Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup (Printable)

Rich and comforting soup featuring salsa verde, tender chicken, peppers, and creamy toppings with crispy tortilla chips.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 pound)
02 - 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

03 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
04 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
05 - 2 poblano peppers, seeded and diced
06 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely diced
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Soup Base

08 - 1.5 cups salsa verde
09 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
10 - 0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
11 - 0.5 teaspoon dried oregano
12 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Creamy Elements

13 - 4 ounces cream cheese, cubed and softened
14 - 0.5 cup heavy cream

→ Toppings

15 - 1 ripe avocado, diced
16 - 1 cup tortilla chips, crushed
17 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
18 - 1 lime, cut into wedges

# Directions:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, poblano pepper, and jalapeño. Sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until vegetables are softened.
02 - Add minced garlic to the pot and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Pour chicken broth and salsa verde into the pot. Stir in cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and black pepper until combined.
04 - Add chicken breasts to the pot. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer covered for 15 to 18 minutes until chicken is fully cooked through.
05 - Remove chicken breasts from the pot and shred with two forks. Return shredded chicken to the soup.
06 - Reduce heat to low. Add cream cheese cubes and stir continuously until melted and fully incorporated into the soup.
07 - Stir in heavy cream and simmer gently for 3 to 4 minutes. Adjust seasoning as needed with additional salt and pepper.
08 - Ladle soup into bowls and top each serving with diced avocado, crushed tortilla chips, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime juice.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It balances the tang of salsa verde with the richness of cream cheese for a flavor that feels like a high end restaurant dish.
  • The poblano peppers add a deep earthy warmth without the aggressive bite of a standard chili.
02 -
  • If you add the dairy while the soup is at a rolling boil it might curdle and ruin the texture.
  • Using low sodium broth allows you to control the saltiness specifically since salsa verde brands vary.
03 -
  • Adding a handful of frozen corn at the very end provides a sweet pop that balances the savory spices.
  • Let the soup sit for ten minutes after cooking to allow the flavors to meld and the consistency to thicken.
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