Southwestern Turkey Soup (Printable Version)

Vibrant Tex-Mex inspired soup with tender turkey, black beans, corn, and aromatic spices.

# The Ingredients You'll Need:

→ Protein

01 - 2 cups cooked turkey, shredded or diced

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 cup frozen or canned corn kernels, drained
06 - 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
07 - 1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes with green chiles
08 - 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
09 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
10 - 1 tablespoon tomato paste

→ Liquids

11 - 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
12 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

→ Spices and Seasonings

13 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
14 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
15 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
16 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
17 - 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
18 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
19 - Juice of 1 lime
20 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Optional Garnishes

21 - Sliced avocado
22 - Crumbled tortilla chips
23 - Shredded cheese
24 - Sour cream

# Step-by-Step Instructions:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion and red bell pepper; sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and jalapeño; cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Stir for 1 minute to release aromatics.
04 - Mix in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute.
05 - Add diced tomatoes with juices, diced tomatoes with green chiles, black beans, corn, and chicken broth. Bring to a gentle boil.
06 - Reduce heat to low. Stir in turkey and simmer uncovered for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
07 - Stir in lime juice and chopped cilantro. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
08 - Ladle into bowls and garnish with additional cilantro and desired toppings such as avocado, tortilla chips, cheese, or sour cream.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour, which means weeknight dinners stop feeling like a marathon.
  • Every spoonful tastes like you've layered in restaurant-quality flavor without any complicated techniques.
  • The soup is naturally gluten-free and dairy-free, so it works for almost any table without substitutions.
02 -
  • Don't skip toasting the spices for even a minute, it's the difference between a soup that tastes like you threw things together and one that tastes intentional.
  • The lime juice at the end is not optional, it's what brightens everything and makes you realize why the soup tastes so much better than it looks.
03 -
  • If you're making this ahead, hold off on the lime juice and cilantro until just before serving, it keeps everything bright instead of letting it flatten overnight.
  • A pinch of hot sauce stirred in just before serving lets people decide their own heat level without forcing it on anyone.
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