Bold Zesty Chicken Lime Soup (Printable)

Tangy lime chicken soup with corn, tomatoes and cilantro; ready in 50 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Protein

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 14 oz)

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium onion, diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
06 - 2 medium tomatoes, diced
07 - 1 ½ cups corn kernels, fresh or frozen (about 8 oz)

→ Liquids

08 - 6 cups chicken broth
09 - ½ cup freshly squeezed lime juice (about 4 limes)

→ Spices & Seasonings

10 - 1 tsp ground cumin
11 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
12 - ½ tsp chili powder
13 - 1 tsp salt
14 - ½ tsp black pepper
15 - ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (optional, for extra heat)

→ Fresh Herbs & Garnishes

16 - ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
17 - Lime wedges, for serving
18 - Sliced avocado (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - In a large pot, heat a drizzle of oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion, minced garlic, diced red bell pepper, and minced jalapeño. Sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until the vegetables are softened and fragrant.
02 - Stir in the diced tomatoes, corn kernels, ground cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper if using. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes begin to break down and the spices are fragrant.
03 - Add the chicken breasts and chicken broth to the pot. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
04 - Remove the chicken breasts from the pot and shred the meat using two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the soup.
05 - Stir in the freshly squeezed lime juice and chopped cilantro. Taste and adjust the seasoning with additional salt or lime juice as needed.
06 - Ladle the hot soup into bowls. Garnish with additional fresh cilantro, lime wedges, and sliced avocado if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The lime juice added at the end creates this electric tang that makes your whole mouth wake up, and once you experience it you will crave it constantly.
  • It comes together in under an hour with ingredients you probably already have, which means weeknight dinner is solved without any drama.
02 -
  • Add the lime juice off the heat because boiling it kills the fresh bright flavor and makes it taste bitter instead of vibrant.
  • Do not skip shredding the chicken and returning it to the pot for at least a few minutes, because it needs to drink up the broth to taste like part of the soup rather than chicken sitting in liquid.
03 -
  • Roll your limes on the counter pressing down firmly before juicing them, because it breaks down the membranes and you get nearly twice as much juice out of each one.
  • Taste and adjust the salt after adding the lime juice since the acid changes how you perceive seasoning, and you will almost always need a pinch more than you think.

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