Crockpot Burrito Soup
15
You want to know what a real holiday miracle is? Using the crockpot TWO times in a week.
The slowcooker is one of those things I feel like you should have, and really love. The problem is, I really don’t. I mean, do not get me wrong. I love coming home to a hot, already-cooked meal. But my problem is we are gone for a relatively long time during the day and I feel like very few things stand up to that length of cooking without turning into a mushy mess or flavorless “plotz” (a term my dad coined to refer to food that makes that noise when it hits your plate).
But, I have a great beef stew crockpot recipe that I use a decent amount in the wintertime, and it was so nice to come home to it the other week after a long, rainy day. So, I decided to use the crockpot again the following week and see what I could come up with.
I decided soups and chilis were safe options, so I mixed the two and came up with this burrito soup. I say burrito, not taco, because it has things like corn and black beans in it. The nice thing about this recipe is it’s very easy to put together (my beef stew recipe, while delicious, takes a bit of prep) and you can’t really overcook it. I did find, however, that the rice still turned a tad mushy even though I added it at the end so the next time I may just cook it separately, put it in bowls and then ladle the soup over the rice.
This is a hearty, healthy, and great soup. You just need a salad and maybe a piece of cornbread and you’re good to go!
Update: I’ve made this soup a few times and my preference is to make the rice separately and just add it to the soup at the end. I’ve also experimented with various chili powders and all are good in their own right—aleppo doesn’t add much heat at all, ancho adds just a bit, and my favorite is a hot chili powder, which definitely adds some kick. Use any type you want, or a mixture.
Crockpot Burrito Soup
Serves 6
2 tsp. canola oil
1 large onion, diced
1 lb. extra lean ground beef
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce or 1 can diced tomatoes
4-5 cups beef broth*
2 Tbsp. chili powder
1 Tbsp. cumin
2 tsp. oregano
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup corn
1/2 cup uncooked rice (or, cook rice separately)
Heat a large heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat and add oil. Cook the onions for a couple minutes before adding the beef. Brown the beef with the onion and drain if necessary. Put back on the heat and stir in the garlic, just until fragrant.
Pour the beef mixture into the crockpot and then add the tomato sauce, beef broth, spices, and black beans. Cook on low for…however long you’re gone.
Add the corn. If cooking the rice in the crockpot, increase the temperature to high and add the rice, just until cooked. (Alternatively you can put the cooked rice in bowls and ladle the soup over it.)
Garnish with your favorite toppings.
*Use 4 cups broth if cooking rice separately; use 4.5-5 if cooking rice in the crockpot.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (with 93% lean beef): Calories: 312 / Fat: 7.5g / Carbs: 33.5g / Fiber: 6.3g / Protein: 26g
I, too, have a love-mostly hate relationship with crockpots, but this looks muy bueno!
Absolutely delicious Elly! Love the flavours. Crockpot cooking is quite popular and I think a clever way of utilising cheaper cuts of meat….LOL @ “plotz”…sounds just like my dad!
That looks really good! Love the new blog, too. I haven’t had a chance to really check it out until now.
yum yum …what a creative way to make a stew taste like a burrito…Racheal Ray watch out 😀
That looks great!!
This might be the first recipe I’ll try using my crockpot!
Mmm…my favorite flavors! I like the idea of turning it into a soup and using the crockpot for an easy weeknight meal
Elly, good points…this is hard to F-up in case you come home late. This bowl of soup would sate me so today.
this looks great!
This is going on my must try list, and I love your new blog, congrats!