Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup (Print)

Rich Tex-Mex style soup with salsa verde, shredded chicken, peppers and creamy toppings. Ready in 45 minutes.

# Ingredients:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 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 - 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 ounces 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

# Instructions:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, poblano peppers, 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 in chicken broth and salsa verde. Stir in cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and black pepper until well 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 using two forks. Return shredded chicken to the soup.
06 - Reduce heat to low. Add cream cheese, stirring constantly until melted and fully incorporated into the soup.
07 - Stir in heavy cream and simmer gently for 3 to 4 minutes. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed.
08 - Ladle soup into serving bowls. Top each portion with diced avocado, crushed tortilla chips, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime juice.

# Pro Tips:

01 -
  • Ready in 45 minutes but tastes like you've been simmering it all day.
  • The creamy poblano base feels fancy enough for company but casual enough for a Tuesday night.
  • Built-in customization means everyone at the table gets exactly what they want on top.
02 -
  • Don't skip softening the cream cheese or you'll end up with little rubbery lumps instead of silky smoothness—those 10 minutes at room temperature make all the difference.
  • Add cream cheese after the chicken is fully cooked and shredded, not before, because the acidic salsa verde can curdle it if the heat is too high.
03 -
  • Squeeze your lime over the soup just before eating, not before—the acid will stay brighter and more vital that way.
  • Keep your tortilla chips in an airtight container until the very last moment so they stay crispy instead of getting soggy from the steam.
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