This hearty Santa Fe soup recipe features lean chicken, black beans, and colorful vegetables to bring out its traditional Southwestern flair. Plus it comes together in under an hour – ideal for an easy weeknight dinner!
Batter your ground beef until it is fully browned before adding stewed tomatoes with green chilies, pinto beans, black beans, corn kernels and Rotel seasoning mix to a skillet.
Table of Contents
Santa Fe Soup
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, brown the ground beef until fully cooked. Drain excess fat.
- Add the diced onion, salt, and pepper. Cook for 3–4 minutes until softened. Stir in the minced garlic and cook 1 minute more.
- Add taco seasoning and ranch seasoning; stir until meat is evenly coated.
- Pour in the broth and can of tomatoes with green chiles. Stir to combine.
- Add pinto beans, black beans, kidney beans, and corn. Mix well.
- Bring the soup to a simmer. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook for 20–30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Taste and adjust seasonings as desired. Add more broth if you prefer a thinner consistency.
- Serve hot with your choice of toppings such as shredded cheese, avocado, lime juice, or sour cream.
Notes
Flavor
This soup offers all the heartiness of traditional chili, while boasting its own distinct flavor profile. Beans add texture and flavors; fire-roasted tomatoes and green chilis add an iconic southwestern kick; ranch seasoning provides that irresistibly craveable aroma; while its unique indefinable aroma keeps people coming back for more!
This recipe utilizes pantry items for maximum speed in creating this meal, perfect for those with sensitive digestion. Furthermore, its milder formula provides relief.
Make the Santa Fe soup more satisfying by topping it off with your choice of ingredients – cheese shredded cheddar and avocado are delicious additions, while adding lime juice provides an additional pop of citrus that contrasts the spicy heat of this recipe.
Vegetables
Santa Fe soup is an expansive meal perfect for feeding large groups. Made using simple pantry ingredients and techniques, its warming bowl of warmth and flavor brings comforting warmth. Plus, its lean proteins and nutritious vegetables make this recipe an excellent way to fuel a heart-healthy diet.
This hearty stew’s distinctive Southwestern flavors stand out. Green chilis add a zesty bite that stands apart from red chilis used in traditional chili recipes, while Ranch seasoning adds its special “something”. Together, these ingredients give this dish its distinctive profile that sets it apart from others chili recipes.
This delicious recipe can be customized with any number of toppings to add more texture to the dish and reduce heat levels. Freezing works well; this soup can be stored for four days in the refrigerator before being microwaved or rewarmed over the stovetop for convenient consumption.
Beans
Santa Fe soup recipe brings all of the comforting qualities of chili with distinct southwestern flair. Made with ground beef, three kinds of beans and fire-roasted tomatoes with green chilis to deliver heat while ranch seasoning adds that special something.
This soup is easy and makes a large batch that can easily be stored for four days in the fridge, or frozen and used later on as needed. Reheating options include microwave or stovetop. Plus, toppings like sour cream, cheese shreddeds, jalapenos slices or avocado are always appreciated!
This hearty soup is an ideal pantry meal – meaning that all the ingredients can be found right in your pantry! Making this is perfect for nights when you don’t feel like cooking but still want something quick for dinner – or you could use your slow cooker! Just brown the beef and onions first in a skillet before adding everything else.
Ranch seasoning
No matter your heart-healthy eating goals or comfort food needs, this Santa Fe soup recipe offers something special. Packed full of lean chicken, black beans and colorful vegetables for an incredible dining experience in every bite – not to mention that it makes an easy weeknight dinner.
This Santa Fe soup provides protein from beans and carbohydrates from rice for energy. In addition, this heart-healthy recipe features veggies for extra fiber and nutrients density – plus its sodium-free qualities align perfectly with any heart-healthy diet plan!
For this recipe, ground beef, chicken or even vegetarian ingredients can be used. To adjust the heat level you can add or subtract hot sauce or diced jalapenos as you like. Top your soup off with sour cream, cheese, sliced green onions or avocado for extra flavor and texture. Additionally, this delicious leftovers recipe keeps well for 4 days in the refrigerator before it needs reheating either on the stovetop or microwave.
Garnish
Santa Fe Soup is the ideal dish for those looking for something hearty that differs from chili. Packed full of interesting flavors and textures – three types of beans, fire-roasted tomatoes with green chilis, ranch seasoning – it offers up a unique take on Southwestern cooking!
Created using only pantry staples found in most households, the result of this recipe is a comforting bowl of soup that packs an abundance of flavor while being much easier on your stomach than traditional tomato-heavy chili recipes. Plus, it can be stored for days in either your fridge or freezer before it can be enjoyed!
Add some texture and balance the heat by topping your soup off with some shredded cheddar cheese, sliced avocado slices or lime juice squeeze. Their acidic properties will help cool down its spicy heat and enhance its delicious taste! For an alternative meatless option simply leave out the ground beef and serve it alongside warm corn bread or tortilla chips.
FAQ
What is Santa Fe Soup made of?
Santa Fe Soup is a hearty Southwestern-style soup made with ground beef (or chicken), beans, corn, tomatoes with green chiles, and ranch plus taco seasoning. It’s rich, flavorful, and easy to make using pantry staples.
Can I make Santa Fe Soup in a slow cooker?
Yes! Brown the meat and onions first, then transfer everything to your slow cooker. Cook on LOW for 4–6 hours or HIGH for 2–3 hours until hot and flavorful.
Can I make this recipe vegetarian or vegan?
Absolutely. Simply omit the meat and use vegetable broth instead of beef or chicken broth. You can add extra beans, lentils, or diced vegetables like bell peppers for more texture.
What toppings go well with Santa Fe Soup?
Popular toppings include shredded cheddar cheese, avocado slices, sour cream, sliced jalapeños, chopped green onions, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime juice. Serve with tortilla chips or cornbread on the side.
How do I store and reheat leftovers?
Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat on the stovetop over medium heat or in the microwave until piping hot.
Can I use chicken instead of ground beef?
Yes! Ground chicken, turkey, or even shredded rotisserie chicken work perfectly. Just adjust the seasoning slightly to taste.
Conclusion
This Santa Fe Soup hits all the right marks: a comforting one-pot meal that still feels fresh and vibrant thanks to the southwestern flavours, beans for texture and fibre, fire-roasted tomatoes and green chiles for a little kick, and ranch/taco seasoning for that crave-worthy aroma.
Whether you’re cooking for a weeknight dinner, prepping a large batch for leftovers or freezing ahead, it’s versatile enough to adapt (switch ground beef for chicken or go meat-free), and the toppings like shredded cheddar, avocado or a squeeze of lime let everyone customise their bowl.
If you ever need a slower-cook version or an Instant Pot variant, you can tweak the timing and still keep all the goodness. Pull a bowl together, garnish, and enjoy something heart-warming, flavour-packed, and suitable even for lighter digestion.