Recipe: Low-Cal Southwestern Chicken Soup

This Southwestern chicken soup recipe is low-cal, easy to make, and a great way to sneak vegetables and fiber into your diet. This soup is in heavy rotation in my household. I often double the batch and make it for a party because it’s such a crowd-please. Or, I stick the extra in the freezer in two- serving size containers for an easy meal another day. 

It’s a healthy gluten-free, dairy-free recipe with a bit of kick and is packed with Southwestern flavors. 

Make this for a quick weeknight meal, fall football party, or for a holiday get-together with friends or family. This recipe has been a favorite at my house with my kids for two decades. Served with shredded cheese, sour cream, sliced jalapeños and tortilla chips- it’s a meal. 

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Ingredients

Spices: minced garlic, chili powder, cumin. Salt and pepper to taste. The combinations of these spices will give you a spicy, warming flavor. 

Protein: chicken broth, black beans, shredded rotisserie chicken. If you want to make this vegan, feel free to substitute vegetable broth and skip the rotisserie chicken. I will often add a can of chickpeas to this soup, so that’s another option if you have a can on hand!

Vegetables: pure pumpkin, corn. You can add others if you’re trying to sneak some more vegetables into your diet. Shredded zucchini, diced onion, and sliced bell peppers are all great additions. 

The pumpkin is the secret ingredient for this southwestern chicken soup. It adds so much creaminess and nutrition, but you don’t taste any pumpkin flavor. 

Toppings: fresh cilantro, shredded cheese, sour cream, tortilla chips, sliced jalapeño. Some of these will up the calorie count of your dish, so add them sparingly if you’re trying to keep this meal low-calorie. Greek yogurt is a good substitute for sour cream.  

How To Make Southwestern Chicken Soup

1. Mix all the spices with a ½ cup of the broth and bring to medium heat on the stove.
2. Add the rest of the broth.
3. Add pumpkin and mix it in well with a spatula.
4. Add remaining ingredients, stir and bring soup to a boil.
5. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes. Serve the southwestern chicken soup with any of the optional toppings. Enjoy! 

Other Healthy Soup Recipes to Try

Roasted Sweet Potato Soup

Detox Vegetable Soup

Golden Turmeric Chickpea Chicken Soup