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Best Chicken Taco Soup Recipe

Chicken taco soup recipe is a pure American flavor dish with soup heartiness. It is quite essential American comfort food that merges the bold, spicy flavor of classic tacos with the warm, hearty, satisfying feel of a soup. It embodies all the qualities of Mexican-inspired cuisine while being exceptionally easy to prepare, which is why it is quite popular as an option for weeknight dinners. Chicken taco soup has it all, packaged conveniently into one bowl that is filled with flavor. Whether you are looking for a simple recipe or you are too busy to cook, everything is covered here. The following recipe gives you the complete breakdown of chicken taco soup ingredients and step-by-step instructions to make it easily.

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Ingredients for Chicken Taco Soup

A classic taco chicken soup recipe will combine pantry staples and fresh ingredients. Most recipes will need the following:

Ingredient

  • Olive or vegetable oil
  • One medium onion, diced
  • One red bell pepper, diced
  • One minced jalapeno (optional)
  • Three garlic cloves, minced
  • Four cups (or one container, about 14 ounces) of chicken stock
  • Diced tomatoes with green chilies, 2 cans (10 ounces each)
  • Black beans (drained/rinsed) 1 can (15 ounces)
  • Corn (drained or frozen) 1 can (15 oz) or 1.5 cups.
  • Chili Beans or ranch beans – one 15-ounces can with juice, 1 can (15-16) with juice
  • Salsa (optional) 1 jar (16 oz)

Taco seasoning

  • Dried oregano
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • Cooked, shredded chicken
  • Sour cream 1/2 cup (plus more for topping)
  • Ranch seasoning (optional) 2-3 tbsp

Toppings

Shredded cheese, tortilla strips or chips, sliced jalapenos, avocado, chopped cilantro, green onions, lime wedges

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How to Make Chicken Taco Soup

This wonderful, easy recipe is prepared on the stovetop, in a slow cooker, or even in an Instant Pot. It consists of a step-by-step guide for every appliance.

The Stovetop Recipe

  1. Saute Aromatics: Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, red bell pepper, and jalapeno (if using). Cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes. Add minced garlic and saute for 1 minute until fragrant.
  2. Add Soup Ingredients: Stir in chicken broth, diced tomatoes with green chilies, black beans, corn, chili beans, salsa (if using), taco seasoning, oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
  3. Simmer: Bring the soup to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. Add Chicken and Cream: Finally, stir in some cooked, shredded sour cream and let it simmer for another 5 minutes to warm it up and make it creamy.
  5. Serve: Ladle into bowls, topped with your favorites: shredded cheese, tortilla strips, avocado, sour cream, and lime wedges.

Chicken Taco Soup Recipe Slow Cooker

  1. Combine Ingredients: Add all ingredients except the cooked meat, sour cream, and cheese to the slow cooker. Place raw breasts on top if you prefer to cook them in the pot.
  2. Cook: Cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours, until the meat is tender and easily shredded.
  3. Shredded Chicken: Remove the breast part of the meat, shred with a fork, and return to the slow cooker. Stir in sour cream and cheese if desired.
  4. Serve: Ladle into bowls and add your favorite toppings.

Instant Pot Taco Soup Chicken

  1. Combine Ingredients: Throw everything into the Instant Pot, leaving out the toppings, and drop it whole.
  2. Pressure Cook: Seal and put on high for 10 minutes. Release pressure for 10 minutes and then quick-release. 
  3. Shred and Finish: Once shredded, stir back into the soup and adjust the seasoning before serving with toppings.

Read also:

Top Tips for the Ultimate Chicken Taco Soup Recipes

  • Spice it up with more jalapenos or hot sauce, or tone it down for a family-friendly version.
  • Creamy, add in some cream cheese or lots of sour cream at the end.
  • You can freeze this as well. Store leftovers for up to three months. 

Chicken Taco Soup Recipe Nutrition

Most of the chicken taco soup recipe are filling but balanced in terms of protein, fiber, and a whole lot of flavor. Depending on the toppings and the serving size, calories per serving range from about 250 to 400.

Conclusion

This dish is for large crowds, whether you are looking for a recipe or a taco soup chicken recipe in your slow cooker; these methods or recipes cover it all, if not even a creamy, easy recipe. Top it, customize it with your favorites, and enjoy a comforting, somewhat flavorful meal any night of the week. The dish is itself a complete meal for any kind of function. Here is the complete breakdown of all the variations you can utilize to make it more special.

Boneless, skinless thighs work very well for this kind of soft recipe. Thighs impart a very robust flavor and tender texture, whereas breasts are leaner with less fat. Alternatively, you can use rotisserie meat for convenience.

Yes, it is easy and hands-off to cook in a slow cooker. Just throw all the ingredients into the slow cooker (leaving out the dairy and toppings) and cook for 5-7 hours on low or 2-3 hours on high. After shredding the cooked meat, stir in the cream cheese or sour cream if desired before serving.

To make it creamy, add cream cheese, sour cream, or shredded sharp cheddar cheese at the end of cooking for the creamy one. Stir it in completely until it is fully melted, giving you a rich, velvety texture.

Common fixings for this include shredded cheese, sour cream, tortilla chips, chopped cilantro, green onions, diced avocado, and lime wedges. A topping bar allows everyone to add anything they want to customize their bowl to their liking.

Definitely, most of these recipes are relatively quick and easy, taking around 30 minutes to prepare and cook. These depend on pantry staples or minimal prep, thus making them weeknight winners.

Yes, we do freeze it very well. After cooling it thoroughly, place it in an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator and reheat gently on the stovetop or microwave for a quick meal later.

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