Santa Fe Soup (The Lunch-Saving, Meal-Prep Hero)

This one’s for you if lunch usually looks like half a grilled cheese crust, three grapes, and a questionable chicken nugget 🥲
Let’s fix that.

This Santa Fe Soup is warm, cozy, protein-packed, and perfect for make-once, eat-all-week lunches. Toss it together in one pot, let it simmer while you do literally anything else, and enjoy real meals that don’t involve standing at the counter scavenging.

Why You’ll Love This Soup

• One pot, minimal prep

• Holds up beautifully for leftovers

• Filling enough to actually keep you full

• Easy to customize with toppings or add-ins

• Freezer-friendly and kid-scrap-proof 👏🏼

Santa Fe Soup Recipe

Ingredients

• 1–2 tbsp olive oil

• 1 onion, diced

• 1–2 cups frozen peppers

• 2–3 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 tsp salt (start light)

• ½ tsp black pepper

• 1½ tsp ground cumin

• 1 tsp chili powder

• ½–1 tsp smoked paprika

• ½ tsp dried oregano

• Optional: pinch of cayenne or red pepper flakes

• 1 can (14–15 oz) diced tomatoes

• 1 can black beans or pinto beans, drained & rinsed

• 6–8 cups broth (vegetable or chicken)

• ½ cup pearl barley

Instructions

1. Sauté the base

Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook for 4–5 minutes until soft and translucent. Add frozen peppers and cook another 2–3 minutes until warmed through.

2. Bloom the spices

Add garlic, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, pepper, and cayenne (if using). Stir constantly for 30–45 seconds until fragrant. This step makes all the difference.

3. Simmer

Add diced tomatoes, beans, broth, and pearl barley. Stir well. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 35–45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until barley is tender.

Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

Topping Ideas (Highly Encouraged)

• Sliced avocado

• Fresh cilantro

• Lime wedges

• Crushed tortilla chips or strips

• A dollop of Greek yogurt or sour cream

Meal Prep Tip

This soup keeps well in the fridge for 4–5 days and tastes even better the next day. Portion it into containers for grab-and-go lunches that don’t involve reheating your kid’s leftovers “because they didn’t finish it.”

Bonus

If you’re already in meal-prep mode, let’s stack the win. Join the Glow membership as well for all my workouts and nutrition programs!