My go-to recipe for Chicken Enchilada Soup is everything I want in a weeknight dinner—easy, hearty, and packed with flavor. Made with shredded chicken, black beans, corn, enchilada sauce, and warm Mexican spices, it has all the delicious flavors of chicken enchiladas in a comforting bowl of soup.
I love using rotisserie chicken to make this recipe even faster. With simple pantry ingredients and just 30 minutes from start to finish, it’s the kind of comforting meal the whole family gets excited about.
My picky 10-year-old is about ready to do me in with the whining and complaining every time he asks, “What’s for dinner?” Thankfully, this Chicken Enchilada Soup is on his very short list of dinners he can eat without complaining, so we make it often. Not only for our sanity, but because it’s so dang delicious!
Why You’ll Love This Chicken Enchilada Soup
- All the enchilada flavor, none of the rolling: You get that bold red enchilada flavor in an easy, hearty bowl of soup.
- Ready in 30 minutes: Rotisserie chicken and pantry staples make this a seriously fast dinner.
- A broth with BIG flavor: Sautéing and blending the vegetables with enchilada sauce creates a smooth, rich soup base that tastes like it simmered much longer.
- Picky-eater approved: This is one of the few dinners my pickiest kid happily eats without complaining!
- One pot, easy cleanup: Everything comes together right on the stovetop for a low-fuss weeknight meal.
- Made for toppings: Load each bowl with cheese, avocado, sour cream, tortilla strips, cilantro, jalapeños, or a squeeze of fresh lime.
- Great for leftovers: The flavors get even better as the soup sits, and leftovers freeze beautifully for another easy dinner.
Ingredients You’ll Need
One of the best things about this chicken enchilada soup recipe is that it’s made with simple pantry staples and easy-to-find ingredients. Together they create a hearty soup loaded with bold enchilada flavor.
- Olive Oil: Used to sauté the vegetables and build flavor at the start of the soup.
- Onion: Adds savory depth and creates the flavor foundation for the broth.
- Celery Stalks: Provides subtle flavor and extra texture.
- Carrot: Adds natural sweetness and balances the spices.
- Red Bell Pepper: Adds color, sweetness, and a mild pepper flavor.
- Garlic: Brings bold, savory flavor to every spoonful.
- Red Enchilada Sauce: The star ingredient that gives the soup its classic enchilada flavor.
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