Thermos Taco Soup

Thermos dinner

A spoonful of warm taco soup between the first half and the long drive home.

There is no concession stand and no microwave, just a bench and a thermos you filled at a hard simmer.

Your kid stirs in the cheese and chips you packed separately, and a real bowl of soup happens on a metal bleacher.

Use these ingredients for thermos taco soup when fills 4 thermoses is the right target.

Cook the main part of thermos taco soup now, then let the final add-on happen right before eating.

Brown the ground beef with the onion in a large pot over medium-high heat until no pink remains, about 7 minutes. Drain off the fat.
Stir in the taco seasoning and cook for 1 minute to bloom it.
Add both beans, the corn, diced tomatoes, and beef broth.
Bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer and cook 15 minutes so the flavors come together.
Taste and adjust the salt, then ladle in steaming hot.

Soup is the easiest thing to pack hot, as long as the thermos starts warm and the soup goes in boiling.

Fill the thermos with boiling water and let it sit 5 minutes, then empty it just before filling
Ladle the soup in at a hard simmer so it starts well above 140F
Keep hot food at 140F or above; a preheated thermos holds it through the whole evening

The fun toppings go soggy in the jar, so send them in their own little containers.

This soup tastes even better made the night before; just reheat to a hard simmer before packing.

Make It Fit Tonight

Lighter but still hearty, and it soaks up the taco seasoning just the same.

Mild heat and extra flavor without making it too spicy for kids.

Skip the meat and add a third can of beans for a filling meatless jar.

A scoop of rice makes it thicker and more filling for a hungry teen.

Packed separately, they add the salty crunch kids love right at the field.

Plan The Next Step

Open the planner to line up which evenings need soup in a jar and which can wait for the kitchen.