Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup (Printable Version)

Rich Tex-Mex soup with salsa verde, tender chicken, peppers, and creamy toppings.

# 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 1/2 cups salsa verde
09 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
10 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
11 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
12 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Creamy Elements

13 - 4 oz cream cheese, cubed and softened
14 - 1/2 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

# Steps to Follow:

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

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • The salsa verde base creates a tangy brightness that cuts through the rich cream cheese perfectly
  • It comes together in under an hour but tastes like it simmered all day
  • The toppings turn every bowl into a customizable experience your guests will rave about
02 -
  • The cream cheese needs to be softened before adding or it will never incorporate smoothly into the hot soup
  • Keep the heat low once you add the dairy or the cream can separate and ruin the texture
03 -
  • Make your own salsa verde by blending roasted tomatillos onions and cilantro
  • Let the soup rest for 10 minutes off the heat before serving for the flavors to meld
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