup?

When we first shared this recipe, each 2-cup serving worked out to 3 SmartPoints. The Weight Watchers (WW) program has changed many times since then, from SmartPoints and Freestyle to myWW+, PersonalPoints and now the current WW Points program, but we try to keep the points on our recipes updated.

On the current WW Points program, almost everything in this soup is a ZeroPoint food: the kidney beans, pinto beans, corn, tomatoes, bell pepper and onion. Ground turkey made only from breast meat (usually labeled 99% lean) is on the ZeroPoint list too, so if you make the soup with ground turkey breast it can come in at 0 Points per serving. If you use regular 93% lean ground turkey, the meat will add some points to each bowl. Because your exact number depends on your plan (corn isn't zero on WW's diabetes-focused plan, for example) and the brands you buy, we always recommend building the recipe in the WW app to confirm your points.

Weight Watchers Recipes Galore

Looking for more Weight Watchers recipes? Try our Weight Watchers Meatloaf, Weight Watchers Beef Stroganoff, or these Weight Watchers Meatballs.

Recipes that are friendly to your waistline while being so completely appetizing are always good to have on hand, whether you're seriously dieting or just want to eat a bit better and reduce your caloric intake.

Here are a few helpful resources for planning healthier and delicious meals:

• More of my own Weight Watchers Friendly Recipes!
• The Weight Watchers 50th Anniversary Cookbook is packed with 280 healthy recipes!
• This Skinnytaste Slow Cooker cookbook is an amazing source for recipes that will keep you on your diet plan.
• Or, if you're on a low-carb diet, check out the Low Carb Recipes from Step Away from the Carbs!

Key Ingredients & Substitutions

• Lean ground turkey. The base of the soup and what keeps it light. Ground turkey breast (99% lean) is the lowest-point choice; 93% lean turkey has a little more flavor and fat. Lean ground chicken, extra-lean ground beef, or shredded chicken breast all work too.
• Green bell pepper and yellow onion. These add sweetness and body. Red, orange or yellow peppers are all fine, and a jalapeño can go in with them if you like heat.
• Beans. We use one can each of kidney beans and pinto beans. Black beans or great northern beans can stand in for either one. Drain and rinse them to cut down on sodium.
• Corn. Canned corn is easiest, but frozen corn (no need to thaw) or corn cut fresh from the cob works just as well.
• Diced tomatoes and tomato sauce. Look for low-sodium or no-salt-added cans so you can control the salt. A can of diced tomatoes with green chiles (like Rotel) gives the soup an extra kick.
• Spices. Ground cumin, paprika, garlic powder and onion powder make the taco flavor. You can swap all of them for 3 tablespoons of our DIY Taco Seasoning, or a packet of store-bought taco seasoning (check it for added sugar).
• Water. Low-sodium chicken broth adds more depth if you'd rather use it. Keep in mind it may change the points slightly.

How to Make Weight Watchers Taco Soup - Step by Step

Here are the step-by-step instructions on how to make this delicious soup recipe.

Step One:

Brown the ground turkey in a large stock pot or Dutch oven, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain off any extra liquid.

Step Two:

Add the pepper, onions, beans, tomatoes, tomato sauce and corn to the ground turkey in the stock pot.

This soup is starting to come together!

Step Three:

Add spices!

Here you have two choices. You can add the seasonings listed in the recipe card below, which are yum. Or, alternatively, you can add 3 tablespoons of our DIY Taco Seasoning.

Step Four:

Add water and let this delicious soup simmer on the stove. It's SO good!

This Taco Soup is Delish!

This taco soup is seriously one of my family's favorite soup recipes. We're talking about spicy seasonings and bite after bite of vegetables and ground meat that is just so good.

Our Weight Watchers version of the soup has ground turkey, which is a leaner meat and the perfect solution when you're trying to cut fat.

We love this soup recipe! It is so easy to make, as easy as browning ground turkey, onions and peppers and adding in some tasty canned vegetables and beans.

Helpful Tips

Use a big, heavy pot. A 6-quart enameled Dutch oven or a large stock pot gives the soup plenty of room and holds a steady simmer without scorching the bottom. A thinner pot works too; just stir a little more often.

Brown the turkey well. Ground turkey is very lean and can look gray and steamed if it's crowded. Let it sit undisturbed for a couple of minutes before breaking it up so it gets some color, which adds a lot of flavor to a low-fat soup.

Soften the vegetables first. For the best texture, cook the diced onion and pepper with the browned turkey for 3 to 4 minutes before adding the cans. They'll be sweeter and more tender in the finished soup.

Taste before you salt. Canned beans, tomatoes and seasoning blends all bring their own salt. Add the spices first, let the soup simmer, then taste and add the salt a little at a time at the end.

Adjust the thickness. A longer simmer with the lid off makes a thicker, chili-like soup. If it gets thicker than you like, stir in a splash of water or broth. For a thicker soup without extra points, mash a few spoonfuls of the beans against the side of the pot.

Variations

This soup is one of those recipes that we love to make because it is so incredibly simple, and it can be adapted easily to your family's preferences with little change in the points. You can leave out vegetables your family doesn't care for and replace them with ones they do enjoy.

• Chicken taco soup. Swap the turkey for lean ground chicken, or skip the browning step and stir in 2 cups of shredded cooked chicken breast (like our Mexican Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken) for the last 15 minutes.
• Vegetarian taco soup. Leave out the ground meat and add an extra can of beans (black beans are great here) to create a vegetarian dish that everyone will love. Use vegetable broth instead of water for more flavor.
• Slow cooker taco soup. This is an easy Weight Watchers Crock Pot soup recipe too. Just brown the meat, combine all the ingredients in the slow cooker, and cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours.
• Instant Pot taco soup. Brown the turkey, onion and pepper using the Sauté setting, then add everything else, stirring and scraping the bottom well. Pressure cook on high for 10 minutes and let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes.
• Beef taco soup. Use extra-lean (96% lean) ground beef in place of the turkey for a classic taco flavor. The points will be a little higher.
• Extra spicy. Add a diced jalapeño with the onion, use diced tomatoes with green chiles, or stir in a pinch of cayenne or chipotle chili powder.

Serving Ideas

This soup goes perfectly into your meal plan each week as a starter for a meal, a great hearty lunch or even a smaller portion as a quick snack when you are feeling the need for a pick-me-up. Top each bowl with a spoonful of plain nonfat Greek yogurt (a great low-point swap for sour cream), fresh cilantro, sliced green onions, a squeeze of lime, or a little shredded reduced-fat cheese.

For a more filling meal, serve it with a small side salad, a few baked tortilla chips for dipping, or a spoonful of Copycat Chipotle Cilantro Rice in the bottom of the bowl. If you aren't counting points, our Easy Cornbread Muffins are a classic partner for any taco soup or chili.

Storing & Freezing

Let the soup cool, then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Like most soups and chilis, it tastes even better the next day once the spices have had time to settle in, which makes it perfect for meal prep lunches. Reheat individual portions in the microwave or the whole batch on the stove over medium heat, adding a splash of water if it has thickened.

This taco soup freezes beautifully. Portion the cooled soup into freezer-safe containers or bags, leaving a little room at the top, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat on the stove over medium heat until it's hot all the way through. Add any toppings like yogurt, cheese or cilantro after reheating.

More Weight Watchers Soups

If you love this Weight Watchers Taco Soup, try our other lightened-up soups and Weight Watchers favorites:

• Weight Watchers Chili
• Copycat Panera Turkey Chili
• Copycat Chili's Southwest Chicken Soup
• Weight Watchers Beef Stroganoff
• Weight Watchers Easy Cheese Lasagna
• More Weight Watchers Friendly Recipes!

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