Detox Southwest Chicken Soup Recipe is a healthy low-fat, low-carb, gluten-free soup with tons of bold flavor and nutritious ingredients! This Southwest Chicken Soup is super clean and healthy. 

Southwest chicken detox soup in a large Dutch oven pot.

Why We Love This Southwest Chicken Detox Soup

Over a year ago I shared a Chicken Detox Soup recipe that our family uses as a dietary reset after vacations or long seasons of unhealthy eating.

It’s a lean, healthy chicken and vegetable soup with several detoxifying ingredients to help flush toxins from your body and boost your metabolism. This soup is meant to be eaten for several days in a row to get your system back on track.

Chicken Detox Soup is low-fat, low-carb, paleo, gluten-free, and it works like a charm when using the soup as a cleanse! We have come up with another variation of our detox soup recipe that is just as healthy, just as tasty, and offers just as many cleansing ingredients, but with a bold Southwest flavor!

If you’ve tried our original detox soup cleanse, this Southwest Chicken Detox Soup is a zesty way to mix things up. Combining the Old El Paso green chiles and the spices, enhances the natural flavor of the chicken and veggies for a bold tantalizing flavor.

Two bowls of detox soup topped with diced avocado.

What is a detox soup?

The idea behind a detox soup is to cleanse the body by eating nutrient-rich vegetables and broths that are easy for the body to digest. Generally, detox soups are low in calories and high in vitamins and minerals to help the body get as many nutrients as possible!

Eating a meal like this Southwest chicken detox soup will help to release toxins and is especially good for you after a lot of indulgences, like after the holidays!

Plus, the release of toxins from this detox soup helps your body work more efficiently, meaning:

  • Purging water retention
  • A metabolic boost
  • More energy
  • And better sleep!
Ingredients needed for Southwest detox chicken soup.

Ingredients For Southwest Chicken Soup

To make this Southwest Chicken Soup, I used green chiles to give the broth a smoky undertone, then loaded it with veggies and spices! Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Chicken Breast – great for a lean protein source
  • Onion – diced
  • Garlic – freshly minced
  • Olive Oil – a bit of olive oil to sauté the veggies
  • Chopped Green Chiles – for a smoky, Southwest flavor!
  • Crushed Tomatoes – I used fire-roasted crushed tomatoes to add an extra smoky flavor. You can also use diced tomatoes.
  • Chicken Stock – if using low-sodium chicken stock, taste for salt at the end.
  • Ground Cumin – for added flavor
  • Crushed Red Pepper – for a kick of spice
  • Turmeric – adds flavor and kick starts the metabolism
  • Carrots – sliced
  • Cabbage – sliced thin
  • Broccoli – chopped into small florets
  • Avocados – to serve
  • Salt and Pepper – to taste
overhead bowl of chicken detox soup

How to Make Southwest Chicken Soup

Set a large 6-8 quart pot over medium heat. Add the olive oil, chopped onions, and garlic. Sauté for 5-6 minutes to soften. Then add whole raw chicken breasts, Old El Paso Chopped Green Chiles, crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, all the spices, carrots, and 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt.

Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 20+ minutes, until the chicken breasts are cooked through. Then remove the chicken with tongs and set them on a cutting board to cool.

Add the chopped cabbage and broccoli to the pot. Continue to simmer to soften the broccoli. Meanwhile, shred the chicken breasts with two forks, and stir them back into the soup. Once the broccoli is tender, taste, then salt and pepper as needed. Serve warm with a generous amount of diced avocado on top!

If the soup base boils down too much, add 2-3 cups of water to the broth. Then taste for seasoning.

You can store this recipe in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Tips & Tricks

  • For added flavor, serve with freshly chopped cilantro and a squeeze of lime juice!
  • If you have leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken on hand, add that chicken in towards the end of the cooking process for ease!
  • You can substitute the chicken breast for chicken thighs if you prefer, but keep in mind that chicken thighs have more fat so the soup will not be as lean!
Detox chicken soup with lots of fresh veggies in a pot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make vegetarian detox soup?

Definitely! To make a vegetarian option, omit the chicken and replace the chicken broth with vegetable broth. You can add additional ingredients for added protein, such as black beans.

What is Southwest chicken soup made of?

Generally, Southwest chicken soup is made with chicken, tomatoes, beans, corn, chiles, and bold spices like cumin. This soup is a little different since it is a detox soup recipe, so it doesn’t contain beans and corn, and instead has lots of nutritious veggies!

How should I store leftover Southwest detox soup?

Store any leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days! You can make this at the beginning of the week and use it as meal prep. The soup cleanse works best when you eat the soup several days in a row. To freeze, place in the freezer in a large zip bag for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge and reheat in a saucepan or the microwave!

Overhead bowls of low carb chicken soup topped with avocado.

Get the Full (Printable) Detox Southwest Chicken Soup Recipe + Video Below. Enjoy!

Bowl of chicken vegetable soup with a silver spoon.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Old El Paso. All opinions are my own.

Looking for More Detox Recipes? Be Sure to Also Try:

Check out the printable recipe card below for the nutrition information including calories, carbohydrates, protein, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, potassium, fiber, vitamin C, and calcium percentages. Make sure to share this recipe on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Southwest Chicken Detox Soup Recipe #cleanse #diet
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Detox Southwest Chicken Soup

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Southwest Chicken Detox Soup Recipe – A healthy low-fat, low-carb, gluten-free soup with tons of flavor. This southwest chicken soup packs a punch!
Servings: 8

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Set a large 6-8 quart pot over medium heat. Add the olive oil, chopped onions, and garlic. Sauté for 5-6 minutes to soften. Then add whole raw chicken breasts, Old El Paso Chopped Green Chiles, crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, all the spices, carrots, and 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt.
  • Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 20+ minutes, until the chicken breasts are cooked through. Then remove the chicken with tongs and set them on a cutting board to cool.
  • Add the chopped cabbage and broccoli to the pot. Continue to simmer to soften the broccoli. Meanwhile, shred the chicken breasts with two forks, and stir it back into the soup. Once the broccoli is tender, taste, then salt and pepper as needed. Serve warm with a generous amount of diced avocado on top!

Video

Notes

If the soup base boils down too much, add 2-3 cups of water to the broth. Then taste for seasoning.

Nutrition

Serving: 1.5cups, Calories: 252kcal, Carbohydrates: 17g, Protein: 21g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 54mg, Sodium: 315mg, Potassium: 980mg, Fiber: 7g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 7395IU, Vitamin C: 44mg, Calcium: 81mg, Iron: 3mg
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Author: Sommer Collier
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