Chicken Taco Soup is secretly so easy to make and is one of the best and most delicious comfort foods. Quickly combine chicken, broth, corn, beans, salsa, and seasonings in a Dutch oven for a delicious dinner any night of the week. Then top this Mexican dish with cheese, cilantro, sour cream, and tortilla chips for an easy one pot recipe.
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Probably one of my favorite soups of all-time is a good ole’ chicken taco soup. In fact, I love this flavor combination so much I have made an Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup and a Crock-Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup.
Now, however, it was time to take it to the trusty Dutch oven and make it on the stove.
It is surprisingly incredibly simple to make – even taking the extra time to whip up a Homemade Taco Seasoning! (which is TOTALLY worth the extra 5 minutes of effort!)
Ingredients
For the exact measurements and detailed instructions, you can jump to the recipe.
- Chicken. You can either use thighs or breasts. Thighs have more fat and flavor, which will give you a richer broth, but breasts are a bit healthier and lower in fat. Throw in additional beans for a vegan alternative.
- Broth. Regular sodium chicken broth makes up most of the base in the soup. But you can opt for low sodium chicken broth if needed. Vegetable broth is a good option if that is all you have.
- Onion. A finely diced onion is used, white is best. But you can use yellow or sweet if that’s what you have on hand.
- Taco seasoning mix. It is so easy to make your own blend or go for the store-bought kind.
- Salsa. Roasted tomato salsa is delicious, or grab a jar of your favorite brand at the store. If you want your soup to be spicy, opt for a medium heat. Don’t want much spice? Make sure you use a mild salsa.
How to Make Chicken Taco Soup
Jump to the recipe for the full instructions, ingredient amounts, and a printable recipe.
- Sauté the onion. Set the stove top to medium heat and add oil to a large Dutch oven. Toss in the onions and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir until they’re translucent. Add the garlic and continue cooking for another 30 seconds, or until it becomes fragrant. Stir in the broth, being sure to scrape the bottom gently and loosen up any bits or pieces that may be stuck.
- Add other ingredients. Drain and rinse both the beans and the corn. Add the spice mix, salsa, corn, and black beans. Stir thoroughly to combine, being careful of the hot liquid, though. Add the chicken to the broth and bring the entire soup to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and allow the mixture to simmer for 20 to 25 minutes. The soup is ready when the chicken is cooked through.
- Shred the chicken. After cooking, the tender chicken should shred easily. Use two forks to carefully pull the chicken into small, bite-size pieces. Then give the entire soup a good stir. Use a ladle to spoon some into bowls and top with sour cream, shredded cheese, cilantro, chopped green onions, diced tomatoes, or even tortilla chips. Enjoy!
Meal Prep and Storage
- Prep-Ahead: You can chop the green onions and make your salsa and taco seasoning if you’re using homemade versions ahead of time.
- Storage: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days.
- Freezing: Place cooled soup without toppings in a freezer-safe container for up to 6 months.
- Reheating: You can warm the soup up in a bowl in the microwave or put it back in a pot on the stove.
FAQs
Typically, this soup is made of either chicken breast or thighs along with salsa, corn, and beans and seasoned with Mexican spices like cumin and chili powder.
This is usually not a thick soup. However, you can opt to make it thicker by adding less broth, or mixing in a cornstarch slurry at the end.
What to Serve with Chicken Taco Soup
This soup is delicious as is, but you can pair it with any of these things for a mouth-watering meal:
More Chicken Soup Recipes
Try one of these comforting and hearty chicken soup recipes any night of the week:
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Chicken Taco Soup Recipe
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Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
- 1 medium white onion finely diced
- 2 garlic cloves finely minced
- 3 tablespoons taco seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 (16-ounce) jar salsa mild or medium
- 1 (15.25-ounce) can corn drained
- 1 (15.5-ounce) can black beans drained and rinsed
- 5 cups chicken broth
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 tablespoon lime juice from 1 lime
For Serving (Optional)
- Sour cream
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Tortilla chips crushed
- Green onions green and white parts, thinly sliced
- Fresh cilantro finely chopped
Instructions
- Heat the avocado oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium. Add the onion and cook for 3-4 minutes, or until translucent. Add the garlic and continue cooking for an additional 30 seconds, or until fragrant.2 tablespoons avocado oil, 1 medium white onion, 2 garlic cloves
- Add the taco seasoning, salt, salsa, corn, black beans, and chicken broth. Stir to combine.3 tablespoons taco seasoning, 1 (16-ounce) jar salsa, 1 (15.25-ounce) can corn, 1 (15.5-ounce) can black beans, 5 cups chicken broth, ½ teaspoon salt
- Add the chicken to the pot, making sure each piece is completely covered by liquid. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- Transfer the cooked chicken to a clean cutting board. Shred using two forks, then return it to the pot, along with the lime juice.1 tablespoon lime juice
- Serve the soup with sour cream, shredded cheese, tortilla chips, green onions, and/or cilantro, if desired.Sour cream, Shredded cheddar cheese, Tortilla chips, Green onions, Fresh cilantro
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Notes
- Spices: This recipe was written using a homemade taco seasoning which includes salt and black pepper. If your seasoning does not contain salt, then you’ll want to add more to taste.
- Prep-Ahead: You can chop the green onions and make your salsa and taco seasoning if you’re using homemade versions.
- Storage: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days. To freeze, place cooled soup without toppings in a freezer-safe container for up to 6 months. Warm soup back up in a bowl in the microwave or put it back in a pot on the stove.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
