FREE 5-Ingredient Recipe EBook

• Why You Need My Mexican Chicken Soup Recipe
• Ingredients & Substitutions
• How To Make Caldo De Pollo
• My Recipe Tips
• Topping Ideas
• More Mexican Soup Recipes
• Mexican Chicken Soup (Caldo De Pollo) Recipe card
• Recipe Reviews

Whenever I’m craving Mexican food but still want cozy vibes, this Mexican chicken soup is my go-to. You might know it as caldo de pollo , which is chicken soup in Spanish. It reminds me of my chicken detox soup , but with zesty latin flavors I remember from soups I’ve eaten in Mexico. It’s the perfect light, nourishing dish that doesn’t skimp on flavor, inspired by one of my favorite cuisines. Make this Mexican chicken soup recipe with me for that warm-hug-in-a-bowl feeling!

Why You Need My Mexican Chicken Soup Recipe

• Fresh, comforting flavors – Picture tender chicken, plenty of veggies, and a rich, satisfying broth with just the right kick… all loaded up with fresh toppings. I can’t get enough!
• Simple, natural ingredients – This Mexican chicken soup is simply protein, vegetables, and seasonings at their best. It’s naturally low carb, gluten-free, dairy-free, and just an all-around feel-good healthy dinner recipe .
• Easy for tonight or meal prep for later – Anyone can do this! No fancy tools or complicated steps. And this caldo de pollo recipe reheats beautifully and even freezes well, so I always make a big batch.

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for my Mexican chicken soup recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .

• Chicken – Some caldo de pollo recipes use a whole chicken or chicken pieces, but I find it easier to use boneless skinless chicken breasts and shred them once cooked. Chicken thighs will also work if you prefer them, or you can shred rotisserie chicken as a shortcut.
• Vegetables – Including onion, carrots, celery, and bell peppers, cut into bite-sized pieces. Feel free to experiment with other veggies, like zucchini or cabbage — see my healthy vegetable soup recipe for ideas and tips on when to add what.
• Garlic – Fresh garlic is best, but a teaspoon of jarred minced garlic works.
• Chicken Broth – I used store-bought this time, but when I have my own chicken broth or bone broth on hand, I always go for that. Homemade adds so much more flavor!
• Diced Tomatoes – Canned tomatoes (with their liquid) add richness and depth to the broth. You can even use fire-roasted for a smoky flavor, or diced tomatoes with green chilies for some heat.
• Olive Oil – For sauteing the veggies. I like this one , but any cooking oil works.
• Seasonings – My simple caldo de pollo seasoning includes sea salt, black pepper, ground cumin , and optional fresh cilantro. Sometimes I swap in taco seasoning or fajita seasoning when I want bolder flavors.
• Toppings – See my fave topping options below!

How To Make Caldo De Pollo

I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card .

1. Saute the vegetables. Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or large pot, until shimmering. Add the chopped onions, carrots, celery, and bell peppers, and saute until tender. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant.
2. Cook the chicken in broth. Add the broth, canned tomatoes with liquid, chicken, cumin, salt, and pepper. Bring the Mexican chicken soup to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until the chicken is cooked through.

1. Shred the chicken. Then, pop it back into the soup and simmer a little longer to help it absorb more liquid.
2. Season to your taste. Stir in the chopped cilantro, salt, and pepper.

1. Load it up! Ladle your Mexican chicken soup into bowls. Add a squeeze of lime juice and pile it high with your favorite toppings (I’ve got serving ideas below).

My Recipe Tips

• Shredding chicken is faster and easier with a hand mixer. It takes seconds! I like to break the chicken into a few chunks with forks first, then turn on the mixer at low speed and gradually increase. I have and love this electric mixer that has adjustable speeds and built-in storage for the attachments.
• Adjust to your taste at the end. This caldo de pollo is seasoned how I like it, but you do you! Too salty? A splash of lime juice will balance it out. Too bland? Either more salt, more cumin, or lime juice will do the trick. Too spicy? Serving the soup with sour cream will help.
• How to make it more hearty: My Mexican chicken soup recipe does not include potatoes, rice, beans, or corn, which many other recipes have, but you can definitely add them. Toss in potatoes or rice at the same time as the chicken so they have time to cook. I recommend adding canned corn or black beans only closer to the end. If you’re making any of these additions, add a couple extra cups of broth.
• How to make it creamy: I recently tried this version based on my creamy chicken soup , and it was so good! Just cook some large cauliflower florets in your Mexican soup during the simmering step. Then, blend them with a little broth from the pot and heavy cream, and return to the pot. Voila — thick, creamy soup without any thickeners!
• How to make it in a Crock Pot or Instant Pot: You can use these same ingredients using the timing I have in my Instant Pot vegetable soup (it’s enough time to cook the chicken as well). Or just dump everything into your slow cooker and cook for 4-6 hours on low or 2-3 hours on high, then shred the chicken.

Topping Ideas

Avocado, sour cream, lime wedges, and extra cilantro aren’t required for this Mexican chicken soup, but I highly recommend them for bright, fresh flavor — pictured above!

You can also add anything else you normally like on Mexican dishes, like shredded cheese, green onions, or even guacamole or fresh tomato salsa . Sometimes I even sprinkle crushed homemade tortilla chips or cheese crisps sprinkled on top.

Caldo de pollo can be a light meal by itself, but if you like a soup-and-salad combo, my cilantro lime taco slaw or avocado corn salad are perfect.

More Mexican Soup Recipes

I’ve been to Mexico more times than I can count, and every time I want to make more recipes with the incredible flavors they use. Try some of my other cozy soups inspired by my visits:

Recipe Video

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

Mexican Chicken Soup:

• 1 tbsp Olive oil ▢
• 1 medium Onion (diced; ~1 cup) ▢
• 1 medium Carrot (peeled and diced; ~1/2 cup) ▢
• 2 stalks Celery (chopped; ~1/2 cup) ▢
• 1/2 large Bell pepper (diced; ~1/2 cup) ▢
• 2 cloves Garlic (minced) ▢
• 6 cups Chicken broth, reduced sodium ▢
• 1 14.5-oz can Diced tomatoes (with liquid) ▢
• 1 lb Boneless skinless chicken breasts ▢
• 1 tsp Cumin ▢
• 3/4 tsp Sea salt (to taste) ▢
• 1/2 tsp Black pepper (to taste) ▢
• 1/4 cup Fresh cilantro (optional; chopped) ▢

Optional Toppings:

• 1 medium Avocado (sliced) ▢
• 6 tbsp Sour cream ▢
• Lime wedges ▢
• Fresh cilantro ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

1. Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, until shimmering. Add the onion, carrots, celery, and bell peppers. Saute for 5-7 minutes , until browned and tender.
2. Add the garlic and saute for 1 more minute , until fragrant.
3. Add the broth, canned tomatoes, chicken, cumin, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes , until the chicken breast is cooked through.
4. Remove the chicken from the pot and shred it using two forks. Add the shredded chicken back to the pot and simmer for 5 more minutes .
5. Stir in the chopped cilantro. Adjust the salt and pepper to taste.
6. Pour soup into bowls and garnish with toppings, if desired.

LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 1/2 cups

• Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you adjust the flavor, a shortcut for shredding the chicken easily, ways to make this soup more hearty, and options to make it in the Crock Pot or Instant Pot.
• Toppings: See my toppings section above for more ideas.
• Storage & meal prep: This Mexican chicken soup stores beautifully! Keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4-5 days. I love these deep meal prep containers because they’re the perfect shape for individual portions of soup — and I can just pop them in the microwave to reheat.
• Freeze: Keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. I like to freeze in these soup cubes .
• Note on nutrition info: The optional toppings are not included. This soup will be more meal-worthy if you include them — or double the serving size. You can customize this recipe to add toppings or change serving size for the nutrition info in the Wholesome Yum App .

📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Winter Ebook Bundle !

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

Add Your NotesYour Notes

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.

Mexican Chicken Soup Recipe (Caldo De Pollo)

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• The Basic Keto Meal Formula
• Understanding Macros
• Keto Food Swaps
• Keto Food List
• Electrolyte Basics
• Keto Diet Types
• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• Recipe Reviews

Even though I have a great guide to starting a keto diet , people often ask me for a quick keto cheat sheet they can use. That’s why I created this simple keto diet cheat sheet , so that you can have all the info you need handy. We’ll cover the basic keto formula for building meals, foods to eat and to avoid, delicious keto swaps for high-carb foods, electrolyte basics, and 4 ways to follow the keto lifestyle.

You can keep reading to view this info, or download my keto cheat sheet printable pdf to print out or save ad-free on any device (plus the pdf has more details!).

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ foods) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

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The Basic Keto Meal Formula

Eating keto doesn’t have to be complicated! While there are plenty of delicious easy keto recipes to choose from, you don’t even have to cook from a recipe to get started.

Simply follow the keto cheat sheet formula of protein + veggie + fat for your meals.

Be sure to choose a moderate amount of protein, only low carb vegetables (mostly ones that grow above ground), and generous fat to attain an optimal macro ratio. That’s approximately 60-75% of calories from fat, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates. The table below will give you ideas for what to choose.

Understanding Macros

Macros are macronutrients for short. They include fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

You can calculate your own macros using the macro calculator , but the macro keto cheat sheet below will explain how to look at macros when following a keto lifestyle.

Carbs Are A Limit.

Keeping carbs low is what gets you into ketosis and keeps you there. Ketosis means that you’re using fat as your primary energy source instead of sugar, and requires keeping carbs very low.

A good starting point is 20-25 grams net carbs per day, but you can experiment after a few weeks to see if your body stays in ketosis at higher levels. People who are very active may be able to do more and stay in ketosis, up to around 50 grams per day.

“Carbs are a limit” means that you set a limit for how many carbs to eat per day and don’t exceed it. You don’t have to hit that limit, so if you’re under that’s okay, just don’t go over. Ideally most of your carbs would come from low carb vegetables, and if you’re eating enough veggies, you’ll usually get close to the limit naturally.

A common misconception is that reaching ketosis requires a certain macro ratio, but it’s really only restricting your carb intake that gets you there [ * ]. In the absence of sufficient carbs to use as energy, the body will switch to using fat as fuel. This is called the metabolic state of ketosis.

Protein Is A Goal.

Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of all our cells. It’s a crucial for keeping our muscles strong and for many cellular functions [ * ].

“Protein is a goal” means that you always want to eat enough protein to reach the goal each day, but not exceed it too much. You want enough for your needs, but excess protein can trigger gluconeogenesis, which is protein being converted to sugar [ * ] and can kick you out of ketosis.

Fat Is A Lever.

Fat is the primary macronutrient in a keto lifestyle, because being in ketosis means that fat is your primary fuel source. Fat as a fuel source will come from your food, and if you are losing weight, from your body.

A big advantage of a keto lifestyle is the high fat intake. It keeps you full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to, and using it as the primary fuel source makes it easier on your body to burn body fat, with a lower chance of breaking down your muscle (provided you get enough protein).

Aside from reaching your protein goal and limiting your carbs, the remainder of your calories on a keto diet comes from fat.

Don’t fear fat – it’s your main energy source on keto, and getting enough of it trains your body to use fat for fuel instead of sugar. That means that as long as you are not overdoing your overall calorie intake, you’ll efficiently burn your body fat for fuel as well.

“Fat is a lever” means that you can increase or decrease your fat intake depending on your goals and hunger levels. Increase it (along with exercise) to gain muscle, or decrease it to lose weight.

Keto Food Swaps

One of my favorite challenges is creating recipes, or just discovering, keto food swaps. These are delicious keto replacements for traditionally high-carb or high-sugar foods.

So, I created this keto diet cheat sheet with all the swaps in one place! I also have more keto food swaps in my Easy Keto Cookbook .

Keto Swaps For Breakfast

Keto Swaps For Bread

Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes

Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces

Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking

Keto Swaps For Drinks

If you’re looking specifically for keto alcohol options, browse the full keto alcohol guide .

Keto Food List

When looking for a keto cheat sheet printable, the most-requested information is a keto food list.

The great thing is that keto doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s incredibly satisfying and there’s such a wide variety of foods you can eat!

Foods To Eat On Keto

• Leafy greens – Such as spinach, chard, and lettuce.
• Above-ground veggies – Such as peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower.
• Full-fat cream & cheese – Such as heavy cream, sour cream, and full-fat hard cheeses.
• Natural meats – Such as beef, lamb, and pork.
• Berries – Such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
• Avocados
• Unsweetened nut milks – Such as almond milk and coconut milk.
• Almond flour and coconut flour
• Eggs
• Healthy fats – Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter.

Foods To Avoid On Keto

• White flour & sugar
• Rice & grains – Such as barley, wheat, and corn.
• Milk & yogurt – Such as fruit on the bottom yogurt, sweetened Greek yogurt, and all milk.
• Cereal
• Processed food – Such as granola bars, candy
• Most fruit – Such as apples, bananas, and grapes
• Hydrogenated fats – Such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and margarine
• Sweetened beverages & condiments – Such as soda, ketchup, and sweet dressings
• Starchy veggies – Such as peas, carrots, and beets.
• Potatoes – Such as sweet potatoes and white potatoes.

That’s the short keto diet cheat sheet version of all the keto food categories, but I recommend downloading the full Keto Cheat Sheet System. It includes a super detailed printable keto food list with over 100 items, including 2 color-coded pages with net carb counts, along with 6 more pages of keto cheat sheets:

Get The Keto Cheat Sheet System PDF (Only $37)

Electrolyte Basics

Getting enough electrolytes is crucial for anyone, but especially so on a keto diet. The reason is that ketosis has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of water and electrolytes, especially sodium [ * ]. This is often the cause of the keto flu.

For more details on electrolytes and avoiding keto flu, check out the full keto flu guide here .

The important thing to know about electrolytes is that replenishing them will keep keto flu away and keep your body functioning well. I always recommend an electrolyte drink and whole food sources of anything your body needs before resorting to supplements, so I made a list of what to eat to get each of the 3 major electrolytes – sodium, magnesium and potassium.

Here’s your keto diet cheat sheet for getting electrolytes from food:

Keto Diet Types

People follow a keto lifestyle for different reasons. Some do it just to lose weight, others are after better overall health, increased energy, and reduced inflammation.

Strictly speaking, the defining factor of a keto diet is the metabolic state of ketosis, which is achieved by restricting carbs. However, many people (myself included) also reduce or eliminate processed, inflammatory, or low-nutrient foods.

Below is your keto cheat sheet summary of the different ways that people follow keto. You choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle!

• Strict Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, count all calories and macros, and eat clean, unprocessed foods.
• Lazy Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, and track only net carbs OR eat keto foods without tracking.
• Dirty Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, with “if it fits your macros” approach including processed foods.
• Low Carb – Up to 50-100g net carbs daily, less strict.

For a more detailed listing of these different types of keto with pros and cons, grab the Easy Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF below!

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ swaps) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System (75 pages, Only $37!)

Mexican Chicken Soup (Caldo De Pollo)

With tender meat and veggies, this easy Mexican chicken soup recipe (a.k.a. caldo de pollo) is loaded with flavor and toppings.

Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera for the full recipe, including tips, step-by-step photos, and storage, or to save it to your account. You can also find it at: https://www.wholesomeyum.com/mexican-chicken-soup/

Ingredients

Mexican Chicken Soup:

• 1 tbsp Olive oil
• 1 medium Onion (diced; ~1 cup)
• 1 medium Carrot (peeled and diced; ~1/2 cup)
• 2 stalks Celery (chopped; ~1/2 cup)
• 1/2 large Bell pepper (diced; ~1/2 cup)
• 2 cloves Garlic (minced)
• 6 cups Chicken broth, reduced sodium
• 1 14.5-oz can Diced tomatoes (with liquid)
• 1 lb Boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 tsp Cumin
• 3/4 tsp Sea salt (to taste)
• 1/2 tsp Black pepper (to taste)
• 1/4 cup Fresh cilantro (optional; chopped)

Optional Toppings:

• 1 medium Avocado (sliced)
• 6 tbsp Sour cream
• Lime wedges
• Fresh cilantro

Instructions

1. Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, until shimmering. Add the onion, carrots, celery, and bell peppers. Saute for 5-7 minutes , until browned and tender.
2. Add the garlic and saute for 1 more minute , until fragrant.
3. Add the broth, canned tomatoes, chicken, cumin, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes , until the chicken breast is cooked through.
4. Remove the chicken from the pot and shred it using two forks. Add the shredded chicken back to the pot and simmer for 5 more minutes .
5. Stir in the chopped cilantro. Adjust the salt and pepper to taste.
6. Pour soup into bowls and garnish with toppings, if desired.

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 1/2 cups

• Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you adjust the flavor, a shortcut for shredding the chicken easily, ways to make this soup more hearty, and options to make it in the Crock Pot or Instant Pot.
• Toppings: See my toppings section above for more ideas.
• Storage & meal prep: This Mexican chicken soup stores beautifully! Keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4-5 days. I love these deep meal prep containers because they’re the perfect shape for individual portions of soup – and I can just pop them in the microwave to reheat.
• Freeze: Keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. I like to freeze in these soup cubes .
• Note on nutrition info: The optional toppings are not included. This soup will be more meal-worthy if you include them – or double the serving size. You can customize this recipe to add toppings or change serving size for the nutrition info in the Wholesome Yum App .

📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Winter Ebook Bundle !

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. :)