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Mexican Beef and Rice Soup

Mexican beef and rice soup made in one pot with a tomato-red broth, fluffy white rice, corn, and green chiles. Ground beef simmers until tender, then the rice cooks right in for an easy sopa de res style dinner.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 360

Ingredients
  

Ground beef and base
  • 1.5 lb ground beef
  • 1 onion medium, diced
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
  • 1 can (10 oz) Rotel tomatoes
  • 1 can (4 oz) diced green chiles
  • 6 cup beef broth
Rice and seasonings
  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • 1 cup long-grain white rice uncooked
  • 1.5 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 0.25 tsp salt and pepper to taste to taste
Serving toppings
  • 0.33 cup cilantro fresh, chopped
  • 1 lime squeeze over soup
  • 0.5 cup cotija cheese crumbled
  • 1 jalapeño sliced, for serving

Equipment

  • 1 Dutch oven

Method
 

Brown the beef
  1. Heat a large pot over medium-high heat and brown the ground beef with the diced onion. Drain excess fat, then add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring, until fragrant.
Build the soup base
  1. Stir in the diced tomatoes, Rotel tomatoes, diced green chiles, frozen corn, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Cook and stir for 1–2 minutes to combine flavors, keeping the mixture bubbling.
  2. Pour in the beef broth and bring the soup to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat as needed so it stays at a steady simmer.
Cook the rice
  1. Add the long-grain white rice, then reduce heat to medium, cover, and cook for 18–20 minutes until the rice is cooked and tender. If the soup gets too thick, add a splash of water or broth to keep it simmering.
Finish and serve
  1. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt and pepper as needed, then remove from heat. Serve topped with fresh cilantro, a squeeze of lime, cotija cheese, and sliced jalapeño.

Notes

For a cleaner, less greasy broth, drain the fat after browning the beef before adding garlic. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days; reheat gently on the stovetop, adding a splash of broth or water if the rice thickens. Freezing is yes, but the rice may soften further—freeze up to 2 months and thaw before reheating. For a lighter option, use lean ground beef (or ground turkey) and low-sodium beef broth.