There are so many different types of chicken soup, but this Sopa de Pollo Cubano, or Cuban chicken soup, is definitely one of the best. It has a delicious and unique flavor that will make you want to keep coming back for more.
It's chock full of chicken, Fideo noodles, and chunks of corn on the cob, about as authentic as you can get. If you're looking for a new favorite soup recipe, be sure to give this one a try.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
Cuban chicken soup is a comforting, flavorful soup that is perfect for a chilly day. It is easy to make and can be made with simple ingredients that you may already have on hand. This soup is sure to hit the spot and leave you feeling warm and satisfied.
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Ingredients
Chop and measure all your ingredients before starting, as it helps to keep for leaving anything out. It also lets you dash to the store and grab anything you don't have on had.
- Boneless Chicken thighs, or boneless chicken breast (or two 12 oz cans of Swanson canned chicken)
- Canned tomato sauce
- Sazon Goya seasoning packet
- Salt
- Onion, chopped
- Carrots, diced
- Celery, diced
- Potatoes, chunked
- Chicken broth
- Water
- Oregano, fresh or dried
- Garlic, minced
- Pepper
- Olive oil
- Lemon or Lime juice
- Fresh Corn on the cob, cut in 1" rounds.
- Fideo noodles (you will find these in the Hispanic food aisle, or the pasta aisle. If you can't find them, use Angel Hair pasta, and break it up in small pieces).
- Cilantro, chopped
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How to Make Cuban Chicken Soup
Chop all the vegetables up first. They all get chopped up pretty small except for the potatoes are left in 1" chunks, and the corn is sliced in 1" slices, or rounds.
Step 1. Start the Soup
Add the onion, celery, carrot, and minced garlic. Saute for 3 minutes. Add the salt, oregano, pepper, chicken broth, and water.
Empty the contents of one Sazon Goya seasoning packet into the soup pot. This is the secret ingredient for Sopa de Pollo Cubano (Cuban Chicken Soup).
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 2. Prepare the Chicken
Stir in the Sazon Goya seasoning. The peach colored box has some cilantro in the seasoning, and is perfect for this soup.
If using fresh chicken thighs, discard the skin, and chop the meat into smaller chunks, about 1" pieces. You will cook them in the soup pot.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 3. Add the Chicken and Simmer
After the chicken has cooked completely, add the Fideo noodles. Fideo noodles are thin vermicelli noodles in 1 to 1 ½" pieces. Broken Angel Hair pasta will also work.
After the pasta has cooked and is tender, add the 1" thick rounds of fresh corn and the potatoes. Cover the pot & simmer for 20 minutes. Add the lemon juice right before serving.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Serving Suggestions
This aromatic and flavor filled Sopa de Pollo Cubano, or Cuban Chicken soup, is garnished with fresh chopped cilantro and served with either Tostones, Cuban Fried Plantains, Steamed White Rice.
Or, serve it as is with a Grinder Sandwich, a chunk of crusty Pan Cubano (Cuban Bread), or even a Pandesal roll (Spanish influenced Filipino bread).
Substitutions
If managing the pieces of cut fresh corn on the cob does not work well for your family, use frozen corn instead. Though, kids really do love the chunks of corn!
Equipment
You will want a good soup pot when making this. I love how the enameled cast iron cooks great on the stove, and yet still is something attractive on my dining table. Here are a few options much more economical than Le Crueset.
- 4.5 quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven
- 6 quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven
Storage
This makes a nice amount of soup, enough for a full family meal and a bit of leftovers. Store in freeze safe storage tubs and it will freeze for up to 3 months. This Cuban Chicken soup is comforting on cold days, you will be so glad you saved some!
Tips for Success
- Be sure to use boneless and skinless chicken thighs.
- You can use chicken meat from a rotisserie chicken (about half the chicken, cut into chunks), or 2 cans of Swanson canned chicken breast.
- You can substitute the fresh corn rounds with 2 cups of frozen corn or 1 can of canned corn.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, I surprised my kids when little with Alphabet Pasta in their Sopa de Pollo Cubano! They loved fishing for the letters to their names in their Cuban chicken soup!
Fideo noodles look just like vermicelli, but Fideo is a thin verimicelli type of noodle made from maida flour. Maida is corn based. Angel hair pasta is a thin vermicelli noodle made from semolina flour.
Food Safety
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
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📖 Recipe
Cuban Chicken Soup (Sopa de Pollo Cubano)
Ingredients
- 8 Chicken thighs boneless, skinless
- 4 oz Tomato sauce
- 1 envelope Sazon Goya Peach colored box preferred
- 1 tablespoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Pepper
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 3 large carrots diced
- 2 stalks celery diced
- 2 medium potatoes chunked in 1" pieces
- 2 ears fresh corn cut in 1" rounds
- 5 cups chicken broth
- 5 cups water
- 1 teaspoon Oregano dried, or 1 sprig fresh
- 2 tablespoon Lemon juice or Lime
- 8 oz Fideo pasta or 8 oz Angel Hair pasta, broken
- Cilantro for garnish - optional
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Cut up all the vegetables. Put the olive oil at the bottom of your soup pot. Add all the chopped vegetable, except for the potatoes and the slices of corn. Add the garlic. Cook for three minutes. Add the oregano, pepper, chicken broth, and water.¼ teaspoon Pepper, 2 cloves garlic, 1 medium onion, 3 large carrots, 2 stalks celery, 5 cups chicken broth, 5 cups water, 1 teaspoon Oregano, 2 tablespoon olive oil
- Empty the contents of one Sazon Goya seasoning packet into the soup pot. Add the tomato sauce, salt, and cubed chicken. Simmer for 20 to 30 minutes.4 oz Tomato sauce, 1 envelope Sazon Goya, 1 tablespoon Salt, 8 Chicken thighs
- After the chicken has cooked completely, add the Fideo noodles.8 oz Fideo pasta
- After the pasta has cooked and is tender, add the 1" thick rounds of fresh corn and potatoes. Put the top on the pot and simmer for 20 minutes or until the corn is tender.2 medium potatoes, 2 ears fresh corn
- Just before serving add the lemon or lime juice and stir. Serve with chopped fresh cilantro as garnish (optional).2 tablespoon Lemon juice, Cilantro
Notes
- You can use chicken meat from a rotisserie chicken (about half the chicken, cut into chunks), or 2 cans of Swanson canned chicken breast.
- You can substitute the fresh corn rounds with 2 cups of frozen corn or 1 can of canned corn.
Nutrition
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