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Chicken Fajita Soup Recipe

Chicken Fajita Soup Recipe
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★★★★★

5 from 14 reviews

Chicken Fajita Soup is a hearty and flavorful meal that combines tender chicken thighs with a medley of bell peppers, spices, rice, and beans in a thickened, enchilada-style broth. Topped with Pepper Jack cheese and served with classic fajita garnishes like tortilla strips, cilantro, sour cream, avocado, and lime, this comforting soup brings all the iconic fajita flavors in a warm and satisfying bowl perfect for any day of the year.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 pound chicken thighs, thinly sliced into 2-inch pieces
  • 1/2 large onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced then halved
  • 1 orange bell pepper, thinly sliced then halved
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced then halved
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 3/4 cup long-grain white rice (preferably basmati), uncooked
  • 1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 (4 oz) can mild diced green chilies
  • 1 (14 oz) can crushed tomatoes
  • 4 (14.5 oz) cans low sodium chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 cup freshly grated Pepper Jack cheese (or more to taste)

Garnish

  • Tortilla chips or strips
  • Fresh cilantro
  • Sour cream
  • Avocados, sliced
  • Tomatoes, diced
  • Lime juice
  • Hot sauce, to taste

Instructions

  1. Sauté Chicken and Onions: In a large Dutch oven or soup pot, melt the butter in olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the sliced chicken thighs and onions, then sauté for about 3 minutes until the chicken begins to brown and onions soften.
  2. Add Peppers, Garlic, and Spices: Stir in the sliced bell peppers, minced garlic, flour, chicken bouillon powder, salt, chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, black pepper, and dried oregano. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes to combine flavors and cook out the raw flour taste.
  3. Incorporate Rice, Beans, and Tomato: Mix in the uncooked rice, rinsed black beans, diced green chilies, crushed tomatoes, and 3 cans of chicken broth. Stir well to combine all ingredients evenly.
  4. Add Cornstarch Mixture: In a separate small bowl, whisk the cornstarch into the remaining 1 can of chicken broth until smooth. Pour this mixture into the soup, stirring to thicken the broth slightly.
  5. Simmer Soup: Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Let it simmer, stirring occasionally, for 8–12 minutes or until the rice is fully cooked. Note that cooking time may vary based on the time taken to reach a boil, so check rice doneness periodically.
  6. Finish with Cheese and Adjust Thickness: Remove the pot from heat and stir in the grated Pepper Jack cheese until melted and incorporated. If the soup is too thick, add additional chicken broth or water to reach your preferred consistency.
  7. Serve with Garnishes: Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish each serving with tortilla chips or strips, fresh cilantro, sour cream, sliced avocados, diced tomatoes, a squeeze of lime juice, and hot sauce to taste.

Notes

  • Don’t miss the How To Make Chicken Fajita Soup video included with the recipe for a step-by-step visual guide!
  • This soup is thick and hearty, resembling an enchilada sauce–style broth. For a thinner broth, omit the flour and cornstarch.
  • Pepper Jack cheese can be omitted from the soup and used as a garnish instead, if preferred.
  • Soup tastes even better the next day after flavors have melded.
  • Store soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
  • Reheat on the stove over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes; or microwave individual servings covered for 2 minutes, stirring, then continue in 30-second increments until hot.
  • You can also reheat the soup in a crockpot on low for 1–3 hours depending on quantity.

Nutrition

Keywords: Chicken Fajita Soup, fajita soup recipe, Mexican soup, chicken and rice soup, hearty soup, Pepper Jack cheese soup

Find it online: https://messykitchenmagic.com/chicken-fajita-soup-recipe/