A Cozy Chicken Soup Recipe with a Mexican Twist
Lately, I’ve been experimenting with flavors that reflect the type of food we love most in our home—Mexican-inspired dishes.
This chicken soup recipe was created out of necessity, but it turned out to be one of the most comforting soups I’ve ever made. Despite a few kitchen mishaps, like burning the bottom of the soup (oops!) and a clogged sink, my husband gave it a solid "yum." That’s always the best kind of validation!
The Recipe That Almost Wasn’t
The night before, we ran into a major problem: a clogged sink. Ever had that happen in the middle of cooking? It puts a damper on your meal prep, to say the least!
We couldn’t fix it ourselves, so while I waited on the plumber, I had to be creative.
My solution?
I made a "dump soup." Instead of draining the beans or preparing everything perfectly, I just threw it all into the pot. I wasn’t about to make a bigger mess than I already had.
Somehow, even with this chaotic cooking method, the flavors worked together beautifully. I’ve found that sometimes my best recipes come from moments like this, when I’m improvising with what I have on hand.
Does that ever happen to you?
It’s those impromptu meals that surprise you the most!
Cooking Lessons Learned
After my husband’s approval on the first attempt, I knew I had to make it again to fine-tune it before sharing it with you. This time, I made sure to stir the soup so the cheese curds melted properly.
Last time, they sunk to the bottom and burned (what a lesson to learn, it was a mess!). I also added kidney beans, because what’s a good soup around here without those?
The Key Ingredients & Why They Matter
I love how this recipe balances the freshness of vegetables like onions and green peppers with the savory, slow-cooked chicken.
The taco seasoning gives it a familiar Mexican flair, while the cottage cheese provides an unexpected creaminess.
If you’re not a fan of cottage cheese, feel free to substitute it with cream cheese for an even richer texture.
- Chicken thighs: I chose chicken thighs due to Dr Li's book, plus they add more depth of flavor.
- Taco seasoning & Ranch dressing mix: These add a zesty, slightly smoky flavor that pairs well with the beans and vegetables.
- Canned beans & corn: A staple in many Mexican dishes, beans and corn make this soup hearty and satisfying without requiring a lot of effort.
- Cottage cheese: This is my secret weapon for adding creaminess without being heavy. Trust me—it works!
Chicken Soup Recipe with a Mexican Twist
Ingredients:
- 48 oz chicken thighs
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 large green pepper, chopped
- 1 packet taco seasoning mix or create your own seasoning
- 2 T Ranch dressing seasoning
- 1 can kidney beans
- 1 can black beans
- 1 can corn
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 1 can Rotel
- 1 c cottage cheese
- Shredded cheddar cheese for garnish
Instructions:
- Place chicken breasts, onion, and green pepper into stock pot on medium heat
- Add seasoning to chicken and vegetables, do not salt, there is plenty of salt in the seasoning packets
- Clean and drain beans, do not drain diced tomatoes or corn, or Rotel
- Place into stock pot, place lid over top and allow to cook through
- Once the chicken is no longer pink, pull chicken from the pot, and shred with a fork for a more chunkier chicken
- Add cottage cheese when you are close to serving, and stir to prevent burning
- Add soup to bowls, and garnish with shredded cheese
Tip:
- Be sure to stir the soup when adding the cottage cheese to ensure all of the curds melt before letting it simmer. If not, the curds will sink to the bottom and burn.
- Cottage cheese creates a creamy texture to the soup, you could also use cream cheese
How to Customize This Recipe
One of the great things about this chicken soup is how versatile it is. Here are a few ways you can make it your own:
- For a spicier version: Add a chopped jalapeño or a dash of cayenne pepper to the pot. You could even use spicy Rotel for an extra kick.
- Want more protein?: Add a can of drained and rinsed chickpeas or even a handful of cooked quinoa for more texture and nutrition.
- Prefer a different cheese?: Swap the cottage cheese for cream cheese or shredded mozzarella. You could even stir in a spoonful of sour cream just before serving.
- Vegetarian option: Skip the chicken and add extra beans or tofu. You could also use a vegetable broth base instead of relying solely on the liquid from your veggies
Health Benefits of This Soup
We lean heavily on Mexican-inspired dishes in our household, but I've had to adapt many of our favorites to fit my gluten-free lifestyle. With this soup, there’s no need to worry about hidden gluten ingredients, which now makes it a regular in our kitchen. It’s so hearty and flavorful, even my non-gluten-free husband loves it. I’ve found that keeping both of us happy at the dinner table is all about balance.
Cooking gluten-free can sometimes feel like a challenge, especially if you’re new to it. Over the years, I’ve learned how to tweak recipes to ensure they’re still delicious while being safe for those of us with food allergies. This chicken soup is a great example—no gluten here, just comforting, wholesome flavors.
What to Serve with Your Mexican Chicken Soup
Looking to make this a full meal? Here are some side dishes that would pair beautifully with this soup:
- Tortilla Chips and Guacamole: A classic, and it adds a nice crunch alongside the creamy soup.
- Cornbread: You can make a gluten free cornbread to serve on the side for dipping.
- Mexican Rice: If you’re looking to make the meal more filling, a side of Mexican rice would be perfect.
- Fresh Salad: A light, refreshing salad with avocado, cilantro, and Avocado Lime Ranch dressing could help balance the richness of the soup.
Why I Share the Mess-Ups Too
After sharing my textured vase project, I realized that showing you the not-so-perfect side of things is just as important as showing the successes. Trust me, I make plenty of mistakes in the kitchen and crafting, and this soup was no different (hello, burned bottom of the pot!). I’m a trial-and-error kind of gal, and that’s part of the creative process. Sometimes things don’t go as planned, but that’s where the magic happens!
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Cara
Mexican is one of my favorite good groups, Cara, so I am super excited to try this recipe. It sounds delicious and I appreciate that it's easy for beginner cooks like me too. Plumbing issues are no joke so I hope eveything is fixed and you are back to making fabulous meals. I learn so much from the things you share. Even when things don't turn out the way you expect they will! Big hugs, CoCo
ReplyDeleteI hope you like this recipe CoCo. I have a lot of experience making my own recipes, but I cannot call myself a cook, lol. I just look at what we have on hand, and say let's do this. I am what I call an experimental home cook... things do not always turn out around here. ha!
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