Spicy Chicken Taco Soup is truly the best of both worlds in one pot. Hearty chicken soup gets an instant boost from my flavorful homemade taco seasoning. Add in beans and tomatoes, and finish with your favorite Taco Tuesday toppers like avocado, cilantro, and sour cream for a bowl of soup that's M'm! M'm! Great!
Make the taco seasoning. Combine the chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, pepper, coriander, garlic powder, and oregano in a small bowl or lidded jar. Stir or shake until well-combined.
Heat a dutch oven or soup pot over medium high heat; add the oil and heat until it shimmers. Add onion, celery, and carrot, then toss to coat in the fat. Saute, stirring occasionally, until the onion turns translucent, about 10 minutes
Add the poblano peppers, jalapeno peppers, and garlic and toss with the mirepoix. Saute 1 minute, stirring continuously.
Add the taco seasoning, tomatoes, beans, and broth. Give everything a good stir, then place the chicken into the pot. Bring the liquid to a simmer, then adjust the heat to maintain a brisk simmer. Cover and cook until the chicken is cooked through and the internal temperature reads 165°F using an instant read thermometer, about 7 minutes from the time the liquid starts to simmer.
Remove the chicken using tongs, shred, then return to the pot.
Stir in the lime juice and cilantro, then taste for seasoning. Adjust with salt, pepper, or more lime juice. Portion into bowls and garnish with desired toppings.
Notes
Make it faster: substitute 4 heaping cups shredded rotisserie chicken.
Make it less spicy: omit the jalapeno and use 1 tablespoon chili powder.
Leftovers: store in a tightly sealed container for up to 4 days. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in-between.
Freezer: cool, then portion into a freezer-safe container; we like to store soups flat in gallon Ziploc freezer bags. Label, then freeze for up to 2 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight. Reheat in a soup pot over a medium flame until warmed through.