How Many Calories Are in Tortilla and Taco Soup? | Livestrong.com (2024)

If you prepare it the right way, you don't have to worry about the calories in tortilla soup or taco soup.

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Tortilla soup is a traditional Mexican dish made with tomatoes, chicken, chiles in adobo sauce and, of course, tortillas. A calorie-rich food, tortilla soup gets much of its nutritional value from carbohydrates and fats, particularly saturated fats.

There are so many variations to tortilla soup, including chicken tortilla soup which has fewer carbs than the meat-free version. Taco soup is another similar and delicious dish that usually features beans and ground beef.

Here's everything you need to know about the nutrition and calories in tortilla soup and taco soup.

Plain, traditional tortilla soup is made with ingredients like oil (olive or vegetable), broth, chiles, onions, tomato and garlic, and garnished with thin-sliced tortillas, diced avocado, crumbled cotija cheese and freshly chopped cilantro. People often add beans in their tortilla soup for additional fiber and protein.

Here's a breakdown of the tortilla soup calories and nutrition info per 1-cup serving, according to the USDA:

This is just one example of the nutrient profile for tortilla soup, and it's based on a homemade recipe. If your tortilla soup is store-bought, from a restaurant, or made with different ingredients, the amounts of some nutrients may vary.

Tortilla soup may be high in carbs and fat. Keep in mind that preparing your own soup can help you limit the calories, fat, sodium and sugar in your meal.

You can also use chicken as the main protein source in your tortilla soup. Chicken tortilla soup calories and nutrition information will vary based on whether you're buying a pre-made, packaged soup or you're making your own.

According to the USDA, 1 cup of O Organiics chicken tortilla soup has:

Chicken tortilla soup, if made without beans, will have fewer calories, carbs and fibers than plain tortilla soup made with beans.

Taco soup is slightly different from tortilla soup. While tortilla soup is more broth-and-tomato-based with a thin, watery consistency, taco soup is a bit heavier (similar to a chili consistency), and typically includes both beans and meat with classic taco seasonings for flavor. Beef and red kidney beans are high-protein foods that are often used in taco soup.

According to the USDA, a 1-cup serving of taco soup will give you:

Thanks to the addition of beans and meat, taco soup usually has more protein and fiber than tortilla soup. The seasoning in taco soup may also be high in sodium.

The amount of saturated fat in taco soup will change depending on the type of meat you use. Lean ground beef or lean ground turkey can reduce the amount you're getting from your meal while keeping the protein high.