Craving a quick, hearty, and flavor-packed meal? This Easy and Quick Mexicali Soup is the perfect solution! With bold spices, wholesome ingredients, and a rich, comforting broth, it comes together effortlessly in just 30 minutes—or even faster with leftover chicken. Serve it with cornbread or crunchy corn chips for a satisfying, no-fuss dinner everyone will love!
Oriana’s Thoughts On The Recipe
This Easy and Quick Mexicali Soup is everything you hoped for and more. It’s hearty, comforting, and chock full of goodness. It’s fabulous when served with cornbread or even corn chips if you prefer.
The biggest selling point is how easily this Mexicali Soup comes together. Basically, just throw everything into a pot, and dinner is ready in 30 minutes! If you have some leftover chicken, even better, the cooking time will be reduced to 15- 20 minutes.
What I Love About This Recipe
What is Mexicali Soup?
Mexicali Soup is a hearty, flavorful dish inspired by Mexican cuisine. It features a rich broth (chicken, beef, or vegetable), protein like chicken, beef, or beans, and a mix of bold spices such as cumin, chili powder, and paprika. Vegetables like onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, and corn add heartiness, while beans (black, pinto, or kidney) enhance its texture.
This soup is highly customizable—you can adjust the spice level, add rice, or top it with cheese, sour cream, avocado, cilantro, or crispy tortilla strips. Whether mild or spicy, Mexicali Soup is a comforting, versatile dish perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Please check the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact quantities and detailed instructions (scroll down).
- Oil: Olive oil, vegetal or canola oil, or any other oil you have handy.
- Chicken: I use boneless, skinless chicken breast, but you can also use tights if you prefer.
- Salt and pepper
- Diced Tomatoes with Green Chiles
- Chicken broth
- Canned black beans
- Seasoning: You can use chili powder or taco seasoning (homemade or store-bought). If you don’t have any of those blends handy, you can add 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano, and 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper.
- Rice: You can use uncooked rice and simmer the soup for longer until the rice is tender. Or use cooked rice leftovers, and the soup will be ready in a flash.
- To serve (optional): I like to serve this soup with chopped fresh avocado, sheered cheddar cheese, and chopped fresh cilantro.
Food Allergy Swaps
- This recipe is naturally egg, dairy, gluten, nut, and peanut-free, making it suitable for most dietary needs with these minor adjustments.
- Soy-Free: Instead of store-bought chicken broth (which may contain soy additives), use homemade chicken broth or an allergen-free brand.
Overview: How to Make Easy and Quick Mexicali Soup Step-by-Step
Please check the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact quantities and detailed instructions (scroll down).
- Saute the Chicken
Heat the oil in a large saucepot over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add the Chili powder and saute for 2 more minutes.
- Add Veggies and Broth
Add the tomatoes, chicken broth, beans, and rice. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Partially cover and let it simmer for about 20 -25 minutes, or until the rice is tender.
Note: For this recipe, you can use leftover cooked rice. If using cooked rice (leftovers), add it at the last 4 minutes, just to warm it up.
Substitutions & Additions
- Meat: This recipe calls for chicken breast, but you can also substitute ground beef, ground turkey, or ground chicken instead.
- Vegetables: You can add more vegetables to this soup if you like. Corn, peppers, and carrots are the vegetables I like to add to this soup.
- Beans: Feel free to use your favorite beans or a mix of different beans.
- Tomatoes: For this soup, I use Rotel, diced Tomatoes with Green Chiles, but can substitute for fired roasted diced tomatoes or regular diced tomatoes.
- Cheese: You can add any type of shredded cheese to your soup. Colby Jack or Monterey Jack are some of my go-to.
- Seasoning: You can skip the chili powder and add a taco seasoning (homemade or store-bought)
Storing & Freezing Instructions
Store: This soup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The soup should be completely cool before you transfer it to the refrigerator.
Freeze: Cool to room temperature, then place in a large freezer bag, seal completely, and lay flat to freeze in a thin layer. This will help the soup to thaw quickly when you need it for dinner!
Frequently Asked Questions
To make two teaspoons of chili powder, mix 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika + 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder + 1/2 teaspoon onion powder + 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin + 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano + 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper.
Absolutely! You can freeze the soup (without toppings) for up to 2 months. Cool to room temperature, then place in a large freezer bag, seal completely, and lay flat to freeze in a thin layer. This will help the soup to thaw quickly when you need it for dinner!
Mexicali Soup typically refers to a hearty and spicy soup inspired by Mexican cuisine. It’s known for its bold flavors and often contains ingredients commonly found in Mexican dishes.
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Recipe Card
Easy and Quick Mexicali Soup
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons (15 ml) olive oil (or any other oil of your preference)
- 4 chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon chili powder (see notes for substitute)
- 30 oz (850 g) Diced Tomatoes with Green Chiles (3 can 10-oz each) (see notes)
- 4 cups (960 ml) chicken broth
- 30 oz (850 g) canned black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup uncooked whithe rice (You can also use cooked rice – see notes)
To Serve (optional):
- 1 ripe avocado halved, pitted, peeled and cubed
- ½ cup cheddar cheese, sheered (optional)
- Fresh cilantro for garnishing, chopped
Important
Don’t forget to check out the step-by-step photos above in the post—they’ll guide you through the process and make everything super clear!
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large saucepot over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add chili powder and cook for 2 more minutes.
- Add the tomatoes, chicken broth, beans, and rice. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Partially cover and let it simmer for about 20 -25 minutes, or until the rice is tender.
- Serve topped with cheese, cubed avocado, and chopped fresh cilantro, if desired.
Video
- This recipe is naturally egg, dairy, gluten, nut, and peanut-free, making it suitable for most dietary needs with these minor adjustments.
- Soy-Free: Instead of store-bought chicken broth (which may contain soy additives), use homemade chicken broth or an allergen-free brand.
- Meat: This recipe calls for chicken breasts, but you can also substitute ground beef, ground turkey, or ground chicken instead.
- Vegetables: You can add more vegetables to this soup if you like. Corn, peppers, and carrots are the vegetables I like to add to this soup.
- Beans: Feel free to use your favorite beans or a mix of different beans.
- Tomatoes: For this soup, I use Rotel, diced Tomatoes with Green Chiles, but can substitute for fired roasted diced tomatoes or regular diced tomatoes.
- Cheese: You can add any type of shredded cheese to your soup. Colby Jack or Monterey Jack are some of my go-to.
I appreciate your feedback, and it helps others, too!
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Eggless Baking Frequently Asked Questions
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Disclosure: This was sponsored by Hass Avocado Board. As always, all opinions expressed are my own.
This recipe was originally published in November 2016. The recipe remains the same, but more notes, tips, photos, and information were added to the post in February 2025 to make it as helpful as possible!
love them with my BLT’s
I like to make guacamole and avocado dip. Thanks for the chance to win such an amazing giveaway.