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Chicken Enchilada Soup

Chicken enchilada soup with a golden broth, shredded chicken, and simmered spices for a hearty Mexican-style dinner. Finished with crispy tortilla strips, melted cheese, fresh cilantro, and bright lime for that classic enchilada flavor in soup form.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 420

Ingredients
  

Soup base
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 cup chicken broth
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with green chiles
  • 1 jar (10 oz) red enchilada sauce
  • 3 cup shredded cooked chicken
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 0.5 tsp chili powder
  • 1 salt and pepper to taste
Toppings
  • 1 tortilla strips
  • 1 shredded cheese
  • 1 cilantro
  • 1 avocado
  • 1 lime wedges

Equipment

  • 1 Dutch oven

Method
 

Sauté the aromatics
  1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat until shimmering, then sauté diced onion until softened, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally as it turns translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring, until fragrant and lightly golden at the edges.
Simmer the soup
  1. Pour in chicken broth, diced tomatoes with chiles, and red enchilada sauce, then stir well until the mixture looks evenly red and glossy.
  2. Add shredded chicken, cumin, and chili powder, stirring until the chicken is coated in the spice broth and the surface shows small bubbles starting around the edges.
  3. Bring the soup to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened and the flavors look blended.
  4. Season with salt and pepper to taste, tasting and adjusting until the broth balances savory and heat.
Serve and top
  1. Ladle the soup hot into bowls and top each serving with tortilla strips, shredded cheese, cilantro, avocado, and fresh lime juice, so the cheese begins to melt from the steam.

Notes

For the best texture, keep the tortilla strips crisp until serving (store separately in an airtight container and add right before eating). Refrigerate leftovers in a sealed container up to 3 days; reheat gently on the stovetop or microwave. Freezing is not recommended because the tortillas and avocado toppings can soften—omit toppings when storing if you want cleaner leftovers. For a lower-sodium option, choose reduced-sodium chicken broth and a reduced-sodium enchilada sauce.