Easy Southwest Chicken Soup (2024)

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This 10 minute prep, one-pot Southwest Chicken Soup is a fiesta in every spoonful! Southwestern soup is a hearty, easy, and flavorful chicken taco soup! Olé!

This southwestern chicken soup is a go-tofamily favoritesoup recipe – ready in a little over 30 minutes. Since Cinco de Mayo is around the corner, I crave thebig flavorof Chicken Taco Soup more than ever!

I enjoy giving precise details in my recipe posts to lead my readers through any questions. If you’re just here for the printable recipe, use the Jump to Recipe to head straight there!

Recommended Tools

• I love my Staub deep Dutch oven; great for soups!
• This is my favorite knife!
• My favorite wooden spoons!

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Easy Creamy Chicken Poblano Pepper Soup RecipeandEasy Tortilla Soupare two more I love to make thistime of year. But let’s be honest, this Southwest Chicken Soup recipe is great any season.

Simple Ingredients for Southwestern Soup

• Olive Oil– Saute your aromatic veggie trio inolive oil.
• Onion & Garlic– A small diced yellow (or red onion) onion and some fresh minced garlic (or use jarred garlic if preferred).
• RedBell Pepper– One diced red pepper completes the aromatics needed to start the soup.
• Broth– Usechicken brothor chicken bone broth from a carton.
• Canned Veggies– Make it easy using diced tomatoes and diced green chiles right out of the can.
• Beans – I used black beans and pinto beans; use your favorites.
• Corn– Use regular or white sweet corn, fresh, frozen or canned or go authentic and use hominy.
• Seasonings– Garlic powder, onion powder, cumin,chili powder, kosher salt and black pepper are used.
• Chicken– Use shredded cooked chicken for this recipe. You can useleftover chickenorrotisserie chicken.
• Lime– Freshly squeezed lime juice adds an amazing pop of flavor.
• Optional toppings– Shredded cheese,sour cream, cilantro, avocado, Mexican crema, sliced jalapenos, chopped tomatoes, freshlime wedges,tortilla chips or strips.

Get the full recipe in the recipe card below.

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How to Make Chicken Taco Soup

Before starting, prep your ingredients by chopping all of your veggies and shred your chicken. Open any cans, drain where appropriate and measure your spices; this will make the process much quicker.

Step 1 | Saute veggies

Heat oilin aDutch ovenorlarge poton thestove topovermedium heat, stir in diced onions and red peppers. Saute until the onions are translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Add in the minced garlic during the last minute, stirring until fragrant.

Step 2 | Dump and go Southwestern soup

Pour inchicken broth, canned tomatoes,green chiles,black beans, pinto beans, and frozen corn. Stir to combine all the ingredients. Next, add spices: garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, andchili powder, finishing with salt and pepper to taste. Carefully add the shredded chicken, stirring to incorporate it all.

Cover the pot, bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat, simmering for 20-30 minutes.

Step 3 | Garnish & Serve

Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with shredded cheese, crushedtortilla chipsortortilla stripsand yourfavorite toppings. Or pour it over a bed of rice in the bowl (great use for leftover rice).

Ourfavorite toppingsare diced avocados,shredded cheddar, sour cream, andtortilla chips. Feel free to use Mexican crema, Queso Fresco, corn chips, or yourfavorite toppings!

Variations

• Pepper Choices: Any colorbell peppercan be used. You can add choppedgreen chile peppers, too — try my flavorfulpoblano soup.
• Beans: Use any canned beans you like. Black and pinto beans are most common, butwhite beansmay also be used.
• Vegetables: Try using hominy, zucchini, chopped carrots, or add salsa or roasted vegetables for a twist.
• Spice Level: Adjust the spice level based on yourfavorite Mexican flavors. Add more or lesschili powder, cayenne pepper, or jalapeños.
• Make it Hearty:Include cooked rice, quinoa, farro, ortortilla stripsto add texture and thickness for a heartier soup.
• Cheesy: Experiment with cheeses like sharpcheddar cheese, Cotija, Monterey Jack, or pepper Jack.
• Creamy Southwest Chicken soup recipe: Stir in 4-8 ounces of softenedcream cheeseduring the last 15 minutes of simmering.
• Add more Southwest flavors like coriander and oregano, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.
• Replace seasonings with packet of southwest taco seasoning packet.
• Smokey: Make it smokey by adding up to 1 teaspoon liquid smoke!

Substitutions

• Choose Your Protein: Instead of chicken, try shredded turkey, pulled pork, orground beef.
• Vegetarian Southwest Soup: Try moreblack beansor tofu as your protein.
• Use frozen or raw chicken: Add to soup, bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, cover and cook for 20 minutes. Remove and shred, return to the soup pot!

Make Ahead Chicken Taco Soup

Thisone-pot dinnermakes theperfect recipefor a make-aheadgreat meal. Reheat on the stovetop and garnish when ready to serve. Freeze cooled soup if desired, up to 3-4 months.

How to Make Vegetarian Southwest Soup

• Replace thechicken brothwith vegetable broth.
• Omit the shredded chicken; replace it with tofu or additionalblack beansand maybe some cooked brown rice or quinoa.

Gluten-Free Southwest Chicken Soup

This Taco Soup with Chicken is naturally gluten-free. Double-check all of your ingredients though.

Chili’s Southwest Chicken Soup

Here’s how to make copycatChili’s Southwest Chicken Soup:

• Add one teaspoon of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce instead ofchili powder.
• Stir in 2 tablespoons of tomato paste after sauteing onions and garlic.
• Add 1 cup of white hominy in place of the frozen corn.

Frequently Asked Questions

Crockpot Southwest Chicken Soup

Soups like this easily adapt to theslow cooker.

Before adding to the crockpot, I suggest you still saute onions, peppers, and garlic in alarge skillet. But you can dump and go if you prefer!

Add boneless raw chicken breasts or thighs directly to the crockpot (on top of the other ingredients, pushing down slightly) and cook on LOW for about 6-6 ½ hours or on HIGH for 3-3 ½ hours.

Remove chicken, shred chicken (or add pre-cooked shredded chicken during the last 30-60 minutes of cooking, stir to incorporate). Stir in lime juice and a little chopped cilantro just before serving.

Instant PotChicken Taco Soup

You can easily adapt this soup for yourpressure cookertoo!

• TurnInstant Potto saute, add oil and saute the onions, peppers and garlic as instructed.
• Turn off and deglaze bottom ofinstant potwithchicken broth.
• Add allremaining ingredientsin order listed. Using uncooked chicken breasts instead of pre-cooked shredded chicken.
• Cover and seal vent, then set to Manual >High Pressure> Set timer for 20 minutes for sea level and 22 minutes for altitudes above 3000 feet.
• Allow pressure to release natural for 5-10 minutes, then vent.
• Remove chicken breasts, shred using two forks and stir back into the pot.
• Finish with lime and cilantro – enjoy!

Storage Tips

Store the cooledleftover soupin anairtight containerin the fridge for up to 1 week.

FREEZE the Southwest chicken soup recipe by placing the soup in anairtight containerorfreezer bag, or I love these2-cup Souper Cubes – freeze 3-4 months.

To reheat the soup, place the thawed soup in a pot and heat it on the stovetop until warmed through. If you’d like to reheat abowl of soupat a time, use the microwave in 1-minute intervals, covering it with a paper towel and stirring between heatings. It should take 2-3 minutes.

Best Sides forSouthwestern Chicken Soup Recipe

Serve with this sweet cornbread (add a can of green chiles to make it more Southwestern!), this yummy Mexican corn rice and this chopped Mexican salad.

Best Desserts for Southwestern Night

Finish off the night with a bowl of thisAir Fryer Fried Ice Creamor perhaps a slice of Fried Ice Cream Cake and this creamy, tangy award winning key lime pie recipe.

Did you love this Southwestern Soup? If you did, be sure to share your creation onInstagram,FacebookandPinterest? And don’t forget to rate it 5 stars and comment just below the recipe card.

Try our other favorite Mexican recipes

• Easy Cheese Enchiladas
• Mexican chopped salad
• Vegetarian Spanish Rice
• Chile Relleno casserole
• Colorado green chile
• Authentic Chicken Fajita recipe