This Creamy Chicken Taco Soup is a quick and easy low carb dish that the entire family will love! It only takes a few minutes of hands-on time and can be made in an instant pot or slow cooker!
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Ok -picture this ... you get home after a long day. It's about 5:30 pm. Your kids are hungry. You are exhausted. You realize that you forgot to defrost the meat you were going to cook for supper. You check the fridge hoping that there are enough leftovers for you to piece together a meal, but nope -nada. You pick up the phone and ring up the pizza place down the street. It's pizza night kids!
I think that we have all been there. It sucks, but it's happened to me WAY more times then I would like to admit. I seriously found a solution that has saved my sanity so many times now. It's seriously become my kitchen BFF.
Now, erase that last part about it being pizza night #sorrynotsorry kids! Imagine this instead - you bust out your instant pot, toss in the FROZEN chicken breast, along with a few other staple ingredients, press a few buttons - then sit down and relax for the next 40 minutes or so, while your instant pot works it's magic. You and your family sit down and enjoy a supper that practically cooked itself. As a matter of fact, your family is SO impressed with this meal, that later that night, they volunteer to clean the house while you take a nice bubble bath.
Maybe that last bit was a stretch, but you get it right?
Tools you'll need ...
If you haven't jumped onto the INSTANT POT bandwagon yet, what the heck are you waiting for? There is a little bit of a learning curve, but once you get it, you will be inseparable, I promise.
... And for those of you who are sadly, still without an instant pot, Don't worry, this soup can be made in the slow cooker as well! By the way, did you know that the instant pot actually has a slow cooker feature as well? Just sayin'
Ingredient substitutions:
- Chicken Breast - You can use chicken thighs or even some ground beef if chicken breast isn't your thing.
- Ro-Tel - If you don't have Ro-Tel or don't like it you can substitute salsa or a small can of diced tomatoes and a small can of diced green chilis
- Cream cheese - You can also use reduced fat cream cheese or some heavy cream in a pinch
- Optional add-ins - If you aren't counting carbs feel free to toss in some black beans, corn or rice.
Be sure to check out these other great recipes:
- Instant Pot Mongolian Beef | Keto, Gluten Free
- Chicken Broccoli Alfredo Soup | Slow Cooker
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake | Keto, Instant Pot
Chicken Taco Soup: Instant Pot | Low Carb
Ingredients
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 2 lb boneless skinless chicken breast
- 10 oz can Ro-Tel
- 3-4 tablespoon Taco Seasoning
- 8 oz cream cheese at room temp
- shredded cheddar cheese optional
- sour cream optional
- Cilantro optional
Instructions
For the instant pot:
- Place the broth, chicken breast, ro-tel, and the taco seasoning into the instant pot.
- Close the lid, and set the vent to "sealing"
- Select manual and then use the + or - buttons to adjust the time to 14 minutes (24 if you are cooking chicken breasts from frozen)
- When it's finished cooking, allow your pot to naturally release pressure. When the silver pin drops, open the lid and shred the chicken using 2 forks.
- Add the cream cheese to the pot, and stir until it has melted into the soup.
- Serve the soup topped with cheddar cheese, cilantro, and sour cream if desired.
For the slow cooker:
- Place the broth, chicken breast, ro-tel and the taco seasoning (you can find my taco seasoning recipe HERE) in the bottom of the slow cooker. Cover.
- Cook on low for 4-5 hours, or high for 2-3 hours. (For Frozen Chicken, cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 4-5 hours.)
- When it's finished cooking, shred the chicken with 2 forks, Then follow the last 2 steps above for adding the cream cheese and toppings.
Be sure to read the entire post for tips, tricks, and help troubleshooting.
The nutrition information listed here is only an estimate and is simply provided as a courtesy. It nor any other information within this post should constitute medical or nutritional advice. Be sure to read all packaging and ingredient labels for potential allergens. Optional ingredients are not included unless otherwise specified.
Nutrition
DAH says
This is fabulous! I cut back a little on the taco flavoring and added a bit more cream cheese (as I had some open). My can of RoTel had green chilis and it was spectacular. This is a keeper.
Sabra says
So glad that you enjoyed it!
Paige says
What’s one serving? I see the macros for one serving, but we need to know what that is.
Sabra says
1 serving is 1/8th of the recipe. Since the volume of the soup will vary each time you prepare it, it's hard today an exact amount - but generally it's around 1 cup.
For the most accurate measurement, divide the finished soup into 8 equal portions before serving.
Hope that helps 🙂
Marissa says
Have you tried freezing it yet? I'm wondering how well it would freeze or if it would break under those circumstances.
Sabra says
Yes I have! I just leave the cream cheese out and add it in when reheating and it worked great!
Tammy Lawrence says
Made this tonight and it was really good. Had to make a few changes as I didn't have Rotel, but used tomatoes I'd canned last summer, chicken bone broth for a richer flavor, and used onion/chive cream cheese, I also added 2 cans of black beans after shredding the chicken, then topped with cilantro as well as the cheese and crunched up some whole grain tortilla chips for added crunch. I'll definitely make this again. Thank you!
Sabra says
I’m so glad that you enjoyed it! Thanks for the review 🙂
Talia says
What is the serving size for this? Thank you 🙂
Sabra says
It will vary a little each time you cook it, but its usually around 1 to 1 1/2 cups. The most accurate way to calculate a serving, is to portion it into 8 equal servings after it has cooked.
Hope that helps 🙂
Mariloly says
Can you make it on low on a stove top? I don’t have a slow cooker!
Sabra says
I am sure that you could!
Renee says
Thank you for the awesome recipe. I followed it exactly, but then added some fresh lime juice before cooking and topped it with some fresh diced avocado upon serving. Very delicious!
Sabra says
You are so welcome! This additions sound great!
Cinnamon says
Made the chicken in the crock pot, then finished everything up on the stove....I have got to get an instant pot! Only modification I made was sauteed and added onions. This soup is not only very filling but absolutely divine. Will certainly make again....soon.
Cristy says
Hello, can you fit this in the 3 quart instant pot?
Sara says
I have leftover cooked chicken breast, suggestion on how to cook in instant pot?
Sabra says
If you are using precooked chicken, it would probably be easier to just cook everything on the stove top. If you are set on using the instant pot, I would use the saute setting to just heat it all up. xo
LuAnn says
Is the chicken raw or cooked?
Sabra says
The chicken is raw
Pam says
I just made this and love it. Thanks for the recipe!
Samantha says
I just made this tonight and used my instant pot for the first time. Everything turn out delicious, however I was so scared to open it after natural venting that I let it sit for 50 min. The cream cheese didnt melt very fast. I just popped the bowl in the microwave...lol
Danielle says
If you wanted to add rice to the instant pot version, would you cook that separately and add it? Or would you add it in with the chicken and everything else?
Sabra says
Hi Danielle! I would just add cooked rice at the end. Hope that helps!
Emily says
I saw you mentioned that you could swap out beef for the chicken. Do you think it would work with frozen beef? Very excited to try this either way! Thanks for sharing such an easy recipe!
Sabra says
Hi Emily! I think frozen beef would be fine but I would choose leaner beef to decrease the amount of grease and follow the cooking times for frozen chicken. Hope that helps 🙂
Crystal says
Made this tonight in the Foodi using the PC option and it turned out SO good!! The cream cheese took a bit to fully melt, but I put it on the slow cooker function for a few min and that did the trick. I also topped with tortilla strips. I will definitely be making this again!
Gloria H. says
Omg! I made a similar recipe in a slow cooker but it wasn’t as good as this one! It was so much faster in my new Instant Pot! This was the second thing I’ve made in it. I will make this recipe many more times! Yummy!
Candace says
Is this recipe for frozen chicken? That’s what I would use.
Jessica says
One of my favorites! Very filling and so, so creamy. I would recommend an update to the cook time or adding in the time to naturally release since that takes 20-30 minutes.
Heather J says
Not everyone knows if you need to use LOW or HIGH pressure with the instapot. As a new instapot user, I found your instructions for skilled users.
Kala says
If I want to double the recipe, do I double the chicken broth as well? Not sure with it being in an instant pot.
Sabra says
Hi Kala! I would also double the liquid. I hope that this helps 🙂