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This chicken taco soup recipe has a flavorful Rotel tomato cream cheese broth, black beans, corn, and plenty of tender chicken. It’s fast and easy to make in just 35 minutes! We include stovetop, Instant Pot, and Crockpot instructions below.

Love taco flavors? Try my Easy Baked Chicken Tacos or this Easy Taco Casserole Recipe.

creamy chicken taco soup in two white bowls

Why you’ll love it

This recipe is based on my popular Creamy Taco Soup that’s made with ground beef, and I figured it was time to get a chicken version on here! It’s a filling and flavorful Tex-Mex soup all on its own, and it’s even better when you load it up with your favorite toppings.

Sometimes I crave tacos and soup, and this is the best of both worlds. It’s also way easier than making actual tacos, and you can get a hot meal on the table fast for Taco Tuesday using inexpensive pantry ingredients.

What you’ll need

  • Olive oil – for sautéing
  • Onion – our favorite variety is sweet onion (Vidalia), but yellow is fine
  • Red bell pepper – but any color is fine
  • Tomatoes – I definitely recommend using Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies. If you can’t find them, you can use regular ones, but add in a can or two of diced green chilies if possible. They make a huge difference in the overall flavor!
  • Chicken broth – for deeper savory flavor. If salt is a concern, use low sodium instead.
  • Garlic powder, cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder – my signature homemade taco seasoning
  • Corn & black beans – convenient canned veggies
  • Cream cheese – for the smooth, creamy broth. I like Philly best.
  • Chicken – we’re using rotisserie for convenience
ingredients for chicken taco soup on a marble surface

Chicken taco soup toppings

  • For some crunch, try tortilla strips or crushed tortilla chips.
  • To give a cooling effect, a dollop of sour cream or plain Greek yogurt works great. Avocado would also give extra creaminess.
  • Add shredded cheddar or a Tex-Mex blend for cheesiness.
  • Lime wedges and cilantro amp up the flavor even more and add brightness!
  • Sliced jalapeno peppers would give it a spicy kick.

How to make chicken taco soup

This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.

sauteing onion and adding in broth and seasonings for chicken taco soup

Take the cream cheese out of the fridge to let it soften up. In a large pot, sauté the onion in the olive oil. Add the remaining soup ingredients apart from the cream cheese, chicken, and salt & pepper. Bring to a boil, then simmer.

adding in cream cheese and rotisserie chicken to a pot of chicken taco soup

Cut the cream cheese into cubes and add to the soup. When it’s melted, stir in the chicken and cook until warmed through. Season with salt & pepper, serve, and add your toppings!

Crockpot Method

  • I would use uncooked chicken thighs (try 4 of them) or chicken breasts (try 2 of them), and cook the soup for 3-4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low. I recommend chicken thighs if cooking on low since they’re less likely to dry out.
  • Add in the cream cheese during the last 30 minutes of cooking. Ensure it’s set on “high”.

Instant Pot Method

  • Use uncooked chicken breasts (try 2 of them) or chicken thighs (try 4 of them), and add everything except for the cream cheese, seal it up, and cook on high pressure for 8 minutes.
  • Let the pressure release for 5 minutes then quick release the rest. After you unseal it, stir in the cream cheese. Use the sauté function to help it melt faster.
close-up of a ladle full of chicken taco soup (in a pot)

Tools for this recipe

Check out Natasha’s favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and cookware!

Can I make it with uncooked chicken?

  • Sure! If you want to make this with uncooked chicken, you definitely can. I recommend starting the soup by adding 2 cut-up chicken breasts (or 4 cut-up chicken thighs) to the pot after you’ve cooked the onion for a few minutes. Cook the chicken for about 5 minutes, and then transfer it to a plate. Add it back in towards the end so it finishes cooking without getting tough or overcooked.

Substitutions and variations

  • You could swap the cream cheese for heavy cream. Try 1/2 cup to start with. I’d probably build up to about 1 cup. I would then add in some lime juice prior to serving to give it that nice tangy flavor.
  • I find Original Rotel tomatoes to have a bit of kick, so be sure to use mild ones if you’re sensitive to spice. If you want the soup to be really spicy, add in 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper or more as needed!
  • This soup isn’t super thick, but if you do want it a bit thicker, you could add a cornstarch slurry (start with 1 tablespoon cornstarch + 1 tablespoon cold water), and add it in a few minutes prior to serving.

What to serve with this recipe

easy chicken taco soup in two white bowls (with spoons on the marble background)

Leftovers and storage

  • This taco soup will last 3-5 days in the fridge in a covered container.
  • You can also store it for 3 months in the freezer.
  • I recommend warming it up on a low heat. The cream cheese may separate a bit, but it’ll still taste good! Stir it well prior to serving.
a pot full of delicious creamy chicken taco soup

Will you give this creamy chicken taco soup recipe a try? Questions? Let me know in the comments below, and be sure to tag me #saltandlavender on Instagram if you make one of my recipes!

creamy chicken taco soup in two white bowls
4.97 from 271 votes

Chicken Taco Soup

This chicken taco soup recipe has a flavorful Rotel tomato cream cheese broth, black beans, corn, and plenty of tender chicken. It's fast and easy to make in just 35 minutes!
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 35 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients 

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 medium onion chopped
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 2 (10 ounce) cans Ro-tel diced tomatoes & green chilies with juices
  • 1 (14 ounce) can black beans drained & rinsed
  • 1 (12 ounce) can corn drained
  • 1/2 red bell pepper chopped
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 8 ounces cream cheese (I used Philly) softened, see note
  • 2 cups cooked/rotisserie chicken shredded
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • Toppings (optional): shredded Mexican cheese blend, avocado, cilantro, tortilla strips, etc.

Instructions 

  • Add the oil and onion to a soup pot and sauté over medium-high heat for 5 minutes.
  • Add all the remaining soup ingredients to the pot except for the cream cheese, chicken, and salt & pepper.
  • Increase the heat to high and bring the soup to a boil. Turn down the heat so it's simmering gently (uncovered) for 5 minutes. While the soup cooks, prep your toppings.
  • Cut the cream cheese into smaller pieces and add it to the soup. Let it melt in (you may have to stir it a fair bit until it's fully incorporated).
  • Stir in the chicken and cook for another 5-7 minutes or so until it's warmed through.
  • Season the soup with salt & pepper and serve with toppings as desired.

Notes

  • The cream cheese for this recipe should be super soft so it melts into the soup easily. I recommend taking it out of the fridge prior to starting the recipe and then microwaving it in 20-30 second intervals until it’s very soft.
  • If you have any concerns with salt, use low-salt broth.
  • If you’re not using Rotel diced tomatoes, you can use regular ones, but I suggest adding a can or two of diced green chilies as well (the 4 oz. size ones) since it really makes a difference in the way the soup tastes. 
  • Serves 4-6 depending on portion size/what you top it with.
  • See blog post for Instant Pot & Crockpot adaptation suggestions.

Nutrition

Calories: 366kcal, Carbohydrates: 27g, Protein: 21g, Fat: 20g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Cholesterol: 77mg, Sodium: 966mg, Potassium: 780mg, Fiber: 7g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 1507IU, Vitamin C: 33mg, Calcium: 112mg, Iron: 4mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Hi! Iโ€™m Natasha.

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4.97 from 271 votes (58 ratings without comment)

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638 Comments

  1. Judy Casey says:

    Easy is the word. The hardest part was opening cans! I did add one can of green chiles and used two medium sized jalapeรฑos instead of green peppers. Really delicious. Will freeze leftovers. I will make it again.

    1. Natasha says:

      So glad you enjoyed it!! ๐Ÿ™‚ Thanks for reviewing my recipe, Judy!

  2. Kelley says:

    5 stars
    Delicious! Easy to make! Good on a chilly drizzly night!

    1. Natasha says:

      Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it, Kelley.

  3. Hailie says:

    5 stars
    It was delicious! Thank you for a great recipe.

    1. Natasha says:

      You’re very welcome, Hailie! ๐Ÿ™‚

  4. P j Rogers says:

    5 stars
    I made this soup yesterday and my family went nuts. I will definitely make this soup again. Wonderful flavor.

    1. Natasha says:

      Fantastic!! Thanks so much!

  5. Michelle says:

    Thank you for this recipe. It is delicious! I found your sight with a google search of “leftover chicken recipe ideas”:) Really enjoyed the spice combination, it was just right! And I used frozen corn only because I didn’t have can corn. Really really good! Will be making it again:)

    1. Natasha says:

      I’m so glad you found me!! ๐Ÿ™‚ Thanks for leaving me a review – I really appreciate it. Glad you enjoyed the recipe. Let me know if you try anything else!

  6. BJ LeJeune says:

    4 stars
    I thought this was really good! Because one of my family members doesnโ€™t care for tomatoes (however, she loved the soup and went back for seconds!), I put in one can of Rotel plus an extra can of green chilies instead of 2 cans of Rotel. But it came out very pink in color. I canโ€™t figure out why it doesnโ€™t have the beautiful golden color yours does. Any ideas? My chili spice was pretty dark – thatโ€™s all I can figure!

    1. Natasha says:

      I’m so glad you guys enjoyed it! Hmm… I have heard that from other people too on my other taco soup (the one with beef). I think ingredients can vary… and maybe the lighting is a bit different? I think mine had a pink-ish tint too, but the photos do look a little more golden on my screen as well. As long as it tasted good that’s what’s important haha.

  7. Tom says:

    5 stars
    Excellent! Huge hit in my house. Used seared chicken breasts chopped into bite size pieces, otherwise followed recipe to a tee! Will definitely add to our cooking rotation during cold weather!

    1. Natasha says:

      Wonderful! Thanks, Tom!

  8. DEBRA says:

    This recipe is delicious. Since we like a bit more spice I increased the chilli powder and added some cayenne. I also added a bit more cream cheese. Will definitely make this recipe
    again.

    1. Natasha says:

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it!! ๐Ÿ™‚

  9. Katherine Augustin says:

    5 stars
    Super yummy and easy/fast. Toddler even helped. If your Chile powder is hot like mine I would use a little less or itโ€™ll be pretty spicy.

    1. Natasha says:

      Excellent… glad it worked out for you, Katherine! ๐Ÿ™‚

  10. Stephanie Austin says:

    5 stars
    This is one of the best recipes I have ever made! So delicious! I followed the directions exactly and I am thrilled!

    1. Natasha says:

      I’m so happy to hear that!! Thanks so much for commenting, Stephanie!