Chilis Southwest Chicken Soup
by Stephanie Manley, Last Updated August 9, 2022
You can recreate Chilis Southwest Chicken soup at home. This is a light recipe that is perfect because its so filling and packed full of protein.
The first time I experienced this soup, I fell in love with it. I thought that since this soup was marked as a healthy option, it probably would not be so good, but I was dead wrong! This soup was chock full of flavor and spice and just overall deliciousness. Plus, it was really filling without being too heavy.
If you adore southwest flavors, youll go a bit weak at the knees for Chilis Southwestern Chicken Soup. Its a hearty meal like chili but still has that soup feeling. I love recipes that are so easy to prepare but are still packed full of flavor.
This is also a great meal that can be made ahead and frozen. You can double the recipe and have some ready in your freezer whenever you feel like warming up with some tasty soup.
Fold In Cream Cheese And Greek Yogurt
Once the chili is warm, add the cream cheese and greek yogurt. You want to wait for the chili to be warm so the cream cheese and yogurt can melt into the mixture.
Stir well with a spoon or rubber spatula to distribute.
Allow the chili to simmer for at least 5 minutes. This allows the mixture to thicken up and the spices to infuse well into the chicken.
The chili should start to turn a creamy yellow color and bubble at the top while simmering. Stir occasionally to prevent burning.
Some Tips For Making This Easy Enchilada Soup:
- The original calls for Velveeta but I just dont use Velveeta as a rule .
- I use Better than Bouillon instead of chicken stock and amp up the flavor using more than it calls for on the label. This is an easy way to deepen the flavor of your soup.
Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Soup Recipe:
Add in all the soup ingredients except for the cream cheese and cheddar cheese. Mix really well and cook on low for 7-8 hours . In the last hour add in the cream cheese, cheddar cheese and stir well. Serve with the toppings as instructed in the recipe below.
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Southwest Chicken Soup Recipe
This Southwest chicken soup recipe is made with loads of chunky chicken, fire roasted tomatoes, roasted poblano peppers, corn, black beans and a warming blend of seasonings. One of my favorites.
Chicken soup is in the Chili Pepper Madness kitchen today, my friends! Only you know I cant make your typical chicken soup. Chicken soup is great, and everyone loves a good chicken noodle soup, but for people like us we need some extra flavor.
Today were giving our chicken soup a southwest spin with a combination of zesty southwest seasonings and roasted poblano peppers. Roasted poblano peppers deliver a huge flavor boost to this quick and easy hearty soup, and with the addition of the seasoning blend, this is going to be your new favorite chicken soup.
Youll never be able to go back to moms boring chicken soup recipe again. Were talking Southwest Chicken Soup!
This chicken soup is much more rustic and hearty version with lots of chunky ingredients, perfect for the cooler weather to help you warm the bones and fill the bellies. Were talking awesome comfort food here, my friends, only its very healthy and quite low calorie.
Lets talk about how to make southwest chicken soup, shall we?
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Tips For The Best Chilis Southwest Chicken Soup
- Adjust the seasonings to suit your taste: Add more spice if you like spicy food and feel free to swap out the veggies for what you have on hand.
- Taste the soup when its almost ready to serve and then adjust the seasonings: Waiting until the end gives the flavors of the soup time to develop.
- Make it lower-carb: Instead of adding tortilla strips, top the soup with shredded cheese or even a dollop of sour cream instead.
- Make it Paleo: Leave out the white hominy to make the soup paleo-friendly.
Read Also: Are There Any Healthy Canned Soups
Serving Chilis Chicken Enchilada Soup
When the Chilis chicken enchilada soup is done, ladle it into individual bowls. Top each bowl of soup with pico de gallo, and baked tortilla strips. You can also add grated cheddar cheese or sour cream, if desired.
While I think we will agree that this is probably not the healthiest soup on the planet, it really is delicious, and tastes just like a fantastic chicken enchilada. Vvery once in awhile, thats a GOOD thing! Hope you will consider trying this recipe! Its really tasty ! Have a great day!
Chilis Chicken Enchilada Soup
Chicken Enchilada Soup is a delicious, easy soup make with some fun and unique ingredients youll love! Unlike most Mexican soups this one doesnt have a whole bunch of vegetables inside.
In fact the only one in there, onions, sort of disappear into the soup as it cooks. It also has a deliciously thick texture that is from something called masa harina.
I have a bag of masa harina I love using for a bunch of different recipes, but the use of it in this recipe to thicken the soup is a less expensive and easier way compared to the boiling of ground corn tortillas that more authentic enchilada soups use.
If you cand find the masa harina or if you have corn tortillas and want to use them up, add them to your food processor and process them as finely as you can. They will break down fully in the soup.
What is masa harina? Masa harina is made from dried corn which is soaked in lime and water before being ground into flour. Its commonly used in the making of tortillas.
First things first, the original version of the recipe calls for masa harina, which can be difficult to find if you dont have any ethnic grocers nearby. I buy this one at my local store but a good online version is this one although admittedly more expensive.
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The Best Chili’s Southwest Chicken Soup
I don’t go to Chili’s often, but when I do, it’s always so I can get their southwest chicken soup. It’s just the perfect winter meal when if I’m craving tacos but want something hot and comforting.
Now, although the one from Chili’s restaurant is delicious, I think this copycat version is even better!
For real though, I really think I’ve outdone myself with this one.
But, not only is this chicken soup jam-packed with flavor – and made with fresh ingredients – but it’s so, so easy to make too. In fact, it’s so easy, you can make this Chili’s southwest chicken soup from scratch in just 30 minutes. Not too shabby, eh?!
By the way, if you’re looking for a few recipes to serve this soup along with, these air fryer tortilla chips, this Chipotle guac, and these birria tacos are all great options to make a full southwest dinner out of it!
How To Make Southwest Chicken Soup
Roast the Poblano Peppers. You can learn how to roast chili peppers here, or How to Roast Poblano Peppers, but here is a simple broiler method.
ONE: First, set your oven to broil. Set the poblano peppers onto a lightly oiled baking sheet.
TWO: Broil them for 10-15 minutes, or until the skins puff up and char and loosen from the pepper flesh. Flip them halfway through the process to get both sides. Remove them from the oven and let them cool enough to handle.
THREE: Peel off the skins with your fingers, or use a paper towel to gently rub them off. They should remove easily. Chop up the roasted poblano peppers and set them aside.
MAKE THE SOUTHWEST CHICKEN SOUP:
Onion and Jalapenos. Heat the oil in a large pot and add the onion and jalapeno peppers. Cook them down for 5 minutes to soften.
Cook the Chicken. Rough chop the chicken so it is nice and chunky. You want bite sized pieces. Season it with 1/2 tablespoon southwest seasoning blend, then cook the chicken in the pot at medium-high heat, stirring, until the chicken is mostly cooked through, 5-6 minutes.
Garlic and Seasonings. Stir in the garlic and remaining southwest seasonings and cook another minute, until you can smell that gorgeous garlic.
Remaining Ingredients. Stir in the roasted poblano peppers, fire roasted tomatoes, black beans, corn, chicken broth, and chopped chicken.
Serve the Chicken Soup. Serve the chunky chicken soup in bowls and garnish with fresh chopped green onions and red pepper flakes.
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Still Searching For What To Cook
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breast halves cut into 1/4 inch wide strips
- 1 1/2 teaspoonssalt
- 1 can diced tomatoes and green chile
- 1 can corn kernels drained
- 1 can light red kidney beans rinsed and drained
- 1/4 teaspoondried lemon peel
Preheat a large stock pot over medium high heat.
Season chicken with salt and pepper.
Add butter and oil to pot and brown chicken for 4-5 minutes. Remove to a plate.
Add the diced onion and saute for 3 minutes.
Add the garlic and saute for 2 more minutes, stirring occasionally.
Deglaze the pot with balsamic vinegar.
Return chicken and any juices to the pot.
Add remaining ingredients, bring to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes.
Can It Be Made In The Instant Pot
This slow-simmering soup can easily be turned into a quick and easy weeknight dinner in the Instant Pot. Keep the chicken thighs whole so they dont overcook or stir in pre-cooked shredded chicken after the soup is ready. Heres how to make southwest soup in the Instant Pot:
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Easy Chicken Enchilada Soup
Pressure cooker or slow cooker! Super easy set-it-and-forget-it meal, with all the enchilada taste in a soup. Garnish with cilantro, avocado, red onion, shredded cheese, sour cream, and tortilla strips or chips.
Provided by Gregory Chapman
| 1 can diced green chiles |
| 1 white onion, diced |
Steps:
- Combine chicken breasts, black beans, chicken stock, corn, tomatoes, enchilada sauce, green chiles, onion, garlic, salt, and cumin in a multi-functional pressure cooker. Close and lock the lid. Select Stew mode and cook on high pressure according to manufacturers instructions set timer for 30 minutes. Allow 10 to 15 minutes for pressure to build.
- Release pressure using the natural-release method according to manufacturers instructions, 10 to 40 minutes. Remove chicken, shred it with 2 forks, and return it to the soup.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 389.9 calories, Carbohydrate 45.5 g, Cholesterol 78.3 mg, Fat 5.4 g, Fiber 12.1 g, Protein 41.1 g, SaturatedFat 1.3 g, Sodium 1915 mg, Sugar 5.6 g
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How To Make Southwest Chicken Soup The Recipe Method
Roast the Poblano Peppers. You can learn how to roast chili peppers here, or How to Roast Poblano Peppers, but here is a simple broiler method.
ONE: First, set your oven to broil. Set the poblano peppers onto a lightly oiled baking sheet.
TWO: Broil them for 10-15 minutes, or until the skins puff up and char and loosen from the pepper flesh. Flip them halfway through the process to get both sides. Remove them from the oven and let them cool enough to handle.
THREE: Peel off the skins with your fingers, or use a paper towel to gently rub them off. They should remove easily. Chop up the roasted poblano peppers and set them aside.
MAKE THE SOUTHWEST CHICKEN SOUP:
Onion and Jalapenos. Heat the oil in a large pot and add the onion and jalapeno peppers. Cook them down for 5 minutes to soften.
Cook the Chicken. Rough chop the chicken so it is nice and chunky. You want bite sized pieces. Season it with 1/2 tablespoon southwest seasoning blend, then cook the chicken in the pot at medium-high heat, stirring, until the chicken is mostly cooked through, 5-6 minutes.
Garlic and Seasonings. Stir in the garlic and remaining southwest seasonings and cook another minute, until you can smell that gorgeous garlic.
Remaining Ingredients. Stir in the roasted poblano peppers, fire roasted tomatoes, black beans, corn, chicken broth, and chopped chicken.
Serve the Chicken Soup. Serve the chunky chicken soup in bowls and garnish with fresh chopped green onions and red pepper flakes.
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Whats In Southwest Chicken Chili
Chicken thighs: boneless skinless chicken thighs are one of my favorite proteins. They stay tender even after simmering for a bit and they add a great flavor to hearty chilies and stews like this one. You could always use boneless skinless chicken breast, if you prefer.
Spices: this chili relies heavily on a blend of spices and seasonings for its delicious flavor. Some of the spices include cumin, chili powder, and coriander.
Fire roasted tomatoes: fire-roasted tomatoes have a unique flavor that works really in the chili. If you do not have fire roasted tomatoes, regular canned diced tomatoes are fine.
White beans: I love using cannelini beans as my white bean of choice in this recipe.
Green chilies: another simple but flavorful ingredient.
Broth: chicken broth works well in this recipe but you could also use veggie broth if you like.
Coconut milk: to add some delicious creaminess at the end, this recipe uses light canned coconut milk.
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Reduces Risk Of Diabetes
Chilis Southwest Chicken Soup is an important source of manganese, which helps regulate blood sugar levels. Other ingredients in Chilis Southwest Chicken Soup that help prevent diabetes are black beans, tomatoes, and corn, all high sources of dietary fiber.
Dietary fibers, in particular, slow down the rate at which your body absorbs sugar from food, thereby preventing a spike in blood glucose levels.
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How To Make Chili’s Southwest Chicken Soup
If you’ve made chicken soup before, then you will have no problem making this copycat Chili’s southwest chicken soup recipe. Honestly, even if you haven’t made chicken soup before, this recipe is still super straightforward and easy to follow so you should have no problem as well.
Now, just so you know, this recipe for southwest chicken soup makes four large servings. So, if you want to have some soup left over, I recommend just doubling – or tripling – the recipe. It’s really, really tasty the day/s after it’s made, so we always end up making a double batch when we make it.
With that said, let’s not waste time and get right to the recipe!
Step 1: Cook The Chicken
First, we’re going to make the chicken.
To cook the chicken, bring a large pot of water to a boil and add your chicken breast to it. Season the water with salt and cook for about 25 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked and has reached an internal temperature of 165°.
Next, remove the cooked chicken from the water and let it cool. Once the chicken has cooled enough to handle, shred it with two forks and set it aside.
Step 2: Make The Base
Now it’s time to cook the veggies.
So, the first thing you’ll want to do is grab a large Dutch oven – or pot – and heat it over a burner set to medium heat.
Then, add the oil, followed by the onion, celery, green chilis, chipotle peppers, and garlic. Now, sauté everything for 10 minutes, or until the onion is soft and translucent.
Step 3: Let The Soup Simmer
Enjoy!
How To Make Chilis Southwest Chicken Soup
Not only is this southwestern chicken soup recipe amazingly delicious, but it is also so simple to throw together. In no time at all, you have perfect winter comfort in a bowl.
I love mine with fried tortilla chips on top, but if you like, you could skip the tortilla strips and serve the soup with cornbread for a hearty, comforting meal.
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