Santa Fe chicken soup has a vivid pop of color that is not only beautiful but also a delicious treat for the soul. The dish has several kinds of herbs and spices including celery, cumin, cilantro, coriander, etc. that make the soup healthier than the usual soups because of its multiple nutrients. The spicy chili infused with the savory chicken flavor can bring joy to any person and satisfy their palate.
Famous for its burst of flavors, this dish is best served on cold winter days to warm up your body. With a hint of Mexican cooking combined with American cuisine, this dish is a savior for hangovers and cold. Rest assured, you are allowed to customize your soup and toppings according to your will.
This Santa Fe Chicken soup serves 10 people in 35 minutes. It consists of spices, herbs, vegetables, chicken, and many kinds of veggie mixes. A maximum of the needed ingredients are readymade and available in cans from your nearest departmental stores.
Where Is Santa Fe Chicken Soup from?
Originating from New Mexico, this dish is a blend of Mexican and American cuisine. As Mexican flavors contain more spice, it is usually prepared with a fiery taste. The seasonings including cumin, coriander, cilantro, black pepper, etc. do most of the work along with the chicken and mixed cans like in any other soup recipe.
You can use your leftover chicken and toss it in the soup. This way you can reduce waste and rather make a delicious recipe out of it.
How to Make Santa Fe Soup with Chicken
Equipment
- Dutch Oven or Slow Cooker
- Saucepan
- Cutting Board
- Knife
- Stove
- Stirring Spoon
- Small Bowls
- Serving Bowls
Ingredients
- 1 cup Onions: Onions are great for inducing a savory flavor to the soup.
- 3 Large Garlic Cloves: For a garlicky aftertaste and for the aroma to come out well, you can add minced garlic or garlic powder in the same ratio.
- ½ cup Celery: Low in calories, celery is a good condiment to add to your soup. It will help in improving your gut health and also promote weight loss.
- 12 cups Chicken Stock: Chicken stock is a handy ingredient to add to your soup or any other dish. It adds flavor and is also low in calories.
- 2 ½ tbsp Olive Oil: Olive oil is used to stir fry the onions and garlic at the beginning. You can also use butter for a richer taste.
- 14 ½ ounces Jalapeno Pepper with Diced Tomato: This mix adds a tangy flavor to the dish which is the main palate of this soup.
- 14 ½ ounces Diced Tomato with Green Chilis: It also serves as a great flavor influencer along with a chili taste.
- 16 ounces Black Bean and Rice Mix: The black beans from this mix are another important item of Santa Fe soup that enhances the flavor.
- 1 Frozen Corn and Black Beans: To load the soup with more beans and corn, you can use this mix and enhance the taste.
- 14 ounces Black Beans: There is no end to it, add the black beans all the way!
- 5 Boneless Chicken Breasts: This is the main topping that increases the meaty and savory flavor.
- 2 tsp Cumin: Cumins have a nice aromatic flavor that compliments the savory flavor of the soup.
- 1 tsp Coriander: Coriander adds to both the flavor and the pop of color at the time of garnishing the soup.
- 2 tsp Dried Cilantro: Yet another flavor inducer, cilantro has some added benefits in the nutrition department that you need to add to the soup.
- Salt and Pepper: Salt and pepper are added to adjust the overall taste and pack all the flavors together.
Directions
Step 1: Cut the Veggies and Spices
With a knife, finely chop the onions and garlic on a cutting board. Mince the chopped garlic with the back of the knife.
After that, dice the celery in about ½ inch pieces. Set them all aside in a bowl.
Step 2: Grill the Chicken
Season your chicken breast with salt, pepper, and cumin. Make sure to season both sides properly. After that, heat the saucepan and pour olive oil on it.
Toss the chicken breast in the pan and grill it for 5 minutes on each side. Keep the heat at medium flame and wait for each of the sides to turn golden brown.
Step 3: Prepare the Spices
After grilling the chicken, let it rest and prepare the spices meanwhile. Heat your Dutch oven on a slow cooker on a high flame. Pour 1 tbsp olive oil and add onions, celery, and garlic when the oil gets a bit hot. Keep stirring until the onions change in color.
Step 4: Make the Soup
In the spice mix, add the chicken stock, tomatoes, corn, black beans, and rice mix. Let it cook for some time and bring it to a boil. When the smells come out, toss the cumin, coriander, and cilantro.
After that, simmer the soup until the beans and rice are tender and cooked. It would take about 25 minutes to be done.
Step 5: Dice the Chicken Breast
While the soup is being simmered, prepare the chicken breast for the topping. Dice the grilled chicken into about 1 inch pieces and add to the soup.
Give it 10-15 more minutes for the chicken flavor to incorporate into the soup mix.
Step 6: Serve with Toppings and Enjoy
After the cooking, you will get a nice savory fragrance of the Santa Fe chicken soup with the chicken flavor. Then you will know the recipe is done. Serve it hot with additional toppings of your choice.
Aspects to Consider for the Santa Fe Chicken Soup Recipe
Chicken
You should consider adding boneless chicken pieces to the soup. Bones may get in the way of devouring this dish and you don’t want that. You are free to use other pieces too.
You can also consider adding chicken skins. The juicy and tender skins will add a lot to the savory taste. But if you are not a fan, avoid adding the skin.
Vegetables
You may add several vegetables to make the broth of Santa Fe chicken soup taste better. Additional items will be discussed in the next section.
Eggs
Eggs can be added to the soup in several ways. You can soft boil the eggs and put them as a topping. The creamy texture of the soft yolk goes perfectly with the dish.
You can also add the eggs directly before simmering the soup. Keep stirring the whole soup after adding the egg, so the egg is mixed properly with the soup mixture.
Alternative and Additional Ingredients to Make Santa Fe Chicken
You can include the following items, either as substitutes or additions to your main recipe.
- Red Bell Pepper: Red bell peppers contain many healthy nutrients and they will also add a pop of color to your soup.
- Poblano Pepper: You can include poblano peppers for their mild flavor. But be sure of the amount as it can be a little hot.
- Evaporated Milk: Adding milk to the soup will create a creamy texture and alter the recipe a little bit. But the flavor you are gonna get will leave you craving for more!
- Cornstarch or Flour: A small amount of cornstarch or flour will help to thicken the soup broth. Add about 1 ½ tsp of it and you will see the result instantly.
- Corn: Corn kernels are a great condiment to add to Santa Fe chicken. The mild sweetness of corn will make the dish more flavorful.
- Chili Powder: You can adjust the chili powder if you like a bit of heat. But do not add too much, as it can overpower the main flavor.
- Bay Leaf: Bay leaves are a good spice option for any kind of soup. It enhances the flavor and adds a lot to the aroma.
- Lime Juice: Incorporating lime juice will add a subtle tangy and sour flavor to your Santa Fe soup.
- White Beans: You can include white beans, and also use it as an alternative to black beans.
- Cheese: Pepper jack cheese works best with this Santa Fe Chicken Soup recipe. You can garnish with it just before serving your guests.
Slow Cooker or Dutch Oven?
If you want to take time for the flavors to come out well, a slow cooker is the option for you. But on the other hand, if you want to make it quickly with much more accuracy of the recipe, you can go for a Dutch oven.
Both slow cooker and Dutch oven will give you an excellent finish to your Santa Fe soup. The usage mainly depends on how much time you have in your hands to make the recipe.
What to Have Santa Fe Chicken Soup with?
This Santa Fe chicken soup can be served with several items and topped based on your mood. Some of the ideas are given below.
- Corn Chips: Corn chips are nice crackers that go perfectly with this savory delight.
- Tortilla Strips: Similar to the corn chips, tortilla strips also make a good combo with this soup with its crispy texture and crunchy bites.
- Guacamole or Avocado Slices: The mild and creamy texture of the guacamole or avocado slices pair well with this spicy and buttery soup.
- Limes: A few drops of lime juice will increase the tangy flavor of the soup, making it more appetizing.
- Cilantro: Cilantros can be used for garnishing at the end, just before serving your soup. It adds a special aroma that will make you want it more.
- Sour Cream: The creamy sour cream compliments the savoriness of the chicken soup. Along with a buttery flavor, you will also get the creaminess the soup seemed to lack.
- Cornbread: This savory Santa Fe soup with Chicken can also be enjoyed with some cornbread. If you are going to use a Dutch oven, you can make some cornbread too with this Dutch Oven Cornbread Recipe.
Health Benefits of Santa Fe Soup with Chicken
Having chicken, herbs, vegetables, black beans, and tomatoes in it, this soup has multiple health benefits. These health perks will definitely help you regain your health. Some of the benefits are described below.
- Eases Congestion: Chicken soup is a good source of protein, fluids, and electrolytes that help in hydration and recovery at the time of cold.
- Promotes Heart Health: The black beans from the dish help in lowering blood cholesterol and high blood pressure levels. They help in preventing platelet aggregation and encourage muscle relaxation.
- Has Cancer Fighting Properties: The tomatoes in the soup have high lycopene content that may help in fighting cancer cells. They induce cancer cell death and slow down the growth of tumors in the process
- Reduces the Risk of Bone Fracture: The Vitamin K1 subtype decreases the incidence of bone fracture by 50%. In addition, the amino acid content of chicken protein improves health. It lowers the chance of getting hurt and developing other illnesses like osteoporosis.
Nutritional Factors
The nutrient information for each serving of this soup is mentioned below:
| Nutrients | Amount Per Serving | % Daily Values |
| Calories | 297.9 kcal | |
| Calories from Fat | 94 g | 32 % |
| Total Fat | 10.5 g | 16 % |
| Saturated Fat | 2.9 g | 14 % |
| Cholesterol | 55 mg | 18 % |
| Sodium | 628.4 mg | 26 % |
| Total Carbohydrate | 23.4 g | 7 % |
| Dietary Fiber | 3.8 g | 15 % |
| Sugars | 5.4 g | 21 % |
| Protein | 26.5 g | 53 % |
Summary
Maximum items from the ingredients list of Sante Fe Chicken Soup are store bought and readymade. You do not need to waste your time preparing each of the ingredients. With these easily available items, you can easily make a soup of your choice. Serve 8-10 people using the recipe and become the family favorite!
This nutrient packed dish will give you the ultimate taste of savory and creaminess. Prepared with chicken and many other mixes, this soup will definitely be your meal of the month!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Do you use stock or broth for chicken soup?
You can use both chicken stock or chicken broth for chicken soup.
How do I thicken my Santa Fe chicken soup?
Consider adding a bit of cornstarch or flour to thicken your soup.
How many calories are there in each serving of Santa Fe soup?
Each serving of Santa Fe Chicken soup contains 297.9 kcal.
Can I add carrots to soup?
Yes, you are free to add any vegetables to your soup.
Santa Fe Chicken Soup
Equipment
- Dutch Oven or Slow Cooker
- Saucepan
- Cutting board
- Knife
- Stove
- Stirring Spoon
- Small Bowls
- Serving Bowls
Ingredients
- 1 cup Onions
- 3 Large Garlic Cloves
- ½ cup Celery
- 12 cups Chicken Stock
- 2 ½ tbsp Olive Oil
- 14 ½ ounces Jalapeno Pepper with Diced Tomato
- 14 ½ ounces Diced Tomato with Green Chilis
- 16 ounces Black Bean and Rice Mix
- 1 Frozen Corn and Black Beans
- 14 ounces Black Beans
- 5 Boneless Chicken Breasts
- 2 tsp Cumin
- 1 tsp Coriander
- 2 tsp Dried Cilantro
- Salt and Pepper
Instructions
- With a knife, finely chop the onions and garlic on a cutting board. Mince the chopped garlic with the back of the knife.
- After that, dice the celery in about ½ inch pieces. Set them all aside in a bowl.
- Season your chicken breast with salt, pepper, and cumin. Make sure to season both sides properly. After that, heat the saucepan and pour olive oil on it.
- Toss the chicken breast in the pan and grill it for 5 minutes on each side. Keep the heat at medium flame and wait for each of the sides to turn golden brown.
- After grilling the chicken, let it rest and prepare the spices meanwhile. Heat your Dutch oven on a slow cooker on a high flame. Pour 1 tbsp olive oil and add onions, celery, and garlic when the oil gets a bit hot. Keep stirring until the onions change in color.
- In the spice mix, add the chicken stock, tomatoes, corn, black beans, and rice mix. Let it cook for some time and bring it to a boil. When the smells come out, toss the cumin, coriander, and cilantro.
- After that, simmer the soup until the beans and rice are tender and cooked. It would take about 25 minutes to be done.
- While the soup is being simmered, prepare the chicken breast for the topping. Dice the grilled chicken into about 1 inch pieces and add to the soup.
- Give it 10-15 more minutes for the chicken flavor to incorporate into the soup mix.
- After the cooking, you will get a nice savory fragrance of the Santa Fe chicken soup with the chicken flavor. Then you will know the recipe is done. Serve it hot with additional toppings of your choice.
At Bridge House Tavern, we’re more than a team of food enthusiasts; we’re a culinary journey waiting to be savored. Our five-member crew is on a relentless quest to explore, create, and share the wonders of the gastronomic world.
