Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup (Printable)

Rich soup with salsa verde, poblano peppers, shredded chicken, cream cheese, avocado, and tortilla chips.

# Ingredient List:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb)
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 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

# How To Make:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, poblano peppers, and jalapeño. Sauté for 4-5 minutes until softened.
02 - Add minced garlic 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.
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.
05 - Remove chicken breasts and shred with two forks. Return shredded chicken to the pot.
06 - Reduce heat to low. Add cream cheese, stirring continuously until melted and fully incorporated.
07 - Stir in heavy cream and simmer gently for 3-4 minutes. Adjust seasoning as needed.
08 - Ladle soup into bowls and top each serving with diced avocado, crushed tortilla chips, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • It tastes like you spent all day cooking, but your hands will only be in the kitchen for 45 minutes.
  • The cream cheese melts into the broth creating this luxurious texture that feels indulgent without being heavy.
  • You can build it exactly to your heat preference, from gentle to genuinely spicy.
02 -
  • Don't skip softening the cream cheese before adding it, or you'll end up with frustrating little lumps that won't melt no matter how hard you stir.
  • Add the heavy cream at the very end on low heat, because high heat can cause it to separate and break.
03 -
  • If your soup seems too thick, thin it with a splash of broth or water rather than more cream, which can overpower the flavors you've built so carefully.
  • Squeeze fresh lime juice into your own bowl at the very last second so it stays bright instead of cooking into the soup and turning muted.
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