Chicken Taco Soup

This delicious, Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Soup is not only gluten-free and dairy-free, but it freezes beautifully either before cooking or after cooking. Packed with fresh flavor, the veggies give it that fiesta vibe that everyone will love.

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Reasons You’ll Love this Recipe

• It’s versatile. Chicken Taco soup can be made in the slow cooker or in the Instant Pot.
• It makes a huge batch. This recipe is great for groups of people.
• It freezes beautifully. I almost always freeze the leftovers in small portions to have for lunches down the road.
• It’s easy. A novice cook will feel like a pro after making this recipe.
• It’s high in protein. We explain how important protein is in our Round up of High Protein Slow Cooker recipes.
• It is SO flavorful. You’ll be making it over and over again!
• Take this big-batch soup along to tailgate parties or freeze in small portions for future healthy lunches. Same goes for our Dutch Oven Carnitas!

Ingredients

If you’re familiar with our Crowd-Pleaser Mexican Soup, this recipe might sound a bit familiar. In fact, I love our Mexican Soup so much that I wanted to create a variation with chicken which is what you have before you today. Here is the lineup that you will need:

How to Make Chicken Taco Soup

Here is a quick overview of how to make this:

1. Sauté the veggies. Because chicken only takes a few hours to cook in the crockpot, the veggies need a little jumpstart.
2. Add remaining ingredients: chicken, tomatoes, black beans, pinto beans, corn, salsa, broth, and taco seasoning. Stir to combine.
3. Cook on low. While chicken is typically done in 2.5-3.5 hours in the slow cooker, we found that it takes a bit longer with this particular recipe. Because this is a large batch, it takes the chicken breast close to 4-6 hours to be fully cooked.

How to Make Chicken Taco Soup in the Instant Pot

If the low and slow method isn’t your jam OR you simply forget to get the Chicken Taco Soup in the Crockpot around lunch time, fear not! The Instant Pot can save your dinner!

Here is how to make it in the Instant Pot:

1. Set the Instant Pot to “Sauté.” Pour the oil into the pot and heat until shimmery. Add the onion and bell peppers and cook until they begin to soften, 5 to 7 minutes, seasoning lightly with salt and pepper while they cook. Stir in the garlic during the last 30 to 60 seconds of cooking. Press “Cancel.”
2. Add remaining ingredients. Add the chicken, tomatoes, black beans, pinto beans, corn, salsa, broth, and taco seasoning to the Instant Pot. Stir to combine.
3. Lock and seal the lid. Cook at high pressure for 6 minutes, then quick release the pressure. (The chicken is done when it is no longer pink inside and/or registers 165°F internally.)
4. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and shred with two forks or chop into bite-size pieces. Return the chicken to the pot and stir it into the soup.

Can You Freeze Chicken Taco Soup?

It’s no secret we are big fans of freezer meals around here. In fact, we have 2 freezer meal cookbooks, 1 Hour Freezer Prep Sessions, and even a round-up with 100+ freezer meal recipes that you will love!

So, we definitely have freezer meal instructions for this recipe.

Option 1: Prep Meal before Cooking

• Freeze for Later: Follow step 1. Let the veggies cool, then transfer them to one or two gallon-size freezer bags or containers and add the chicken, tomatoes, black beans, pinto beans, corn, salsa, broth, and taco seasoning. Seal and freeze.
• Prepare From Frozen: Note: Have salt, pepper, and your favorite toppings on hand to complete this meal. Thaw. Place in the slow cooker. Follow steps 3 through 5.

Option 2: Fully Cook and Freeze

• Freeze For Later: Fully cook and cool the soup as instructed. Freeze in an airtight freezer bag or in smaller containers if making a freezer meal for 1-2 people.
• Prepare From Frozen: Thaw completely. Warm it up on the stovetop or in the microwave.

What to Serve with Chicken Taco Soup

Since the recipe is already packed with a healthy protein (chicken) and veggies, you won’t need much more to go with it other than tortilla chips or maybe some corn bread. I like to provide some optional toppings like:

• Diced or sliced avocado
• Sour cream
• Shredded cheddar cheese (here’s how to shred your own to save money)
• Diced red onion or Easy Pickled Red Onion
• Chips and Guacamole

If it’s for a group of people, serving with with our Mexican Chopped Salad or Layered Taco Dip would be a great addition. Enjoy!

More Chicken Soups You’ll Love

If you like the simplicity of this soup, be sure to save or Pin a few of our other favorites.

• Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup – Just dump and go! Or try stovetop Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup.
• Chicken Taco Soup
• Crockpot White Chicken Chili – Or try our Instant Pot White Chicken Chili.
• Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup – Featured in People magazine!
• Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup – So comforting and flavorful.

Want more? See our collection of 15+ Healthy & Delicious Soup Recipes.

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