Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup (Printable Version)

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

# 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 - 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 It:

01 - In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add diced onion, poblano, and jalapeño. Sauté for 4 to 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 to 18 minutes until chicken is fully cooked through.
05 - Remove chicken breasts and shred with two forks. Return shredded chicken to the pot.
06 - Reduce heat to low. Add cream cheese, stirring until melted and fully incorporated.
07 - Stir in heavy cream and simmer gently for 3 to 4 more minutes. Adjust seasoning as needed.
08 - Ladle soup into bowls. Top each serving with diced avocado, crushed tortilla chips, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour but tastes like you've been simmering it all day.
  • The cream cheese trick makes it ridiculously silky without being heavy.
  • You get to customize every bowl with toppings, so everyone's happy.
02 -
  • Don't add the cream cheese when the heat is too high or it will break and look grainy; low and slow is the only way.
  • If your soup looks too thick after adding cream cheese, thin it out with a splash of broth or even chicken stock; it should be pourable, not stew-like.
03 -
  • Dice and seed your peppers in advance if you're cooking during a busy stretch; having everything prepped means you can relax and actually enjoy the process.
  • Make the soup base without the chicken a day ahead and reheat it, then add the chicken and cream when you're ready to serve for maximum flavor and minimum effort.
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