Southwestern Chicken Soup
Southwestern Chicken Soup is a kidney-friendly weeknight meal that's both light and flavorful, making it ideal for those managing chronic kidney disease. Featuring ingredients like low-sodium chicken broth, black beans, and a zesty hit of lime juice, this dish comes together easily and offers a warm, comforting bowl. With just a few simple steps, you can have a delicious, wholesome dinner simmering on your stove that aligns with your dietary needs.
Southwestern Chicken Soup is popular because it combines ease of preparation with a burst of vibrant flavors, making it an excellent choice for busy weeknights. The recipe is versatile, allowing for the use of leftover chicken, and is packed with nutritious ingredients like black beans, corn, and tomatoes.
If you like this Southwestern Chicken Soup, then you might also like this Low Sodium Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe.
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Ingredients
Gather these simple, kidney-friendly ingredients to create a flavorful and nutritious Southwestern Chicken Soup. Perfect for a comforting meal, this recipe is designed to be both easy to prepare and mindful of your dietary needs.
- Olive Oil - Perfect for sautéing and adding a subtle richness.
- Garlic, Raw - Provides a fragrant and robust flavor.
- Chicken Thigh, Raw W/O Skin - Adds tender and juicy protein.
- Pepper, Black, Ground - Enhances the overall taste with a mild heat.
- Broth, Chicken, Low Sodium - Keeps the soup savory while being kidney-friendly.
- Corn, White, Raw, Frozen Kernels - Adds a natural sweetness and crunch.
- Black Bean, Canned, No Added Salt, Rinsed and Drained - Contributes protein and fiber without extra sodium.
- Carrot, Raw, Chopped - Offers a hint of sweetness and plenty of nutrients.
- Green Pea, Frozen, Unprepared - Brings a pop of color and additional protein.
- Tomato, Diced, No Added Salt - Adds a fresh and slightly acidic taste.
- Texas Twist - Infuses the soup with a unique blend of seasonings.
- Oregano, Dried, Ground - Provides an earthy and aromatic flavor.
- Lime Juice, Bottled or Fresh - Adds a zesty and refreshing finish.
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Follow these simple steps to create a delicious Southwestern Chicken Soup.
Heat olive oil and garlic in a large, high sided skillet over medium-high heat. Saute garlic until golden brown, about 1-2 minutes.
3. Once tender, carefully shred chicken with two forks while still in skillet. Add corn kernels, black beans, green peas, diced tomatoes, Texas twist seasoning, and oregano. Add the rest of the chicken broth to pan and combine.
Unroll chicken thighs and season both sides with pepper. Add chicken to hot skillet and brown on both sides, approximately 3-4 minutes per side. Add just enough chicken broth to skillet to cover about ⅓ of the chicken thighs. Cover and reduce heat to medium low. Simmer for 10 minutes, then add carrots and continue to cook until chicken is pull apart tender, approximately 40 minutes.
4. Increase heat to medium and simmer until heated throughout, approximately 15 minutes. If time permits, simmer longer to give flavors more time to mingle. Remove from heat and stir in lime juice. Serve immediately and enjoy.
Hint: For those with CKD, be sure to use low-sodium or homemade broth to keep sodium levels in check. Soaking and rinsing canned beans thoroughly can help reduce their potassium content even further.
Variations
Creating variations of a recipe can help keep your meals exciting and cater to your specific dietary needs. Here are three CKD-friendly variations of Southwestern Chicken Soup to try.
- Vegetarian Option - Substitute the chicken with cubed firm tofu or a kidney-friendly plant-based protein, and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
- Lower Sodium - Use fresh or dried herbs like parsley and thyme to enhance the flavor without adding salt, and opt for no-salt-added versions of canned vegetables.
- Spice Adjustment - For those sensitive to spices, reduce or omit the Texas Twist seasoning and replace it with a mild herb blend like basil and thyme to still enjoy a flavorful soup.
These adjustments can make the soup more suitable for those with CKD while still maintaining its delicious taste. Experiment with these variations to find your perfect bowl of Southwestern Chicken Soup.
Storage
- Refrigeration - Store the soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to 3-4 days.
- Freezing - Allow the soup to cool completely and then transfer it to freezer-safe containers or freezer bags. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Portion Control - Divide the soup into individual serving sizes using small containers or freezer bags before refrigerating or freezing. This allows for easy reheating and portion management.
Top tip
When preparing Southwestern Chicken Soup for those with CKD, always opt for fresh or frozen vegetables without added salt and thoroughly rinse any canned items to reduce sodium and potassium levels. This ensures the soup remains both delicious and kidney-friendly.
FAQs for Southwestern Chicken Soup
Absolutely! You can add kidney-friendly vegetables like zucchini, green beans, or bell peppers for an extra nutritional boost.
You can make your own blend using cumin, paprika, onion powder, and a bit of chili powder to mimic the flavor.
You can add a pinch of cayenne pepper or some finely chopped jalapeños to increase the heat.
Other Kidney Friendly Side Dishes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Other Kidney Friendly Appetizers
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Southwestern Chicken Soup:
If you tried this Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a star rating and let me know how it goes in the comments below. I love hearing from you!
PrintSouthwestern Chicken Soup
A one skillet soup great for a quick and easy family meal.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 2 1x
- Category: Entree
- Method: Sauteing
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Salt
Ingredients
1 tsp OLIVE OIL, salad or cooking
2 tsp GARLIC, RAW
2 ounces CHICKEN THIGH, RAW W/O SKIN, broiler/fryer
1 tsp PEPPER, BLACK, GROUND
2 cups BROTH, CHICKEN, LOW SODIUM
½ cup CORN, WHITE, RAW, Frozen Kernels
¼ cup BLACK BEAN, Canned, NO ADDED SALT, Rinsed and Drained
¼ cup CARROT, RAW, CHOPPED
¼ cup GREEN PEA, frozen, unprepared
2 tbsp TOMATO, DICED, NO ADDED SALT
1 tsp Texas Twist
1 tsp OREGANO, DRIED, GROUND
1 oz Lime Juice, bottled or fresh
Instructions
Heat olive oil and garlic in a large, high sided skillet over medium-high heat. Saute garlic until golden brown, about 1-2 minutes.
Unroll chicken thighs and season both sides with pepper. Add chicken to hot skillet and brown on both sides, approximately 3-4 minutes per side. Add just enough chicken broth to skillet to cover about ⅓ of the chicken thighs. Cover and reduce heat to medium low. Simmer for 10 minutes, then add carrots and continue to cook until chicken is pull apart tender, approximately 40 minutes.
Once tender, carefully shred chicken with two forks while still in skillet. Add corn kernels, black beans, green peas, diced tomatoes, Texas twist seasoning, and oregano. Add the rest of the chicken broth to pan and combine.
Increase heat to medium and simmer until heated throughout, approximately 15 minutes. If time permits, simmer longer to give flavors more time to mingle. Remove from heat and stir in lime juice. Serve immediately and enjoy.
Notes
This delicious, one skillet dish packs a ton of flavor into every bite. Adding some fresh lime juice right before serving really brightens the flavors and pulls them all together. This soup makes a great appetizer, or pair it with a crisp, green side salad for a light, yet satisfying meal.
You will definitely love this low sodium Southwestern Chicken Soup recipe!
