Wednesday - Taco Soup Dinner

Yesterday, Erin asked for recipe ideas for the week. So, I shared with her my favorite Weight Watchers recipe, Taco Soup. After discussing it with her, I had to make it. So, I went to the store and bought the ingredients. This is a 1 pot meal. You gotta love that! So the recipe is as follows:

1lb lean hamburger (you can also substitute ground turkey or chicken)
1 small onion, diced (this can be omitted if you wish)
1/4c green bell pepper, diced (this can be omitted if you wish)
1 16oz can black beans, drained
1 16oz can whole kernel corn, drained
1 16oz can of kidney beans - do not drain
1 16oz can of diced tomatoes - do not drain
1 can of Mild RoTel tomatoes (or any heat level you prefer) - do not drain
1 package if Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing powder
1 package of Taco Bell Taco seasoning (or any brand you prefer)
1 to 1.5c of water
Salt & Pepper to taste

In a large pot, add a tsp of oil, bell pepper, onion and saute to onions are just about clear. Add in your ground meat, salt and pepper, and brown. Drain meat, peppers, & onion. Put meat mixture back into pot and add beans, tomatoes, and corn. Mix well. Mix ranch dressing & seasoning packs to water and pour into pot. Mix well. Start with 1 cup of water. If the soup is too thick, add 1/2 cup more of water. Be careful not to add too much water, as the soup will lose it's taco flavor. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Reduce heat and cover. Let simmer for 30 to 45 minutes.

1 cup of the soup has 211 calories, 4 grams of fat, 30.8 grams of carbs, and 6.6 grams of fiber. 1 cup of this soup is 2 points on the Weight Watchers program. I always add a bit of cheese and sour cream to mine. This does affect the calories, but just factor them in with the soup. This soup does well in a crock pot too. Its a soup that is so satisfying. I don't even feel guilty about eating it!

Enjoy!