Description
Chicken and black bean soup is one of those meals that costs almost nothing, feeds a crowd, and tastes like it simmered all day even though it takes forty minutes. Chicken thighs, canned black beans, canned tomatoes, and a handful of spices — that is the whole grocery list. It is hearty, warming, and the kind of soup that gets better every time you reheat it.
Ingredients
Units
- 1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 2 cans (15 ounces each) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes with green chiles
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Juice of 1 lime
- Sour cream, shredded cheese, cilantro, and tortilla chips for serving
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium-high heat. Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper and sear 3 minutes per side until browned. Remove and set aside.
- Add the onion to the pot and cook 4 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
- Stir in the chili powder, cumin, and paprika. Cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add the broth, diced tomatoes, and black beans. Return the chicken thighs to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
- Cook 25 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and tender. Remove the chicken and shred with two forks.
- Return the shredded chicken to the soup. Squeeze in the lime juice and stir. Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Serve topped with sour cream, shredded cheese, cilantro, and crushed tortilla chips.
Notes
- Searing the chicken before simmering adds a layer of flavor to the broth that you cannot get by just poaching.
- Mashing a cup of the beans against the side of the pot thickens the soup naturally without adding cream or flour.
- This freezes beautifully for up to 3 months. Leave the toppings off until serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 780
- Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 38
- Fiber: 10
- Protein: 34
- Cholesterol: 85