Mexican-Style Shredded Chicken Soup Recipe

By John Mitzewich

Updated 05/21/19

James Baigrie/Stockbyte/Getty Images
  • Total: 60 mins
  • Prep: 20 mins
  • Cook: 40 mins
  • Yield: 16 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
272 Calories
14g Fat
8g Carbs
28g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 16 servings
Amount per serving
Calories 272
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 14g 18%
Saturated Fat 4g 19%
Cholesterol 78mg 26%
Sodium 337mg 15%
Total Carbohydrate 8g 3%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Protein 28g
Calcium 51mg 4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This easy and brightly flavored chicken soup recipe is inspired by the classic Mexican tortilla soup. You can make this chicken soup as mild, or wild as you want by simply adjusting the number of hot peppers. Garnish with tortilla chips, cheese, and sour cream for a hearty meal, or eat as-is for a light and tasty treat.

This chicken soup recipe was inspired by one posted on the blog Dishing Up Delights.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large onion (chopped)
  • 1/2 cup celery (chopped)
  • 1 cup carrots (chopped)
  • 4 large cloves garlic (minced)
  • 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 6 cups chicken stock
  • 14 ounces whole tomatoes in puree (crushed)
  • 2 jalapeno peppers (seeded and minced)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
  • Optional Garnishes: sour cream, grated Cheddar cheese, and broken tortilla chips

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven. Add the onions, celery, and carrots and cook over medium-low heat for 8 minutes, or until the onions start to turn golden. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.

  3. Add the chicken breasts, chicken stock, tomatoes with their puree, jalapenos, cumin, coriander, salt, pepper, and the cilantro, if using.

  4. Bring the soup to a boil, then lower the heat and cook at a low simmer.

  5. After 15 minutes, remove the chicken breasts from the soup with tongs, and allow to cool on a plate. When the chicken is cool enough to handle, shred the meat, and add back to the soup. Continue simmering the soup until the vegetables are tender.

  6. Serve soup hot garnished with optional toppings.