This Chicken Enchilada Soup is a great recipe for cooking a week ahead, cooking for a sick friend, or cooking for a potluck. I came up with it a few years ago and have given it out again and again. I keep each batch of soup for myself, though.
All of the Mexican ingredients are available everywhere anymore. Major chains, organic groceries and specialty Latin shops sell everything you need for this recipe. Don’t wimp out! Don’t give in to any inherited women’s magazine cooking tendencies. Risk with the authentic ingredients, and you’ll be glad you did.

Appetizing Chicken Enchilada Soup
This chicken enchilada soup is a comforting soup you'll keep craving. This is a very easy soup recipe that will warm your soul.
Ingredients
1 box chicken stock (chicken broth or chicken bouillon) - low-sodium
1 dash ground black pepper
2 medium ground chicken (minced chicken) - breasts
½ large red onion - chopped
2 cloves garlic - finely chopped
1 large tomatoes - diced
1 bunch cilantro - chopped
3 handfuls tortilla chips - shaken to reduce salt
1 tablespoon ground cumin - more to taste
1 tablespoon ground coriander - more to taste
1 cup sour cream
Instructions
- Pour the chicken broth into the crockpot and switch it on to low. You will never need to go to high for this recipe.
- Add 1 tablespoon each of coriander and cumin.
- Grind in some black pepper until it looks right; a pepper is a by-eye thing.
- Add the chicken and cook until the meat is soft); remove the chicken and run a fine strainer through the broth to pick up and discard cartilage or bits of skin. Refrigerate the chicken meat.
- Add the diced tomatoes and enchilada sauce, onion, garlic and cilantro. Cook for 2 hours at minimum.
- Add back the chicken meat, cut from the bone and shredded with a fork. Cook for a few hours, however long you need between tasks. At this point, you can let it cook overnight.
- Taste the soup. Add coriander and cumin to taste. Add the diced Anaheim peppers and cook until the peppers are softened for at least 4 hours.
- Add queso quesadilla, a small shaving or pinch of shreds at a time, diced as finely as possible. You must watch this part and stir constantly – the cheese needs to become completely melted into the soup stock for its salt and the overall thickness and richness it will add to the soup. Continue to cook after cheese is completely integrated, about 1 to 2 hours.
- Add tortilla chips and let the soup cook further until the chips disintegrate slightly. The chips will provide additional salt and thicken it to an almost stew-like consistency, which is the point of any Autumn or Winter soup.
- Taste the soup. You shouldn’t need a bit of salt, but if you do, now’s the time to add it. Grind in more pepper as needed.
- Serve with shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese (for a taste contrast) and some nice, thick sour cream.
Nutrition
Calories: 1842kcalCarbohydrates: 56gProtein: 174gFat: 104gSaturated Fat: 33gPolyunsaturated Fat: 19gMonounsaturated Fat: 40gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 842mgSodium: 2693mgPotassium: 5094mgFiber: 8gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 2500IUVitamin C: 16mgCalcium: 394mgIron: 11mg
How did this recipe turn out for you?We’re eager to hear your thoughts!