Chicken Fajita Soup

If you love layer upon layer of flavors, this Chicken Fajita Soup is for you! Yellow onion and garlic become sweet and fragrant while chili powder, cumin and smoked paprika bring a warming deep heat to this soup. Antioxidant-rich bell peppers and fire-roasted tomatoes add a ton of color, and chicken and fiber-filled black beans come in with the protein. Lime juice and fresh cilantro add brightness with their herby, citrusy tones, while sour cream and avocado quench some of the fire in this soup while adding a creamy richness. And tortilla strips add a delightful crunch that complements all the softer elements of this soup. Keep reading for our expert tips, including how you can cut down on prep time.

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! 

• Save some time in the kitchen by preparing the vegetables in advance and storing them in the fridge, or by using pre-cut veggies from the grocery store. 
• If sodium content is not a concern, you can use a fajita seasoning packet instead of the individual spices we call for.
• You can mix things up by swapping the chicken for ground beef or turkey, or leftover steak. Simply incorporate the meat after the vegetables are softened.
• Blooming the spices in the cooked veggie juices and olive oil draws out their flavors.

Nutrition Notes

• Rotisserie chicken is a convenient way to get dinner on the table. It’s also an excellent source of protein and provides an array of vitamins and minerals, including B vitamins, selenium, zinc and choline. Rotisserie chicken is usually either soaked in a brine or injected with a saline solution. While these methods ensure a succulent, juicy end product, they also add sodium to the meat. If you're watching your sodium intake, limit how much rotisserie chicken you eat. Or you could swap the rotisserie chicken out for our Best Poached Chicken recipe. 
• What would fajita soup be without bell peppers and onion? Besides adding color and flavor, both of these veggies add some impressive nutritional value to this soup. Bell peppers are loaded with fiber, vitamins C and A, and antioxidants. Nutrients in both bell peppers and onions support eye and immune health, help reduce inflammation and disease risk, and support gut health by providing food for your gut’s beneficial bacteria. 
• Black beans are legumes that offer fiber, plant protein, antioxidants and several vitamins and minerals, including iron. The vitamin C in the bell peppers and onions will help your body better absorb the iron in the black beans, so they’re a great combination. Along with the fiber in the peppers and onions, black beans’ fiber also feeds your beneficial gut bacteria. Eating more black beans, and legumes in general, has been connected to a healthier heart, lower cancer risk and lower blood sugar.