Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup (Printable)

Rich Tex-Mex soup with salsa verde base, tender shredded chicken, cream cheese, and classic tortilla chip toppings.

# Ingredient List:

→ Chicken

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

→ Vegetables and Aromatics

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

→ Soup Base

08 - 1½ cups salsa verde
09 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
10 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
11 - ½ teaspoon dried oregano
12 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Creamy Elements

13 - 4 ounces cream cheese, cubed and softened
14 - ½ 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 and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Pour in chicken broth and salsa verde. Stir in cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and black pepper.
03 - 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.
04 - Remove chicken breasts from the pot and shred using two forks. Return shredded chicken to the soup.
05 - Reduce heat to low. Add cream cheese, stirring constantly until completely melted and incorporated into the soup.
06 - Stir in heavy cream and simmer gently for 3 to 4 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
07 - Ladle soup into bowls. Top each serving with diced avocado, crushed tortilla chips, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime juice.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The salsa verde base provides a zesty brightness that balances out the rich heavy cream perfectly.
  • You can get this on the table in under an hour making it a lifesaver for busy weeknights.
02 -
  • If you add the cream cheese while the soup is at a rolling boil it can curdle and look grainy.
  • Shredding the chicken while it is still hot allows the fibers to soak up the soup like a sponge.
03 -
  • Using a rotisserie chicken can save you twenty minutes if you are in a major rush.
  • Always taste the soup one last time after adding the cream to see if it needs an extra pinch of salt.
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