Pepper Jack Chicken Fajita Soup–Instant Pot or slow cooker soup loaded with tender chicken, rice, black beans and finished with melty pepper jack cheese.
Pepper Jack Chicken Fajita Soup
This chicken fajita soup has all those classic fajita flavors we love but in an easy, cozy, scoopable version! It’s loaded with tender chicken, bell peppers, rice, black beans, tomatoes, green chiles, and melty pepper jack cheese, and it’s perfect topped with tortilla chips, avocado, sour cream…whatever you’re in the mood for! It’s one of those recipes that comes together so easily but tastes like you put in way more effort. And bonus… the leftovers are just as good (maybe even better!) for lunch or dinner the next day. It’s such a fun, comforting twist on fajitas!
Ingredients/Substitution Ideas
- Olive oil–or avocado oil
- Onion–or shallot
- Garlic powder–or 3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- Chicken broth–or water and Better than Bouillon chicken base
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs–or chicken breasts
- Kosher salt–or sea salt
- Chili powder
- Cumin–or ground coriander
- Smoked paprika–or regular paprika
- Black pepper–or white pepper
- Dried oregano–or Italian seasoning
- Long grain white rice–or converted rice
- Black beans–or pinto beans
- Diced green chiles
- Crushed tomatoes
- Fresh lime juice–or bottled lime juice
- Pepper jack cheese–or cheddar or Monterey Jack
- Bell pepper–red, green or orange
Steps
Turn Instant Pot to sauté setting. When display says HOT add in the oil and swirl around. Add in the onions and saute for 4 minutes. Stir in the garlic powder.
Pour in the broth and scrape bottom of pot so nothing is sticking.
Add in the chicken, salt, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, pepper, oregano, rice, beans, green chiles and tomatoes.
Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set SOUP button to 4 minutes (or manual low pressure for 4 minutes). When time is up let pot sit for 5-10 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid.
Stir in the lime juice, cheese and bell pepper. Salt and pepper to taste.
Ladle into bowls and serve with any toppings you like (sour cream, tortilla chips, cheese, avocado, pico, etc).
Notes/Tips
- Top with sour cream, avocado, shredded lettuce, pico de gallo, or extra cheese. Serve with tortilla chips, warm flour tortillas, or cornbread for a complete meal.
- For extra heat, add a diced jalapeño or a pinch of cayenne.
- Want more veggies? Stir in corn, zucchini, or spinach at the end.
- Make it creamier by adding a splash of cream cheese or heavy cream at the end.
- This recipe is gluten free.
- I used my 6 quart Instant Pot*. You can also make this in an 8 quart pot.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container* in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can freeze it, but note the rice may soften a bit.
- Other recipes you can make with lime juice are Instant Pot Key West Chicken and Instant Pot Fish Tacos.
Did you know you can filter the recipes on my website to search by meat type, IP or Crockpot, low carb, gluten free, etc.? Use the filter to find exactly what you are looking for.
Pepper Jack Chicken Fajita Soup
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 minutes (plus 5-10 minute NPR)
- Total Time: 24 minutes
- Yield: 6–8 servings 1x
Description
Instant Pot or slow cooker soup loaded with tender chicken, rice, black beans and finished with melty pepper jack cheese.
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 5 cups chicken broth
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite size pieces
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 2 tsp cumin
- 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 cup long grain white rice or converted rice
- 1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 (4 oz) diced green chiles
- 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 Tbsp fresh lime juice
- 1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
- 1 cup diced bell pepper
Instructions
Instant Pot Instructions:
- Turn Instant Pot to sauté setting. When display says HOT add in the oil and swirl around. Add in the onions and saute for 4 minutes. Stir in the garlic powder.
- Pour in the broth and scrape bottom of pot so nothing is sticking.
- Add in the chicken, salt, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, pepper, oregano, rice, beans, green chiles and tomatoes.
- Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set SOUP button to 4 minutes (or manual low pressure for 4 minutes). When time is up let pot sit for 5-10 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid.
- Stir in the lime juice, cheese and bell pepper. Salt and pepper to taste.
- Ladle into bowls and serve with any toppings you like (sour cream, tortilla chips, cheese, avocado, pico, etc).
Slow Cooker Instructions:
- Add onions, garlic powder, broth, chicken, salt, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, pepper, oregano, rice, beans, green chiles and tomatoes into slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours, or until rice is cooked through.
- Stir in the lime juice, cheese and bell pepper. Salt and pepper to taste.
- Ladle into bowls and serve with any toppings you like (sour cream, tortilla chips, cheese, avocado, pico, etc).
- Category: Soup
- Method: Instant Pot or Slow Cooker
More fajita inspired recipes…
Instant Pot Chicken Fajita Bowls
The pot-in-pot cooking method allows you to cook cilantro lime rice, seasoned chicken, onions and bell peppers all together and in just a few minutes in your electric pressure cooker. Then they are layered in a bowl with cheese, sweet corn, tomatoes, black beans, sour cream and guacamole. It’s definitely a fiesta in your mouth.
Instant Pot Steak Fajita Pasta
All the delicious flavors of fajitas in a pasta dish! Steak is cooked with fajita seasonings, pasta and tender, but not overcooked, bell peppers. Sour cream is stirred in to add a creamy element to the pasta dish and ties everything together. Make this recipe is just minutes with your electric pressure cooker.
Instant Pot Chicken Fajita Rice
A throw everything into the Instant Pot and walk away meal! Flavorful rice and chicken that has all the great flavors from chicken fajitas! Make it with brown or white rice.
Instant Pot/Slow Cooker Pork Chop Fajitas
Make amazingly flavorful fajitas (thanks to a secret ingredient) in the Instant Pot or slow cooker with pork chops. When you buy those inexpensive mega packs of pork chops use this recipe to mix up dinner and bring something new to the table (literally).
*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
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