I like to drain and rinse my beans but some recipes call to add them in with the juice. This is a personal preference. I think the bean flavors really shine if they are rinsed. And it removes some of that extra salt.
Shoepeg corn is my favorite for this santa fe soup recipe but sometimes you can't find it in the can or in the freezer section. Just use your favorite. You can always use fresh corn, just cook/steam it first.
Use ground turkey, shredded chicken, or leave out the meat altogether for a vegetarian option.
Use homemade ranch and taco seasoning for brighter flavors with less salt.
Brown your ground beef and cook your onions ahead of time in a large skillet and just add the remaining ingredients for a quick meal on a busy night.
You can substitute a can of stewed tomatoes if you don't have diced tomatoes.