Description
Mexican-inspired creamy chicken tortilla soup delivers comfort in a bowl of rich, spicy goodness. Hearty ingredients and bold seasonings create a satisfying meal you’ll crave on chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups chicken, cooked and shredded
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
- 1 (14.5 oz/414 g) diced tomatoes with green chilies
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 jalapeno, seeded and minced (optional)
- 1 (15 oz/425 g) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup corn, frozen
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 0.5 tsp smoked paprika
- 0.25 tsp ground coriander
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- Tortilla strips or crushed tortilla chips
- Cheese, shredded (cheddar or Monterey Jack)
- Cilantro, fresh and chopped
- Avocado, diced
- Lime wedges
- Sour cream
Instructions
- Aromatic Foundation: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium flame. Sauté onions, garlic, and jalapeño until vegetables become translucent, releasing their aromatic essence.
- Spice Infusion: Introduce ground cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, and coriander. Toast spices briefly to amplify their complex flavor dimensions and enhance the soup’s depth.
- Liquid Composition: Pour chicken broth into the pot, blending with diced tomatoes, green chilies, black beans, corn kernels, and shredded chicken. Merge ingredients to create a harmonious, textured base.
- Flavor Melding: Simmer the mixture, allowing ingredients to converge and develop a rich, interconnected taste profile. Let the soup gently bubble, intensifying its intricate flavor nuances.
- Creamy Transformation: Whisk heavy cream and cream cheese into the simmering soup, stirring continuously until the mixture achieves a luxuriously smooth, velvety consistency.
- Final Refinement: Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, calibrating the flavor balance to perfection.
- Elegant Presentation: Ladle the soup into serving bowls. Adorn with crisp tortilla strips, optional cilantro or avocado garnishes, and a zesty lime wedge to elevate the culinary experience.
Notes
- Manage Spice Intensity: Control the heat level by adjusting jalapeño quantity or removing seeds for a milder version, perfect for sensitive palates or family-friendly meals.
- Optimize Cream Incorporation: Temper cream gradually and stir consistently to prevent curdling, ensuring a smooth, luxurious texture without separation or graininess.
- Enhance Protein Flexibility: Substitute shredded chicken with rotisserie chicken, turkey, or plant-based alternatives like shredded jackfruit for diverse dietary preferences and convenience.
- Master Flavor Layering: Toast spices before adding liquid ingredients to unlock deeper, more complex taste profiles, transforming the soup from good to extraordinary with minimal extra effort.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg