Whether you’re cooking in your Slow Cooker or Instant Pot, this cozy chicken fajita soup will have you enjoying a hearty dinner with minimal effort and prep work. It’s also a great meal prep recipe that fits the Whole30 and Keto diet. Make it over the weekend, and enjoy lunches at work during the week, or an even easier dinner you just have to re-heat.
How do you make soup feel hearty?
I’m a soup lover – like all the soups are my jam, but Justin really only loves a good, hearty soup. It’s got to be pretty loaded and substantial for him to feel like it’s a complete meal. So, for this chicken fajita soup, I added lots of bell peppers, fire roasted tomatoes, green chiles, onion and a decent amount of chicken. Then, to take it to the next level, I threw in some cauliflower rice to make it feel even more filling and complete.
What if I’m not sold on cauliflower rice in my soup?
No biggie. It’s still a delicious soup without the cauliflower rice, and will make it an even lower carb option if you’re trying to stay in the Keto zone. You can even play with how much you add in to use less or more to suit your preferences. I love soup and could eat at least one variety every week, so I’m always trying to find ways to get Justin on board with soup by making it heartier and more filling! You do you!
Make it for meal prep
We like this soup for meal prep because it makes a large batch and reheats well. There are a couple different ways to approach meal prep, too. You can make this chicken fajita soup on Sunday for dinner, and then use the leftovers for a few lunches during the week. This accomplishes Sunday night dinner and a little meal prep all in one. This is most often how we use soups for meal prep. You can also just make it over the weekend and portion it out into lunch servings to take to work. Or…you can make it over the weekend and then have it on hand for a busy weeknight where you only have time to reheat your dinner. Either way, you’re going to feel well prepared for the work week!
More healthy soup recipes
- CROCKPOT LASAGNA SOUP (PALEO + WHOLE30)
- HAMBURGER SOUP (PALEO + WHOLE30) INSTANT POT OR SLOW COOKER
- INSTANT POT WHITE CHICKEN CHILI (PALEO, WHOLE30 + KETO)
- KIMCHI SOUP (PALEO, WHOLE30 + KETO)
Your turn to try our chicken fajita soup
Plan to make this hearty chicken fajita soup over the weekend to have on hand during your busy work week. Leave a comment below and let us know how it goes. Also, take a pic to share on Instagram, and tag us @realsimplegood so we can check it out and share! And if you don’t already, make sure to give us a follow. Let’s stay connected!
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Chicken Fajita Soup (Paleo, Whole30 + Keto) – Slow Cooker + Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken thighs, (or breasts)
- 3 bell peppers, (get a variety of colors)
- 1 onion, thinly sliced, (omit for Keto)
- 1 can green chiles
- 1 can fire roasted tomatoes, (15 oz can)
- 2 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 3 cups cauliflower rice, (optional – see recipe notes)
Optional toppings:
- 4 green onions, chopped
- Fresh cilantro, chopped
- Lime wedges
- Avocado
Equipment
Instructions
- Place chicken in the bottom of Slow Cooker or Instant Pot.
- Add the rest of the ingredients on top, except for the cauliflower rice (it will go in at the end).
- In the Slow Cooker, cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 3 hours. In the Instant Pot, press the "Manual" (or "High Pressure") button and adjust the time to 20 minutes. Do a quick release of the Instant Pot once done. Leave the Instant Pot on the "Keep Warm" setting.
- Once done in either appliance, shred chicken in the pot and add cauliflower rice. Let it heat up and cook (it only takes a few minutes to start to soften), and then serve this soup up in bowls with all your favorite toppings.
Notes
- Nutrition facts are an estimate provided for those following a Ketogenic or low-carb diet and do not include optional toppings or onion for this recipe. See our full nutrition information disclosure here.
- We like to make this recipe with the cauliflower rice in it because it feels more substantial and hearty. It’s also great without the cauliflower rice, so go with whatever you prefer.
This turns out great! Even my husband, who like Justin, is skeptical of “soup as a meal” likes it. 😊 Delicious with Siete chips on the side.
I’ve only made it with thawed chicken. Do you think you could frozen breasts or thighs in it?
You could use frozen chicken thighs, but you’d have to cook everything longer (30 minutes instead of 20 in the IP). I’d worry that the other ingredients might get too mushy with the additional cooking time but you could try it.
Delicious!
Glad you liked the recipe!