This chicken taco soup recipe is a hearty, south-of-the-border favorite with families and gatherings of all sizes!
This chill-chasing recipe is chock full of cooked chicken, beans, and veggies simmered in a rich, southwest seasoned tomato broth with lots of room for add-ins and toppings!
You’ll Love This Chicken Taco Soup Recipe Because…
- It is a protein-dense meal with hearty servings of meat, beans, and veggies.
- Pre-cooked chicken and ready-made ingredients give this easy chicken taco soup a slow cooked flavor that’s ready in minutes!
- It’s a budget-friendly meal that tastes best the next day.
- This hearty soup can served as a main dish for dinner or as a satisfying hot lunch. Try it with a side of sweet honey cornbread muffins and a tangy avocado salad.
Ingredients and Variations
Chicken: Any pre-cooked chicken, leftover taco meat, or ground beef, even Italian sausage works in this recipe!
Broth: Don’t drain the tomatoes for this savory, seasoned soup! Buy it or make your own taco or chili seasoning and have some on hand for future recipes!
Beans: This is a great recipe for getting the kiddos to try new foods! Mixed beans, ranch-style beans (canned pinto beans with seasonings), black beans, kidney beans, even lentils add healthy fiber and nutrients to chicken taco soup!
Variations
Omit the meat altogether and add tofu or extra beans, and use a garden broth instead of a meat based broth, for a meatless meal.
Try adding heavy whipping cream for a more creamy texture. Seasonings and herbs like cumin, taco seasoning, and cilantro would add depth of flavor.
Anything goes in taco soup! Besides corn and spinach, toss in a bag of frozen veggies, diced potatoes, zucchini, or peppers.
How to Make Chicken Taco Soup
- Cook onion with taco seasonings and cumin (recipe below).
- Add tomatoes, beans, corn, and broth and bring to a boil.
- Reduce soup to a simmer and add chicken and spinach until heated through.
- Garnish as desired and serve hot.
Taco Soup Toppings
Chicken taco soup can be served with all kinds of toppings and mix-ins. Set up a DIY taco soup bar with bowls of tortilla strips, Fritos corn chips or crushed tortilla chips. Shredded cheese, crumbled cotija, sliced jalapenos or green chilis, black olives, diced avocados, and diced bell peppers or tomatoes would all be great options. A dollop of sour cream, cheese sauce, or some salsa would add even more creamy flavor to this homemade soup!
Storing Leftover Soup
- Keep leftover chicken taco soup in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat portions on the stove or in the microwave.
- Freeze in zippered bags, with the date labeled on the outside, for up to 6 weeks and thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
More Tasty Soup Recipes To Try
Did you try this Chicken Taco Soup recipe? Be sure to leave a comment and rating below.
Chicken Taco Soup
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- ½ onion diced
- 1 Tablespoon taco seasoning
- 1 ½ -2 teaspoons cumin
- 28 ounces diced tomatoes 1 can
- 18 ounces mixed beans 1 can, drained and rinsed (or black beans, or your favorite beans)
- 11 ½ ounces corn 1 can
- 2-4 cups chicken broth * as desired
- 1 ½-2 cups diced chicken or other cooked meat
- 2 cups spinach optional
- sour cream optional for garnish
- cilantro optional for garnish
- freshly ground black pepper to taste, optional
Instructions
- In a large pot, add olive oil and onion on medium low heat. Cook until onion is partly cooked, about 5 minutes. Add taco seasoning and cumin, and cook for 1 minute, until fragrant.
- Add tomatoes, beans, corn, and broth. Turn heat to medium high. Once it reaches a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 10 minutes stirring occasionally.
- Add chicken and spinach if using, and cook for additional 5-10 minutes.
- If desired, serve with sour cream and cilantro and sprinkle with pepper.
Notes
- *I used 2 cups broth. If you prefer more broth, a soupier soup, add 2 additional cups for a total of 4 cups.
- Instructions For The Instant Pot – Set Instant Pot to sauté and cook the onion. Add seasonings and scrape the bottom of the pot as it cooks. Add remaining ingredients, seal, and cook for 20 minutes on high. Let the Instant Pot naturally release for 10 minutes.
- Instructions For The CrockPot – Sauté onion and add to slow cooker. Add seasonings and remaining ingredients. Cover, and cook on low for 2 hours or on high for 1 hour. (If chicken is not precooked, be sure to cook it through in a skillet before adding to the Crockpot.)
- *Nutrition information does not include optional garnish.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information does not include optional ingredients or garnish and is an estimate. It may change based on actual ingredients and cooking methods used.
©Our Zesty Life. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
Like our recipes?
Follow us on Pinterest!
PIN this Chicken Taco Soup recipe!
Love this soup on a cool day. Candace’s husband