Chicken Taco Soup Recipe (2024)

ByLisa LottsPosted onApril 13, 2020April 1, 2023Updated onApril 1, 2023

This hearty, healthy, Southwestern-inspired chicken black bean soup recipe makes a big pot of soup to feed a crowd. Using everyday ingredients and pantry staples like leftover rotisserie chicken, canned black beans, corn, Ro-Tel and tomatillo salsa, you can make this taco soup with black beans in under an hour. I’ve added quinoa to this chicken Ro-Tel recipe to round out the mouth feel and nutrition factor in this amazing tomatillo soup.

If you love the spicy tingle of Southwestern spices, this chicken taco soup with black beans will satisfy your cravings. I make it whenever we’re jonesing for those familiar taco flavors without the guilt. Instead of being weighed down with creamy sauces, cheeses and tortillas, this chicken rotel recipe is mostly vegetables, lean protein and broth, but the punch of chile and spice is definitely THERE.

Chicken Black Bean Soup Ingredients:

• Yellow Onion
• Celery
• Garlic
• Chili Powder
• Cumin
• Kosher Salt
• Black Pepper
• Ro-Tel (original)
• Black Beans (canned)
• Corn (canned, frozen or fresh)
• Hatch Chiles (canned or fresh fire roasted)
• Tomatillo Salsa
• Bay Leaves
• Chicken Broth from Rotisserie Chicken or low-sodium broth
• Quinoa
• Leftover Chicken
• Lime

Pantry staples for chicken taco soup

This is also a convenient way to whip up a meal for a crowd using just a few common canned goods and everyday veg. This chicken Ro-tel recipe is nothing fancy, but it’s hearty and GOOD.

What’s Ro-Tel?

Ro-Tel is a blend of tomatoes, green chiles and spices. Almost a salsa, but not quite — because it doesn’t contain onions and cilantro. Where salsas can have a saucy consistency, Ro-Tel is packed in its own juices.

Which style of Ro-Tel is best for this chicken Ro-Tel recipe?

I recommend original Ro-Tel, it’s got moderate heat, but not over the top. If you’re sensitive you may want to use the mild variety, but I wouldn’t recommend the Hot & Spicy Ro-Tel in this soup, since this recipe also includes a jar of spicy green tomatillo salsa.

Dump and go chicken tomatillo soup

What makes this recipe so easy are the convenience and pantry items. Just crack open a few cans, dump them into the pot and simmer for a few minutes. I used my homemade rotisserie chicken stock and my favorite charred tomatillo salsa verde recipe in this soup, however, it’s not required and good store-bought versions definitely work in this recipe. (Just be sure to use low-sodium broth.)

Assembling Chicken Taco Soup

1. Sauté the celery and onions in a large pot or Dutch oven until they’re softened and slightly translucent.
2. Stir in the garlic and heat until it’s fragrant, then add the spices and heat for about one minute to bloom them. Then start dumping…
3. Dump in the can of Ro-Tel, undrained black beans, drained corn, tomatillo salsa, hatch chiles, bay leaves and chicken broth.
4. Heat to boiling, stir in the quinoa and reduce heat to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Simmer for 10 minutes.
5. Stir in the diced cooked chicken and simmer for an additional 10 minutes.
6. To serve the soup, ladle into bowls and squeeze a wedge of lime over the soup (this is important – the bright acidity wakens the flavors in the soup and gives it depth. DON’T SKIP IT.)

This is a very forgiving recipe and there are many swaps and substitutions you can make in a pinch.

Substitutions for taco soup

• Fresh chicken breasts instead of diced cooked chicken – Dice the chicken breasts into bite sized chunks and brown them in hot oil with a little salt to season them. Then stir in the chopped vegetables and continue.
• Swap other canned legumes or dried lentils for the black beans. Good substitutions would be cannelini beans, kidney beans, great northern beans or pinto beans. You can also use half a cup of dried lentils, but the soup may need to cook for a few more minutes.
• Ro-Tel – You can use any brand of diced tomato and green chile (Publix has a store brand of this) or simply use plain diced tomatoes.
• Tomatillo Salsa Verde – If you haven’t made my version of this green salsa verde, you REALLY NEED TO. It’s great in this chicken tomatillo soup or any Southwestern or Mexican favorite dish. I recommend Trader Joe’s Hatch chile salsa verde as the closest substitute, however, you can use any green or red salsa.
• Quinoa – Substitute farro, barley, rice, orzo, ditalini or other small pasta. The thing to watch for when you’re substituting other grains/pasta are the cooking times and liquid. Longer cooking items like pearl barley and farro can take 30-40 minutes to cook. I’d recommend cooking them separately and adding them into the soup at the end. Pastas will continue to soak up the broth, consequently, you may need more broth for the soup.

Can I freeze chicken taco soup?

Yes. Portion out the chicken rotes soup recipe into plastic containers and freeze them for up to 3 months. Defrost before reheating.

Can I meal prep this soup?

Yes. Divide the soup into individual servings. In a separate container store any toppings that you want to serve with it — and definitely make sure each serving gets a wedge of lime to squeeze into the broth just before serving. It makes all the difference to the flavor of the soup.

What are the best toppings for taco soup?

• Sliced or diced avocado.
• Fresh diced tomato
• Grated cheddar or monterey jack cheese
• Crumbled queso fresco
• Fritos (I love Fritos)
• Fried tortilla strips
• Sour cream
• Fresh cilantro
• Fresh pico de gallo

What to serve with Southwestern chicken black bean soup:

• Hatch Chile Skillet Cornbread
• Cheddar Chive Popovers
• Homemade Crescent Rolls
• Amish Bread

More easy soup recipes you’ll love:

• My Best Lentil Soup Recipe
• Ham Bone and Vegetable Soup
• Italian Sausage Soup with Pasta, White Beans and Kale
• Creamy Sausage Kale Potato Soup

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