Chicken Taco Soup

4.96 from 21 votes
34 Comments

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Chicken Taco Soup is a simple recipe bursting with savory spices and taco flavor. A perfect soup supper for any night of the week!

chicken taco soup in a bowl topped with sour cream, cheese, and tortilla chips
Featured with this Recipe:
  1. Ingredients in Chicken Taco Soup
  2. Variations to the Ingredients in Taco Soup
  3. Crock Pot or Stove Top?
  4. Frequently Asked Questions about Chicken Taco Soup
  5. What to Serve with Chicken Taco Soup
  6. How to Make Chicken Taco Soup
  7. Chicken Taco Soup Recipe

This chicken taco soup recipe is a year-round favorite at our house. The spicy southwest flavors simmer together to create a flavorful, hearty soup that’s perfect to serve with chips, guacamole, sour cream, and lots of cheese. My husband likes to eat it as a dip, dipping one tortilla chip in at a time.

Make a huge batch in the crock pot, then freeze the leftovers in individual freezer-safe containers. It keeps in the freezer for a couple of months! A perfect supper to whip up on a busy evening when you just can’t think about what to make. It uses a lot of pantry staples, so you’re pretty much guaranteed to have everything on hand to make it. Enjoy!

Ingredients in Chicken Taco Soup

This is a dump-and-go taco soup that is everyone’s favorite soup! Stir this taco soup together in a large soup pot and create an easy soup recipe in a matter of minutes. It is savory, warm, and comforting in every bite. This is always a popular soup that everyone loves!

  • Chicken breasts – Cook this chicken in a slow cooker with the hot sauce until it is tender and juicy. Once it is cooked, shred the chicken breast and add the rest of the ingredients.
  • Valentina hot sauce – Use as little or as much as your family and friends will enjoy! This can come out quickly and be a little warm on the mouth too.
  • Chicken broth – Flavor the taco soup with yummy chicken broth. This does double with adding in the liquid to help mix it all together.
  • Italian stewed tomatoes – Grab a can of stewed tomatoes and get ready to wow your taste buds with this flavorful can.
  • Cilantro – Remove the stems on the cilantro.
  • Salt – Just a pinch!
  • Black beans – Drain and rinse thoroughly the black beans. Make this simple by using a can.
  • Sweet corn – Corn is always a favorite of young and old. Drain and rinse the corn to dump into the taco soup.
A spoonful of meat and beans and broth


Variations to the Ingredients in Taco Soup

This easy taco soup recipe is chock full of shredded chicken, cilantro, meaty black beans, lots of spicy hot sauce, tomatoes, and crisp corn. Most of the ingredients you can find right in your pantry. I like to keep cans of tomatoes, black beans, and corn on hand so it’s easy to make this soup anytime. But here are some variations to fit your needs:

  • Swap out the shredded chicken for another protein like ground beef, shredded pork, or ground turkey, You could omit the meat altogether for a delicious veggie recipe.
  • No black beans in your pantry? No problem! Use pinto beans, kidney beans, or any kind you like! Or try a combination of all three! You really cannot go wrong with this soup.
  • Any kind of canned tomatoes will work. If you have a can of Rotel, use it! Stewed Italian tomatoes work well too. Don’t be afraid to experiment.
  • If you’re not a fan of sweet corn, you could replace it with some other veggies like green chiles, bell pepper, or whatever you prefer.
  • Toppings are my favorite for this soup! We always have lots of shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream to cool it off, but you could add diced tomatoes, green onions, lime wedges, sliced avocado, tortilla strips, or a big dollop of our Best Guacamole Ever.
chicken taco soup in a bowl topped with sour cream, cheese, and tortilla chips

Crock Pot or Stove Top?

If I am thinking ahead a few hours, I love to just toss all the taco soup ingredients into the trusty crock pot and let it do all the work while I bustle about my day. A bonus is your house will smell delicious all day and get everyone excited about gathering around the table. Add the chicken first and let it simmer for several hours in the hot sauce. Then, shred it up and put it back in with the rest of the ingredients, and voila! Dinner is completely ready within another hour.

OR If you’re in a hurry, you can make this right on the stove in much less time. Simmer the chicken breasts in the hot sauce and a little chicken broth until they’re done. Then, shred and add back in with the other ingredients and simmer for about twenty minutes until everything is warmed through. For an even quicker meal use rotisserie chicken!

shredded chicken in a crock pot

Frequently Asked Questions about Chicken Taco Soup

How do you thicken chicken taco soup?

You can add a little cornstarch slurry to thicken this soup.

What’s the difference between tortilla soup and taco soup?

Tortilla soup has more of a broth-like consistency with a tomato flavor, while taco soup tends to be more of a chili consistency with beans, meat, and corn. Taco soup recipes also use lots of different seasonings like chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, or even just a taco seasoning mix.

Does taco soup make a lot of leftovers?

At my house, there are usually some taco soup leftovers after I make it. For storage, I just pour the soup into a large airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator to have for later.

Can this be made in the instant pot?

Yes, Definitely. We have a great recipe for Instant Pot Enchilada Soup!

READ NEXT: Crockpot Soup Recipes

What to Serve with Chicken Taco Soup

In addition to lots of tortilla chips, here are some ideas of what to serve alongside a hearty bowl of taco soup:

How to Make Chicken Taco Soup

chicken taco soup in a bowl topped with sour cream, cheese, and tortilla chips

Chicken Taco Soup

4.96 from 21 votes
Chicken Taco Soup is a simple recipe bursting with savory spicy taco flavor. A perfect soup supper for any night of the week!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 10 minutes
Course Soup
Cuisine Mexican/Spanish
Servings 8 people

Ingredients

  • 3 chicken breasts
  • Valentina hot sauce
  • 2 cans chicken broth
  • 3 cans italian stewed tomatoes
  • 1 bunch cilantro with the stems removed
  • salt to taste
  • 2 cans black beans drained and rinsed
  • 2 cans sweet corn drained and rinsed

Instructions

  • Place the chicken breasts in a crock pot and smother them with Valentina hot sauce.
    Chicken covered with hot sauce in a crock pot
  • Cook on high for 3 hours. Shred with two forks and return to the crock pot.
    shredded chicken in a crock pot
  • Add chicken broth. In a blender, blend the stewed tomatoes until smooth. Add the cilantro and pulse a few times. Add the tomato mixture to the crock pot, then the corn and black beans, and salt. Let cook for about 1 more hour.
    soup cooking in a crock pot
  • Serve in individual bowls. Top with cheddar cheese, sour cream, and tortilla chips.
    chicken taco soup in a bowl topped with sour cream, cheese, and tortilla chips

Notes

Recipe Tips:

  • Swap out the shredded chicken for ground beef, shredded pork, or ground turkey, You could omit the meat altogether for a delicious veggie recipe.
  • No black beans in your pantry? No problem! Use pinto beans, kidney beans, any kind you like! Or try a combination of all three! You really cannot go wrong with this soup.
  • Any kind of canned tomatoes will work. If you have a can of Rotel, use it! Stewed Italian tomatoes work well too. Don’t be afraid to experiment.
  • Toppings are my favorite for this soup! We always have lots of shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream to cool it off, but you could add diced tomatoes, green onions, sliced avocado, tortilla chips, or a big dollop of our Best Guacamole Ever.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 321kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 29gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 54mgSodium: 715mgPotassium: 1138mgFiber: 9gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 575IUVitamin C: 24.1mgCalcium: 81mgIron: 4.3mg

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About the author

Emily Walker

Emily lives in Meridian, Idaho, with her husband, Beau, a physician assistant, and her three incredible children: a son and two daughters. Travel is one of her favorite ways to experience new cultures and cuisines, and she has a love for all things Disney.

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Southern Utah University and Ricks College

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Yes this was a perfect weeknight dinner. Most of the ingredients were already in my pantry! It came together quickly and was delicious.