Chicken Taco Soup

Taco Soup has never been easier (or more delicious!) than with this flavorful Chicken Taco Soup! This simple recipe can be made from start to finish in 20 minutes or made in the slow cooker. It’s full of chicken, corn and beans and is finished off with your favorite taco fixings. A fun twist on the traditional taco night, your family’s sure to LOVE!

Wow! This soup was so flavorful and super easy to make! I made this for Bunco night and it was a hit!

— Michelle

So many soups, so little time! From this Chicken Taco Soup to this slow cooker vegetable soup to this chicken noodle soup, I’ve definitely got you covered when it comes to finding a tasty soup recipe! This taco soup recipe is seriously one of my new favorites too! It’s loaded with bold flavors and is so quick + easy to make, which makes it perfect for a busy night. Or let it simmer all day in your crockpot! You can also easily customize it to your family’s tastes!

We like to top our bowl of deliciousness with shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, avocado or guacamole and a sprinkle of fresh cilantro. The perfect satisfying lunch or dinner!

Ingredients needed

One of the best things about taco soup is that it’s completely versatile. I’ve listed my favorite ingredients below, but feel free to substitute or completely leave out any ingredient to suite your family’s taste preference. Here’s the lineup:

• Salsa. There’s absolutely no broth or water in this recipe, so the salsa acts as the base of the soup. I recommend choosing your favorite prepared salsa and one that’s mild enough for you to really enjoy. We love Pace Picante sauce in this. The mild version is very mild. You’ll need two jars of the 16-ounce size salsa.
• Canned ingredients. Two cans each of black beans, kidney beans and corn get added in with the salsa. Six cans total! Which is awesome, because it significantly cuts down on prep time. In fact, this soup doesn’t require any chopping at all! You also do NOT drain any of the canned ingredients. Using all of the juices from the canned beans and corn makes this soup thick and creamy without having to use any cream or flour.
• Cooked chicken. Use rotisserie chicken, leftovers, grilled chicken breasts, baked chicken thighs, chicken from the deli counter, whatever works best for you. It can be diced or shredded. We love the convenience and flavor of shredded rotisserie chicken.
• Lime juice + cumin. So simple, yet so delicious and really all you need to give this a punch of flavor. Because this taco soup recipe uses salsa as the base and you don’t drain away any flavor from the canned beans and corn, you won’t need to add much in terms of seasoning.

How to make this recipe

This chicken taco soup is so flavorful and ridiculously easy to make! Here’s the simple process, but for the full, printable recipe, reference the recipe card at the bottom of the page.

1. Combine ingredients. Add all of the ingredients into a large soup pot or dutch oven. Stir to fully combine ingredients.
2. Cook. Heat soup over medium-high heat. Once it starts to boil, lower heat and simmer for 15 to 30 minutes. Once cooked, taste, and add salt and pepper, as needed.
3. Serve and enjoy! Once cooked to your liking, ladle soup into bowls and top with your favorite taco toppings and dig in!

Slow cooker option

Not only does this work great cooked on the stovetop, it also makes for a great crockpot meal. If you prefer to have this soup simmer for a couple of hours, simply load up the slow cooker, go on about your day, and dinner will be waiting for you whenever you’re ready. If using the crockpot, cook on low for 3-4 hours.

Toppings

Once the soup is ready, it’s time for the fun part – the taco toppings! Set out all of the topping choices and let everyone choose their favorites! I recommend any of the following:

• Shredded cheese
• Cilantro
• Sliced jalapeno
• Avocado or guacamole
• Greek yogurt or sour cream
• Tortilla chips or tortilla strips

Variations

This taco soup is delicious as-is, but you can mix up the ingredients and customize the recipe based on your taste and what you have available. Here’s some ideas:

• Protein. Use any type of meat. You can even swap the chicken for about 1 pound of ground beef or ground turkey – just be sure to brown it before combining all of the ingredients.
• Spicy. To give this an extra kick of heat, use HOT salsa! You could also add spices like cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes or add chopped jalapeños. Another option is to add a small can of spicy green chiles.
• Creamy. To make creamy chicken taco soup, once it’s done cooking, remove the pot from the stove and stir in 1 cup sour cream or 8 ounces cream cheese or 1 cup heavy cream.

Frequently asked questions

Serving suggestions

We love this paired with corn or tortilla chips or Mexican Cornbread. It’s seriously the BEST cornbread you’ll ever taste and a must try whether you serve it with this soup or a different recipe.

To keep things on the lighter side, try this soup with a fresh, green salad. Simply toss mixed greens with lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper. Feel free to add toppings to your salad such as red onion, cherry tomatoes, and/or croutons. Better yet, serve this taco soup alongside my tasty Southwest Salad with Avocado Dressing for the perfect soup/salad meal. You can easily omit the chicken from the salad, since there’s already plenty of chicken in this soup.

Don’t forget the skinny margarita! This jalapeño margarita is refreshing and delicious and this fresh strawberry margarita is amazing too.

Storage recommendations

Storage. Place any leftovers in an airtight container and store it in the fridge. It will last about 5 or so days making it great for meal prep. If you plan to keep it longer than that, this soup freezes so well!

Freeze. I love to freeze this in individual portions so I can take one out for lunch or several out for a family meal. To freeze, place it in freezer-safe containers or resealable gallon-sized freezer bags. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, then reheat it on medium heat on the stovetop. You can also reheat for about 2 minutes in the microwave.

Recommended tools

• Programmable Slow Cooker – I love that this slow cooker is affordable and can be programmed. It also holds 6 quarts, which is a great size for most things that I make.
• Ladle – A good ladle is a must when you make soup as often as I do! It’s the best way to fill your bowls and storage containers with soup.
• Dutch Oven – If you decide to make your soup over the stovetop, you’ll need a large soup pot or a dutch oven. This one is a favorite of mine.

You just can’t go wrong with this chicken taco soup and once you try it, you’ll find yourself making it on repeat. It’s so simple, yet filled with plenty of bold flavors and textures. Your family is sure to love this one!

If you try this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment and if your family loves it as much as mine does, be sure to give it a five star ⭐️ rating! Also, tag @kimscravings on Instagram with a picture of your creation. It’s so fun to see what you’re cooking! Be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more healthy delicious recipes straight to your inbox.