This creamy chicken taco pasta recipe is a delicious and comforting soup dinner, perfect for a cozy night in. It’s a homemade soup recipe that comes together quickly for a satisfying meal. Discover the details.
When you’re looking for a hearty, flavorful, and easy dinner that the whole family will love, this creamy chicken taco pasta soup hits all the right notes. It combines the beloved flavors of tacos with the comforting warmth of a pasta soup, creating a dish that’s both familiar and exciting.
Table of Contents
- What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
- Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
- Time Needed From Start To Finish
- How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
- Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
- Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
- How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
- Questions People Always Ask Before Making This Recipe
Creamy Chicken Taco Pasta Soup
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
This creamy chicken taco pasta recipe is a delicious and comforting soup dinner, perfect for a cozy night in. It’s a homemade soup recipe that comes together quickly for a satisfying meal. This recipe is a true weeknight hero, designed for busy families and anyone who wants a delicious, home-cooked meal without spending hours in the kitchen. You’ll love how quickly it comes together, making it perfect for those evenings when time is short but you still crave something satisfying. It’s incredibly versatile, appealing to a wide range of palates, from picky eaters to those who enjoy a little spice. The combination of tender chicken, pasta, and a rich, creamy broth infused with taco seasonings creates a comforting bowl that feels like a warm hug. It’s an excellent choice for a casual family dinner, a cozy night in, or even for meal prepping a few lunches for the week ahead.
Ingredients
Instructions
1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the cubed chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, until it’s lightly browned on all sides, about 5-7 minutes. Push the chicken to one side, then add the chopped onion to the other side and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
2. Sprinkle the taco seasoning over the chicken and vegetables. Stir well to coat everything evenly, cooking for about 1 minute to toast the spices and release their aroma.
3. Pour in the undrained diced tomatoes with green chilies, rinsed black beans, drained corn, and chicken broth. Stir everything together, ensuring no ingredients are stuck to the bottom of the pot. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
4. Once the soup is boiling, add the small pasta. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pot, and simmer for 8-10 minutes, or until the pasta is al dente (tender but still firm to the bite). Stir occasionally to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom.
5. Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the milk, sour cream, and shredded cheddar cheese until the cheese is melted and the soup is smooth and creamy.
6. Taste the soup and adjust seasonings if necessary. Ladle the hot soup into bowls and garnish with fresh cilantro, extra shredded cheese, and a handful of tortilla chips or strips, if desired.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: main dish
- Method: soup
- Cuisine: mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
Keywords: chicken, taco, pasta, soup, creamy, easy, weeknight, comfort food, family friendly, quick
What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
This recipe is a true weeknight hero, designed for busy families and anyone who wants a delicious, home-cooked meal without spending hours in the kitchen. You’ll love how quickly it comes together, making it perfect for those evenings when time is short but you still crave something satisfying. It’s incredibly versatile, appealing to a wide range of palates, from picky eaters to those who enjoy a little spice. The combination of tender chicken, pasta, and a rich, creamy broth infused with taco seasonings creates a comforting bowl that feels like a warm hug. It’s an excellent choice for a casual family dinner, a cozy night in, or even for meal prepping a few lunches for the week ahead.
Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
Gathering your ingredients for this creamy chicken taco pasta soup is straightforward, using items you likely already have in your pantry or can easily find at any grocery store. The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity and the use of readily available components that deliver maximum flavor with minimal fuss.
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 packet (1 ounce) taco seasoning mix
- 1 can (10 ounces) diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
- 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 can (15 ounces) corn, drained
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup milk (whole or 2%)
- 8 ounces small pasta (such as elbow macaroni, ditalini, or small shells)
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, plus more for serving
- Fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish (optional)
- Tortilla chips or strips, for serving (optional)
For simple substitutions, you can easily swap out the chicken breasts for boneless, skinless chicken thighs for a slightly richer flavor, or even use ground chicken or turkey if you prefer. If you don’t have diced tomatoes with green chilies, a can of plain diced tomatoes combined with a small can of mild green chilies works just as well. Any small pasta shape will do, so feel free to use what you have on hand. For a dairy-free option, you can use a plant-based milk alternative and omit the sour cream and cheese, or use dairy-free versions.
Time Needed From Start To Finish
This recipe is genuinely designed for speed and convenience, making it ideal for busy weeknights.
- Preparation time: 15 minutes
- Cooking time: 20 minutes
- Total time: 35 minutes
You’ll be amazed at how quickly you can go from zero to a delicious, bubbling pot of creamy chicken taco pasta soup on your table. Most of the time is hands-on cooking, with minimal waiting, allowing you to enjoy a homemade meal even on your busiest days.
How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
Creating this creamy chicken taco pasta soup is a straightforward process. Follow these steps for a perfect, comforting bowl every time.
- Sauté the Chicken and Aromatics: Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the cubed chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, until it’s lightly browned on all sides, about 5-7 minutes. This browning adds depth of flavor. Push the chicken to one side, then add the chopped onion to the other side and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Build the Flavor Base: Sprinkle the taco seasoning over the chicken and vegetables. Stir well to coat everything evenly, cooking for about 1 minute to toast the spices and release their aroma. This step is crucial for developing the signature taco flavor.
- Add the Liquids and Vegetables: Pour in the undrained diced tomatoes with green chilies, rinsed black beans, drained corn, and chicken broth. Stir everything together, ensuring no ingredients are stuck to the bottom of the pot. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
- Cook the Pasta: Once the soup is boiling, add the small pasta. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pot, and simmer for 8-10 minutes, or until the pasta is al dente (tender but still firm to the bite). Stir occasionally to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom.
- Achieve Creaminess: Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the milk, sour cream, and shredded cheddar cheese until the cheese is melted and the soup is smooth and creamy. The residual heat will melt the cheese and warm the dairy without curdling.
- Taste and Serve: Taste the soup and adjust seasonings if necessary. You might want to add a pinch more salt or a dash of hot sauce for extra kick. Ladle the hot soup into bowls and garnish with fresh cilantro, extra shredded cheese, and a handful of tortilla chips or strips, if desired.
Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
This creamy chicken taco pasta soup is wonderfully adaptable, making it easy to customize for different tastes and occasions.
For a kid-friendly twist, you can reduce the amount of taco seasoning or use a mild variety. Kids often love the small pasta shapes, and adding a dollop of sour cream or a sprinkle of extra cheese on top can make it even more appealing. You can also offer a side of plain tortilla chips for dipping, which is always a hit.
If you’re looking to add more vegetables, consider stirring in some diced bell peppers, zucchini, or spinach during the last few minutes of cooking. For a spicier kick, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of your favorite hot sauce to the pot, or offer sliced jalapeños as an optional topping.
This soup makes a fantastic main course on its own, but it also pairs well with a simple green salad with a light vinaigrette, or some warm cornbread. For a party or buffet, set up a “taco soup bar” with various toppings like extra shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped green onions, sliced avocado, crushed tortilla chips, and fresh salsa, allowing everyone to customize their bowl.
Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
Even simple recipes can have common pitfalls. Being aware of these can help ensure your creamy chicken taco pasta soup turns out perfectly every time.
One common mistake is overcooking the pasta. Since the pasta cooks directly in the soup, it can absorb a lot of liquid and become mushy if left on the heat for too long. To avoid this, cook the pasta just until it’s al dente, then remove the pot from the heat immediately before stirring in the dairy. The pasta will continue to soften slightly as it sits in the hot soup.
Another slip-up can be curdling the dairy. Adding sour cream and milk directly to a vigorously boiling soup can cause them to curdle, resulting in a grainy texture. To prevent this, always remove the pot from the heat before stirring in the milk, sour cream, and cheese. The residual heat is enough to warm the dairy and melt the cheese smoothly.
Finally, not seasoning sufficiently can lead to a bland soup. While taco seasoning provides a lot of flavor, always taste your soup before serving and adjust with a little extra salt, pepper, or even a dash more taco seasoning if it feels like it’s missing something. Don’t be afraid to trust your taste buds!
How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
This creamy chicken taco pasta soup is excellent for leftovers and can be made ahead, though there are a few tips to keep in mind to maintain its best texture.
To store leftovers, allow the soup to cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight container. It will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
When reheating, the pasta tends to absorb more liquid, making the soup thicker. To restore its original consistency, you may need to add a splash of chicken broth or milk while reheating. Reheat gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until warmed through. Avoid boiling, especially after adding the dairy, to prevent curdling.
If you plan to make this soup ahead for meal prep, you can prepare the base (chicken, vegetables, broth, and seasonings) without the pasta and dairy. Store this base in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to eat, bring the base to a simmer, add the pasta and cook until al dente, then stir in the milk, sour cream, and cheese. This method ensures the pasta remains perfectly textured and not mushy.
Questions People Always Ask Before Making This Recipe
Can I use pre-cooked chicken? Yes, absolutely!
FAQs
- Can I make these ahead? Yes—prep ahead, refrigerate, then serve when ready.
- How long do leftovers last? Store covered in the fridge for 3–4 days for best texture.
- Can I adjust sweetness? Yes—add more or less sweetener to taste.
- Can I change the fruit? Yes—swap strawberries for blueberries, raspberries, or sliced banana.
