Southwestern Turkey Soup (Printable View)

Hearty Tex-Mex soup with tender turkey, black beans, corn, tomatoes and aromatic spices, ready in 45 minutes.

# What 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 & Seasonings

13 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
14 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
15 - 0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
16 - 0.5 teaspoon dried oregano
17 - 0.5 teaspoon salt
18 - 0.25 teaspoon ground black pepper
19 - Juice of 1 lime
20 - 0.25 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Optional Garnishes

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

# How To Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion and red bell pepper, sautéing for 3-4 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and jalapeño. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add ground cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Stir for 1 minute to release aromatic oils.
04 - Mix in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
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 cooked turkey and simmer uncovered for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
07 - Stir in lime juice and fresh cilantro. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
08 - Ladle hot soup into bowls and garnish with additional cilantro, avocado, tortilla chips, cheese, or sour cream as desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour and tastes like you've been simmering something all day.
  • One pot means minimal cleanup, which honestly matters when life gets messy.
  • The layers of spice and lime feel sophisticated without requiring any technique you don't already know.
02 -
  • Never skip rinsing the canned beans—the starchy liquid will make your soup thick and pasty instead of brothy and bright.
  • Fresh lime juice matters more than any other ingredient; the acidity at the end is what makes people say this tastes nothing like typical soup and everything like intention.
03 -
  • If you don't have cooked turkey on hand, rotisserie chicken works beautifully and actually requires less preparation.
  • The soup thickens slightly as it cools, so if you're serving it later, thin it with a bit of broth or water when you reheat.
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