It’s hot today but cool weather is coming. Our local weather guru has promised! And with the advent of cooler weather, my cooking thoughts turn to warm, gooey goodness that’s quick, easy, and filling. And yes, I do like me some hot soup.

Total Time: 1 Hr. (incl. refrigerating to marinate the chicken)
Prep Time: 30 Min.
Cook Time: 30 Min.

Serve up Santa Fe-style taste with this cilantro-spiked chicken fajita soup. Neufchatel and VELVEETA® make Santa Fe Chicken Fajita Soup nice and cheesy.

What You Need
1 pkg. (1.4 oz.) TACO BELL® Fajita Seasoning Mix
1/3 cup water
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips
4 large cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
1 large red onion, chopped
1 small green pepper, chopped
1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel Cheese, cubed
8 oz. 2% Milk VELVEETA, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
2 cans (14.5 oz. each) fat-free reduced-sodium chicken broth

Let’s Make It
1 – Combine seasoning mix and water in medium bowl. Add chicken; toss to evenly coat. Refrigerate 30 min.
2 – Cook garlic and cilantro in large nonstick saucepan on medium-high heat 1 min. Stir in chicken mixture, onions and peppers; cook 10 min. or until chicken is done, stirring frequently.
3 – Add Neufchatel, VELVEETA and broth; mix well. Cook on medium heat until Neufchatel and VELVEETA are completely melted and soup is heated through, stirring occasionally.

Kitchen Tips
Tip 1 – Serving Suggestion: Serve this hearty main-dish soup with a tossed leafy green salad.

Tip 2 – Special Extra: Garnish with additional chopped cilantro just before serving.

My Tip: I tend to buy my chicken and beef broth in giant economy sizes instead of canned so I just use my liquid cup measure to measure out the 14.5 oz. X 2.

My Food and Family is my go-to website for good food so click over to grab all the nutritional details about this soup. I’m not the only one who enjoys a hearty soup. Before Lennox Morgan crossed paths with Griffith Caine, she found solace from her PTSD and depression in comfort foods and this soup was one of them. Now that she has a former SpecOps Wolf to feed, she adds a sandwich piled with meat as a side for Griff. You can read their story, ASSASSIN’S MOON, for free with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. Or grab it for your keeper shelf–it’s available in both digital and paperback editions. Just click on either of the cover pics or the title to head over to Amazon. I have to admit, ASSASSIN’S MOON was a fun one to write because Rio! And the Amazon jungle! And fated mates! Ahem….

Anyway… Question of the day: Are you a soup person?