Description
Hearty chicken taco soup delivers Mexican-inspired comfort in a single bowl. Spicy, zesty ingredients blend seamlessly, offering a quick meal packed with robust flavors for hungry families seeking delicious weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb cooked chicken (shredded or diced; rotisserie chicken works well)
- 1 can (15 oz / 425 grams) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz / 425 grams) pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz / 425 grams) corn kernels, drained
- 1 can (14.5 oz / 411 grams) diced tomatoes with green chilies (like Rotel)
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 packet taco seasoning (or 2 tbsps homemade taco seasoning)
- 1 tsp chili powder (optional, for extra heat)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Shredded cheese
- Sour cream or Greek yogurt
- Chopped cilantro
- Sliced avocado
- Tortilla chips or strips
- Lime wedges
Instructions
- Prepare Base: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat until it glistens with culinary promise.
- Develop Aromatics: Sauté diced onions until translucent, then introduce minced garlic, allowing its essence to bloom briefly.
- Layer Proteins and Seasonings: Add shredded chicken and taco seasoning, stirring to coat and intensify flavor profiles.
- Construct Liquid Foundation: Combine black beans, pinto beans, corn, diced tomatoes with green chilies, chicken broth, and tomato sauce into the pot, creating a robust liquid landscape.
- Simmer and Harmonize: Bring the mixture to a vigorous boil, then reduce heat and let the soup gently simmer for 20-25 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and intensify.
- Refine and Adjust: Taste and calibrate seasoning with salt, pepper, or additional chili powder to perfect the flavor balance.
- Serve and Garnish: Ladle into serving bowls and embellish with optional toppings like shredded cheese, sour cream, fresh cilantro, or crisp tortilla chips for textural contrast.
Notes
- Optimize Chicken Selection: Use rotisserie chicken or pre-cooked shredded chicken for faster preparation and consistent tenderness.
- Control Spice Complexity: Adjust taco seasoning quantity based on personal heat preference; start with less and gradually increase for balanced flavor profile.
- Enhance Texture Variation: Allow soup to simmer uncovered to reduce liquid and concentrate flavors, creating a thicker, more robust consistency.
- Customize Dietary Adaptations: Substitute chicken with plant-based protein or black beans for vegetarian version; use low-sodium broth for reduced salt intake.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg