This easy chicken fajita soup combines fajita spices with chicken, black beans and rice to create a light and flavorful addition for any time of day!
Easy Chicken Fajita Soup
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup dried black beans
- 1 cup dry rice
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 bell peppers, chopped (2 cups)
- 2 onions, chopped (2 cups)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced (4 tsp)
- 5½ cups chicken broth
- 2 large tomatoes, chopped (2 cups)
- 1 tb chili powder or to taste
- 1½ tsp ground cumin
- 1½ tsp paprika
- ¾ tsp dried oregano
- 2 tbsp dried cilantro
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast
- 2 tbsp lime juice
Instructions
- Cover beans with 2 cups of water and allow to soak for 6 - 12 hours. Drain and rinse.
- Add 2 cups of water and beans to a saucepan. Turn heat to medium. Cover and simmer for 45-60 minutes or until tender, checking occasionally to ensure there is enough water to keep beans from scorching.
- Prepare rice according to the directions listed on the package.
- (NOTE: The above steps can be done ahead. Store beans and rice tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.)
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add bell peppers and onion. Saute for 3 minutes then add garlic. Saute for 1-2 minutes longer.
- Pour chicken broth and tomatoes into the pot. Stir in chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, cilantro, salt and pepper.
- Add chicken and bring to a light boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until chicken has cooked through and internal temperature registers at 160℉, 10-15 minutes.
- Transfer chicken to a cutting board and let it rest for 5 minutes. Cut it into small strips.
- Return chicken to pot along with rice, beans and lime juice.
- Reheat if necessary and serve with shredded cheese, if desired.
- Hack: Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Be sure to subtract any days that you stored the cooked beans and/or rice before making soup.
- Hack: Freeze leftover portions sealed in serving-sized portions for future use for up to 3 months.
- Hack: One 15 oz can of black beans can be substituted for the dried beans in this recipe. Drain, rinse and add to the pot.
- Hack: One 15 oz can of diced tomatoes can be substituted for the fresh tomatoes.
- Hack: 2 cups of cooked chicken can be substituted for the chicken breast.
- Hack: Dehydrated vegetables can be used in this recipe!
Did you know? Although the term fajita was not used to refer to a food item until 1971, the dish itself was made popular in the 30s in Texas. Migrant workers received meat scraps as a part of their pay and this would have been one of the ways they made them into a meal!
Suggestion: Serve this soup with some freshly made authentic naan flatbread!
