Chicken Fajita Soup

CHICKEN FAJITA SOUP ALL MADE IN ONE POT!

This Chicken Fajita Soup is packed with your favorite fajita flavors and ingredients and is SO easy, delicious and comforting!  It’s loaded with juicy chicken, bell peppers, rice, black beans, tomatoes, green chilies, pepper Jack Cheese and topped with tortilla chips, avocados, sour cream, etc.   This Chicken Fajita Soup also makes fabulous leftovers for lunches/dinner throughout the week! Make room for a new favorite way to devour fajitas with this Chicken Fajita Soup!

If you love everything fajitas, you love my readers favorite chicken fajitas, crockpot chicken fajitas, chicken fajita pasta, pork fajitas, shrimp fajitas, sheet pan salmon fajitas and fajita seasoning!

Chicken Fajita Soup Recipe Video

a big pot of chicken fajita soup with cheese


 

Easy Fajita Soup

One pot + Soup + Mexican food = L.O.V.E.

There are SO many reasons to love this Chicken Fajita Soup, but I will limit them to four letters:

  • L is for the fiestalicious LAYERS of fajita seasonings from the cumin, chili powder,  garlic, and smoked paprika swimming in the creamy enchilada sauce-like broth that will have your palate begging for more after each slurpful.
  • O is for the OVERABUNDANCE of texture and flavor all whipped up entirely in ONE pot!   And just when you didn’t think Chicken Fajita Soup could get any better, you pile on all the topping!
  • V is for VELVETY, cheesy soup smothered with pepper jack cheese all on your table in 30 Minutes! Maybe V should also stand for VICTORY!
  • E is for EAT!  Everyone will LOVE this Chicken Fajita Soup and be begging for you to make it again and again!

I am so excited for your whole family to fall in love with this Chicken Fajita Soup.  It tastes just like chicken fajitas with a enchilada like broth and is completely comforting, texture packed and flavorlicious!

top view of creamy chicken fajita soup in a white pot

Chicken Fajita Soup Ingredients

  • chicken:  as previously discussed, you can use chicken thighs or breasts.  Take care you slice the chicken the same thickness so it cooks evenly.  
  • onion: you may substitute fresh onion with 1 teaspoon onion powder. 
  • garlic: you can substitute fresh garlic with 1 teaspoons garlic powder.
  • bell peppers:  I like a combination of red orange and yellow for more dynamic flavor but you can use any mix of your favs or what you have on hand.
  • flour:  you can use gluten free flour for gluten free Chicken Fajita Soup.
  • chicken broth:  make sure you use low sodium chicken broth so you have some wiggle room with the salt.
  • cornstarch:  helps thicken the soup without having to add extra butter for a thicker roux.
  • seasonings: we make our own fajita seasonings with chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, dried oregano, salt and pepper.  If you like spicy soup, you can add some cayenne pepper too.
  • black beans:  rinse and drain your black beans first. You can may substitute black beans with pinto beans, kidney beans, or cannellini beans.
  • crushed tomatoes:  make sure you use crushed tomatoes without any added seasonings.
  • diced green chilies: use only canned MILD diced green chiles or else your soup will be too hot.
  • rice: use long-grained white rice otherwise the rice will take too long to cook which means your chicken and peppers will be overcooked.
  • pepper Jack cheese: use freshly grated cheese so it melts seamlessly. 

What chicken is best for chicken tomato rice soup?

You have a couple options when it comes to which chicken to use for this Chicken Fajita Soup:

  • Chicken Thighs:  I like to use chicken thighs because they are inherently juicier, richer tasting and far more tender than chicken breasts.  They are also harder to overcook and stay tender for days with a more palate pleasing texture, even when reheated for leftovers.
  • Chicken Breasts: You can also use chicken breasts but make sure not to overcook or they won’t be as juicy and tender.
  • Rotisserie Chicken: You can also use shredded rotisserie chicken but you will lose the thinly sliced chicken fajita feel.  Still, rotisserie chicken is super convenient and then you don’t have to chop any raw chicken!  If you use rotisserie chicken, you will want to add it at the end of cooking, just so it can warm through.
top view of chicken fajita soup garnished with tomatoes, sour cream and avocados

How to Make Chicken Fajita Soup

This Mexican chicken and rice soup is so simple to make! Here are the basic steps:

  1. Melt butter the butter and olive oil over medium high heat in a large Dutch oven/soup pot.
  2. Add chicken and onions and sauté.
  3. Add bell peppers, garlic, flour and all seasonings/spices. Cook for 2 minutes.
process shot showing how to make fajita soup by adding ingredients in a large Dutch oven
  1. Stir in rice, black beans, green chilies, crushed tomatoes and 3 cans chicken broth. Mix cornstarch with last can chicken broth and add to soup.
  2. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until rice is cooked.
  3. Remove from heat and stir in cheese. Add additional chicken broth/water to thin soup if desired.
process shot showing how to make chicken fajita soup by adding shredded cheese into Mexican chicken and rice soup.
  1. Taste and adjust to to taste by adding salt, pepper, cayenne pepper.
process shot of a ladle scooping up chicken fajita soup

How to make Chicken Fajita Soup ahead of time

This creamy Mexican chicken and rice soup recipe is very simple but it does require some prep work. You can save time by:

  • Trim chicken.  Trim off excess fat from chicken then store chicken in an airtight container or freezer bag in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. 
  • Pep aromatics.  Dice onion and mince garlic then store in an separate airtight containers in the refrigerator.  
  • Slice veggies. Slice the bell peppers and store in an airtight container.
  • Measure Spices. It doesn’t take long to measure out the spices, but you can certainly do it beforehand and store the mix in an airtight bag or container. 
  • Shred cheese. Prep cheese and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Tomato Chicken Rice Soup Recipe Tips

  • Make it less thick. I love my soup thick BUT the consistency of this Chicken Fajita Soup is totally up to you!.  For a thinner soup, simply add additional chicken broth.
  • Cheese.  Use freshly shredded cheeses as opposed to pre-packaged cheeses so the cheese will melt seamlessly.  Packaged cheeses are treated with anti-clumping chemicals which prevents the cheese from melting as well.
  • Season to taste.  Spice it up with hot sauce or cayenne pepper, add lime juice for tanginess, add salt to enhance the flavors.
showing how to garnish chicken fajita soup by topping a bowl of  soup with tomatoes, avocados, cilantro and sour cream

Chicken Fajita Soup Recipe Variations

  • Use rotisserie chicken. To make this recipe even easier, skip sautéing the chicken and sub in shredded rotisserie chicken instead. Add the chicken after the pepper jack cheese and warm through.
  • Use different proteins. Although this is chicken fajita soup, it would also be tasty with ground turkey or ground beef.
  • Make it vegetarian. Want a veggie fajita soup? Omit the chicken and add an extra can of beans.
  • Make it spicy. Stir in hot sauce or cayenne pepper to amp up the heat.
  • Make it cheesy. This Chicken Fajita Soup recipe only calls for one cup of cheese which adds flavor but doesn’t make it overly cheesy. Feel free to add as much cheese as your belly desires.
  • Make it low carb. You can omit the rice and decrease the broth or add extra beans, or cauliflower. To add cauliflower, add about 2 ½ cups bite size cauliflower last 5 minutes of cooking. 
  • Add other veggies. You can keep the bell peppers and add other vegetables such as corn or swap 1-2 bell peppers for 2 cups corn.
  • Swap the cheese. We love the flavor of pepper Jack cheese but you may also use Monterrey Jack or sharp cheddar – or a combination of the two. Keep in mind using a different cheese will altar the flavor profile of the soup. You may also need to add some cayenne pepper to replace some of the kick missing from not using pepper Jack cheese.

What goes with Mexican Chicken and Rice Soup?

Topping your Chicken Fajita Soup with your favorite garnishes is half of the fun and the most important part for added texture and flavor.  You can create a toppings bar and let everyone pile on their favorites of:

  • Sour cream:  a must in my book!  It adds a wonderful creaminess but most importantly, cuts through the richness of the soup. You can also use fat free sour cream or Greek yogurt.  
  • Tortilla strips or crushed tortilla chips: you can’t beat the CRUNCH of salty, chips or strips!   You can use store bought or homemade tortilla strips (recipe below) or crushed tortilla chips.
  • Cilantro:  chopped cilantro adds a fresh, zesty flair. 
  • Lime juice:  you may want to lime up your own bowl as it awakens the flavors of the entire soup.  You may use bottled juice or fresh lime juice. 
  • Avocado:  chopped or sliced avocados add a wonderful creaminess. 
  • Tomatoes: quartered cherry tomatoes or seeded, chopped Roma tomatoes or skip the plain tomatoes and use pico de gallo.
  • Pico de gallo:  a spoonful of pico de gallo adds a depth of freshness I love.
  • Hot sauce: pass around the hot sauce so individuals can customize the heat.
  • Sliced jalapeños: a fabulous topping for those who want to add some heat.

Now grab a bowl of southwest comfort food and fall in love with Chicken Fajita Soup! If you love fajita everything, you will also love my Salsa Verde Honey Lime Pork Fajitas, Skillet Chicken Fajitas, Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas, Grilled Steak Fajitas, One Pot Chicken Fajita Pasta and  Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas, Sheet Pan Fajita  Salmon with Cilantro Lime Butter, and  Fajita Chicken Wraps with Creamy Avocado Dip!

top view of a bowl of chicken fajita soup garnished with tomatoes, avocados, cilantro and sour cream

How to Store Fajita Soup

Chicken Fajita Soup tastes even better the next day!  It will last in the refrigerator for up to 5 days in an airtight container. 

How to reheat Mexican Chicken and Rice Soup

You can reheat Mexican chicken and rice soup on the stove, in the microwave or crockpot. In each method, you may need to add additional chicken broth or water to thin to desired consistency as it twill thicken in the refrigerator.

  • Stove:  reheat large batches on the stove over medium low heat, stirring occasionally – about 10 minutes.
  • Microwave:  transfer individual servings to a microwave-safe dish, cover with a microwave-safe lids or paper towel.  Microwave for 2 minutes, stir, then continue to microwave for 30-second intervals, if needed.
  • Crockpot:  transfer soup to a crockpot and heat on low for 1-3 hours.  The time will depend on how much soup you have remaining.

Can I Freeze Chicken Fajita Soup?

I would not recommend freezing Chicken Fajita Soup because both the rice and the bell peppers do not freeze well.  Rice turns mushy after freezing and reheating.  Bell peppers can be frozen when they are only blanched, or flash-boiled for a few minutes so that the crunch remains, but when they are cooked in a soup like this, they will become mushy upon reheating.

So, the best option is to consume your Chicken Fajita Soup within a few days or share it with your neighbors, they will LOVE you for it!  Maybe almost as much as I love this soup.

Chicken Tomato Rice Soup Recipe FAQs

How to make fajita soup creamy?

Yes! You can transform this Chicken Fajita Soup into creamy, cheesy, soup by following the same technique I use in my Taco Soup recipe. Simply soften 4 oz. cream cheese then stir it into the soup at the very end of cooking until completely melted.

up close of a bowl of chicken fajita soup garnished with tomatoes, avocados, cilantro and sour cream

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ONE POT Pepper Jack Chicken Fajita and Rice Soup is packed with your favorite fajita flavors and is SO easy, delicious and comforting! The whole family will love this!

Chicken Tomato Rice Soup

This Chicken Fajita Soup is packed with your favorite fajita flavors and ingredients and is SO easy, delicious and comforting! It’s loaded with juicy chicken, bell peppers, rice, black beans, tomatoes, green chilies, pepper Jack Cheese and topped with tortilla chips, avocados, sour cream, etc. Make room for a new favorite way to devour fajitas with this Chicken Fajita Soup!
Servings: 6 servings
Total Time: 45 minutes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes

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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 tsp EACH salt, chili pwdr, ground cumin
  • 1/2 tsp EACH smoked paprika, pepper, dried oregano
  • 3/4 cup long-grain white rice, uncooked (I recommend basmati)
  • 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/strips
  • fresh cilantro
  • sour cream
  • Avocados
  • Tomatoes
  • lime juice
  • Hot sauce to taste

Instructions

  • Melt butter in olive oil over medium high heat in a large Dutch oven/soup pot. Add chicken and onions and sauté for 3 minutes.
  • Add bell peppers, garlic, flour and all seasonings/spices. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes.
  • Stir in rice, black beans, green chilies, crushed tomatoes and 3 cans chicken broth. Mix cornstarch with last can chicken broth and add to soup. Bring to boil then reduce heat and simmer on medium low, stirring occasionally, for 8-12 minutes or until rice is cooked.*Note: Cooking time may vary depending on how long it takes to bring your soup to a boil so I suggest checking the rice occasionally until done.
  • Remove from heat and stir in cheese. Add additional chicken broth/water to thin soup if desired. Garnish individual servings with desired toppings.

Video

Notes

*Don’t miss the How To Make Chicken Fajita Soup  Video in the post!
*This is a hearty soup with a thicker enchilada sauce like broth. If you prefer a thinner broth then you can leave out the flour and cornstarch. **The Pepper Jack Cheese can be left out of the soup if preferred and used as a garnish instead.

How to Store  and Reheat

  • Storage:  Chicken Fajita Soup tastes even better the next day!  It will last in the refrigerator for up to 5 days in an airtight container. 
  • Stove:  Reheat large batches on the stove over medium low heat, stirring occasionally – about 10 minutes.
  • Microwave:  Transfer individual servings to a microwave-safe dish, cover with a microwave-safe lids or paper towel.  Microwave for 2 minutes, stir, then continue to microwave for 30-second intervals, if needed.
  • Crockpot:  Transfer soup to a crockpot and heat on low for 1-3 hours.  The time will depend on how much soup you have remaining.

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106 Comments

  1. Rose says

    Have you had any luck freezing this yummy soup? I’ve made it several times and I’m considering freezing it to save for an easy meal when I’m recovering from surgery. Thanks!

    • Jen says

      Hi Rose, I have never attempted to freeze this soup but I’m guessing the bell peppers would not freeze well. If you end up trying it please let me know how it goes. God bless for a speedy recovery!

      • Natalia says

        Jen, I have a question.I am going to prepare this soup next week. Can I use rotisserie chicken and add it after I cook the onions? I can’t wait to prepare this soup.

        • Jen says

          Absolutely, great shortcut! I would add it the last 5 minute or so of cooking just to warm through.

  2. Natalia says

    I had to return here to leave a comment. I prepared this soup tonight and it is delicious. CAN’T wait to eat dinner. Thank you so much.

  3. Monica says

    The soup is really good.. I made it as the recipe calls for it but I think next time I will use shredded chicken breast instead. I topped mine with avocado, lime, and cholula hot sauce. Really good pairing

    • Jen says

      Thanks Monica, I’m so pleased you enjoyed it!

  4. Amber Johnson says

    I’ve made this recipe twice and love it so much!! It’s so full of flavor. Absolutely delicious!

    • Jen says

      Thanks so much Amber, I love hearing that!

  5. Charith Varga says

    I’ve made this soup many times and it never fails to impress! I’ve shared with family and friends and always hear that it was the best when they made it. This is definitely a keeper recipe in a world of so many recipes!

    • Jen says

      Thank you so much for the rave review Charith, I’m honored this is beloved by so many thanks to you!

  6. Mary says

    I just found your site. Everything looks so good. You break it down so well. We especially like Mexican food. Would you share which enchilada sausage you used? I have not found one that tastes good.
    Thank you
    Mary

    • Jen says

      Welcome to my site Mary, it sounds like we are foodie kindred spirits in the Mexican food department! Rosarita and Trader Joes Enchilada Sauce are better than most, although I usually use my own homemade enchilada sauce and stock it in the freezer: https://carlsbadcravings.com/enchilada-sauce/

  7. Mary says

    Can I use left over rice that’s already cooked??

    • Jen says

      Hi Mary! Yes, just add it in at the end before stirring in the cheese! Hope you enjoy!

  8. Jackie says

    Delicious!!! The entire family loved it! Froze the little bit we had left and looking forward to adding to our rotation!

    • Jen says

      Thank you! I’m so glad it’s a keeper!

  9. DeAdrian Gray says

    How much thinner would it be if you left out the flour to make it gluten free?

    • Jen says

      To make it gluten free, you can swap the flour for half the amount of cornstarch, enjoy!

  10. Amanda says

    What are the measurements for the ingredients?

    • Jen says

      The recipe card is at the bottom of the post with measurements. You can scroll down or use the “jump to recipe” button at the top of the post. Hold it down and it will skip directly to the recipe. Enjoy!

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