Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup (Print-Friendly)

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

# What You'll Need:

→ 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 - 1.5 cups salsa verde
09 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
10 - 0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
11 - 0.5 teaspoon dried oregano
12 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Creamy Elements

13 - 4 ounces cream cheese, cubed and softened
14 - 0.5 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

# Cooking Steps:

01 - In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add diced onion, poblano pepper, and jalapeño. Sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until 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.
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 pot.
06 - Reduce heat to low. Add cubed cream cheese, stirring continuously until melted and fully incorporated into the broth.
07 - Stir in heavy cream and simmer gently for 3 to 4 additional minutes. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
08 - Ladle soup into individual bowls. Top each serving with diced avocado, crushed tortilla chips, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime juice.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Authentic Flavors: The combination of salsa verde, cumin, and smoked paprika creates a deep, savory profile.
  • Quick and Easy: Goes from prep to table in just 45 minutes using simple pantry staples.
  • Customizable Heat: Easily adjust the spiciness by keeping or removing the pepper seeds.
  • Creamy Texture: The addition of cream cheese and heavy cream makes every spoonful indulgent.
02 -
  • Keep the heat low when adding the cream cheese and heavy cream to prevent the dairy from curdling.
  • Shred the chicken while it is still warm for the best texture and ease.
  • If you like extra crunch, add the tortilla chips just before eating so they don't get soggy in the hot broth.
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