Cheesy Chicken Taco Soup
Cheesy Chicken Taco Soup is a hearty and comforting soup filled with tender ground chicken, beans, taco spices, and plenty of cheesy goodness. It's an easy weeknight dinner that comes together with simple ingredients and is guaranteed to be a family favorite.
Quick Look: Cheesy Chicken Taco Soup
Ready In: 40 minutes
Serves: 6
Calories: 400 Calories
Main Ingredients: ground chicken, diced tomatoes, black beans, corn, taco seasoning, cheddar cheese, chicken broth
Why You'll Love It: This Cheesy Chicken Taco Soup is an easy, cozy dinner packed with tender chicken, bold taco flavor, and plenty of cheesy goodness that the whole family will love.
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There's nothing I love more than a big bowl of cozy soup on a chilly night, especially when it's packed with all of our favorite taco flavors! While I love my Beef Taco Soup and Taco Chicken and Rice Soup, the cheesiness of this Cheesy Chicken Taco Soup makes it extra special.
This Cheesy Chicken Taco Soup is loaded with tender chicken, beans, corn, tomatoes, taco seasoning, and lots of melty cheese for a hearty and delicious dinner the whole family will love.
Even better, this chicken taco soup is easy to make and perfect for busy weeknights. Add your favorite taco toppings like avocado, sour cream, shredded cheese, cilantro, and crushed tortilla chips, and you have a fun, comforting meal that everyone can customize to their liking!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Easy to Make - it is made with simple ingredients and comes together easily, making it perfect for a busy weeknight dinner.
Full of Flavor - taco seasoning, tomatoes with green chiles, beans, corn, and plenty of cheese give every bite tons of delicious taco flavor.
Family Friendly - this cozy soup is always a hit with kids and adults, especially when everyone gets to add their own favorite taco toppings.
Great for Leftovers - the leftovers are just as delicious the next day, making this soup perfect for meal prep or an easy lunch.
Key Ingredients
Ground Chicken - I use the higher fat ground chicken because I do think it adds more flavor than the ground chicken breast. However, you can use whatever you can find at your local grocery store.
Taco Seasoning - I use mild taco seasoning but of course, you can use whatever variation and brand your family likes best.
Substitutions and Variations
Ground Chicken Swap - you can use ground turkey or ground beef for this recipe if you prefer. You could also use boneless skinless chicken breast and shred it, or just throw in some shredded rotisserie chicken.
Vegetarian - omit the ground chicken and add another can of beans, if you want to make this soup vegetarian.
Beans - swap the black beans for pinto beans, Northern beans, or kidney beans, depending on what you have on hand.
Cheese Swap - if you're in a time crunch, just use a can of condensed cheese soup instead of making the cheese sauce.
Add Some Spice - if you like your taco soup spicy, add diced jalapeños, a pinch of cayenne pepper, or use hot taco seasoning.
Add More Veggies - bell peppers, zucchini, or extra corn are easy ways to add more vegetables to this cheesy chicken taco soup.
How to Make Cheesy Chicken Taco Soup
Step 1.
Add olive oil to a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the ground chicken and cook until browned, breaking into smaller pieces as it cooks.
Step 2.
Add the diced onion and cook until softened, about 4 minutes.
Step 3.
Stir in the taco seasoning, diced tomatoes with green chiles, black beans, and corn.
Step 4.
In a separate saucepan, melt the butter. Once melted add the flour and stir until combined. Slowly mix in the milk and cook for a few minutes, until thickened.
Step 5.
Mix in the cheese to the milk mixture and then add to the soup.
Step 6.
Lastly, stir in the broth. Let simmer for 5 minutes and then serve.
Expert Tips
Toppings - Make this soup your own with toppings like avocado, sour cream, cilantro, green onions, shredded cheese, crushed tortilla chips, or sliced jalapeños.
Storage - store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Adjust the Consistency - if the soup is thicker than you prefer, simply add a splash of chicken broth until it reaches your desired consistency.
Cheesy Chicken Taco Soup Recipe FAQs
Yes! Add the cooked ground chicken (or saute it in your slow cooker if it has that function) and then add the onion, beans, corn, tomatoes, taco seasoning, and broth to the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. Make the cheese sauce on the stovetop and add during the last 20-30 minutes of cooking.
Since this soup contains shredded cheese, the texture can change slightly after freezing and thawing. You can freeze it, but for the best creamy texture, I prefer enjoying it fresh or storing leftovers in the refrigerator.
We love serving this soup with tortilla chips for dipping or crushing on top. Cornbread, a simple green salad, or warm tortillas would also be delicious alongside it.
Other Cheesy Soup Recipes to Consider
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, or take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #greensnchocolate.
Cheesy Chicken Taco Soup
Ingredients
For the soup:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1 white onion diced
- 1 packet taco seasoning I used reduced sodium
- 1 10 ounce can diced tomatoes with green chiles (like Rotel)
- 1 15 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 cups frozen corn
- 2 ½ cups chicken broth
For the cheese sauce:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup milk
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
Toppings (optional and to your preference)
- additional cheddar cheese
- green onions
- cilantro
- diced tomatoes
- sour cream
Instructions
To make the soup:
- In a large soup pot, add olive oil and cook the ground chicken over medium-high heat, breaking it up into small pieces as it cooks.
- Add onion and cook another 3-4 minutes, until onion starts to soften.
- Add taco seasoning, tomatoes, black beans, and corn, and stir until well combined.
- Lower heat and make cheese sauce.
To make the cheese sauce:
- In a separate medium pan, melt butter over medium heat.
- Add flour and stir until combined with butter and let cook for about 1 minute, stirring pretty consistently.
- SLOWLY add the milk, whisking the entire time, until well combined.
- Stir with a wooden spoon until it thickens, about 4 minutes.
- Add cheese and stir to combine.
- Add cheese sauce to soup pot and stir well to combine.
- Slowly add chicken broth and stir well to combine.
- Let simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Serve topped with your preferred toppings and enjoy!
LOVE THIS RECIPE?
Nutrition
Love this recipe! Used ground turkey since we had it on hand. Reheats well, leftovers were great.
Thanks, Emily! So glad you enjoyed it 🙂