If you’re craving a dinner that’s comforting, fast, and absolutely packed with flavor, meet your new obsession: Easy Chicken Taco Soup. This one-pot wonder brings all your favorite taco night flavors into a hearty, soul-warming bowl, loaded with tender chicken, black beans, corn, and zesty tomatoes. It’s perfect for busy weeknights, meal prep, or whenever you need a delicious and satisfying meal in just 30 minutes. Plus, the customizable toppings make every bowl an adventure! Let’s dive in and make this your go-to for those “what’s for dinner?” days.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You won’t believe how easily this vibrant soup comes together from pantry staples and a few fresh ingredients. Each one is simple, but the way they work together gives Easy Chicken Taco Soup its craveable depth of flavor and irresistible texture.
- Olive Oil: The must-have start for softening onions and building a rich base.
- Onion (diced): Brings a subtle sweetness and mouthwatering aroma to the party.
- Garlic (minced): Adds savory depth and savory undertones with each bite.
- Cooked Shredded Chicken: Rotisserie or leftover chicken makes it super convenient, or use freshly cooked—it’s all delicious!
- Black Beans (drained and rinsed): Offer fiber, color, and a satisfying creaminess.
- Corn (drained): Pops of sweetness and a classic Tex-Mex touch in every spoonful.
- Diced Tomatoes: Juicy, tangy, and the backbone for the soup’s bright flavor.
- Diced Tomatoes with Green Chiles: Like Rotel, this ingredient adds a gentle spice and fresh zing.
- Diced Green Chiles: Mild heat and earthy notes that round out the flavors.
- Taco Seasoning Packet: All your favorite spices, perfectly balanced and ready to transform the soup.
- Chicken Broth: The heart of the soup, bringing everything together and making it irresistibly sippable.
- Salt and Pepper: Essential for fine-tuning every spoonful to your taste buds.
- Optional Toppings: Shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado, tortilla chips, chopped cilantro—the sky’s the limit for customizing your bowl!
How to Make Easy Chicken Taco Soup
Step 1: Sauté the Onion and Garlic
Set a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat and drizzle in the olive oil. Once it’s shimmering, add your diced onion and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it’s translucent and fragrant. Sprinkle in the garlic and let it cook just 30 seconds more—long enough to become intensely aromatic, but not so long it browns.
Step 2: Add Chicken and Vegetables
Toss in the shredded chicken, black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, diced tomatoes with green chiles, and green chiles. Give everything a hearty stir. Each ingredient brings its unique flavor and color, instantly transforming your kitchen with the scent of taco night!
Step 3: Season and Pour in Broth
Sprinkle the taco seasoning over the mixture and pour in the chicken broth. Stir to blend all the ingredients, ensuring the spices dissolve right into the liquid. Your soup is already starting to look (and smell) incredible!
Step 4: Simmer and Let Flavors Mingle
Bring the pot to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to a cozy simmer. Let it bubble gently, uncovered, for about 15 to 20 minutes. This step lets all those flavors meld, creating that “cooked-all-day” taste with none of the fuss.
Step 5: Season and Serve
Before serving, taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Spoon your Easy Chicken Taco Soup into bowls and get creative with your favorite toppings. This is where it really becomes your own signature dish!
How to Serve Easy Chicken Taco Soup
Garnishes
Perhaps the best part—pile on the toppings! Try shredded cheese for creaminess, a scoop of sour cream for tang, sliced avocado for richness, crumbled tortilla chips for crunch, and chopped cilantro for a burst of freshness. Mix and match based on your cravings and watch each bowl disappear.
Side Dishes
Pair your Easy Chicken Taco Soup with a simple green salad, warm cornbread, or a plate of cheese quesadillas. Even a side of rice or a few slices of crusty bread work beautifully for soaking up every last drop!
Creative Ways to Present
For gatherings, set up a soup bar! Let everyone customize their bowl with toppings and even a splash of hot sauce or lime. Or, serve the soup in mugs for a casual movie night, or ladle it over a bed of rice for an extra hearty twist. This soup truly shines no matter how you serve it.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Leftovers are just as delicious the next day, if not better! Store any cooled Easy Chicken Taco Soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. The flavors continue to marry, making each bowl even more satisfying.
Freezing
This soup is a meal prep superstar. Pour cooled soup into freezer-safe containers, leaving some space for expansion, and freeze for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the fridge for a stress-free dinner solution you’ll thank yourself for later.
Reheating
Reheat Easy Chicken Taco Soup gently on the stovetop over medium heat until hot, stirring occasionally. For microwave reheating, use a microwave-safe bowl, cover loosely, and heat in 1-minute bursts, stirring in between, until steaming. Add a splash of broth if it’s thickened up.
FAQs
Can I use raw chicken instead of cooked?
Absolutely! Add raw chicken breasts or thighs to the soup before simmering. Cook for 25 to 30 minutes, then remove, shred, and return to the pot. This way, the meat soaks up even more flavor.
Is Easy Chicken Taco Soup spicy?
It has a gentle kick thanks to the green chiles and taco seasoning, but it’s family-friendly. If you’re spice-sensitive, use mild tomatoes with green chiles or skip extra chili toppings. You can always dial up the heat later!
Can I make this soup vegetarian?
Yes! Just swap the chicken for more beans or a plant-based protein, and choose vegetable broth. The flavors still shine, and it’s a perfect option for meatless meals.
What’s the best way to thicken the soup?
If you like your soup a little more robust, mash some of the beans before serving or reduce the broth slightly while simmering. Adding a handful of crushed tortilla chips will also thicken the soup as they break down.
How do I make Easy Chicken Taco Soup in a slow cooker?
Simply layer all ingredients in your slow cooker and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours or high for 2 to 3 hours. This is extra handy for parties or when you want dinner ready and waiting!
Final Thoughts
There you have it—a simple, vibrant, and utterly comforting Easy Chicken Taco Soup that’s about to become the highlight of your weeknight dinners. Grab your favorite toppings, gather everyone around, and let this festive, flavorful soup bring joy to your table. You’ll make it once and crave it again and again!
Print
Easy Chicken Taco Soup Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican-Inspired
- Diet: Non-Vegetarian
Description
A comforting and flavorful Easy Chicken Taco Soup recipe that is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. This one-pot meal is packed with tender chicken, beans, corn, and Mexican-inspired spices, topped with your favorite garnishes.
Ingredients
For the soup:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound cooked shredded chicken (rotisserie or leftover)
- 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15 oz) can corn, drained
- 1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes
- 1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes with green chiles (like Rotel)
- 1 (4 oz) can diced green chiles
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 4 cups chicken broth
- Salt and pepper to taste
Optional toppings:
- Shredded cheese
- Sour cream
- Avocado
- Tortilla chips
- Chopped cilantro
Instructions
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook until softened, about 3–4 minutes.
- Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add shredded chicken, black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, diced tomatoes with green chiles, green chiles, taco seasoning, and chicken broth. Stir to combine and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 15–20 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed.
- Serve hot with your favorite toppings.
Notes
- You can use raw chicken breasts or thighs—just simmer in the soup for 25–30 minutes and shred before serving.
- This soup freezes well and is perfect for meal prep.
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