Green Chili Chicken Enchilada Soup is made with roasted chilies, tomatillos, fresh herbs & chicken for an incredibly flavorful recipe!

It’s healthy, gluten free, low calorie, keto-friendly and easy to make in under an hour. I guarantee this will be your new favorite soup recipe!

Green Chili Chicken Enchilada Soup topped with avocado, cilantro, and cheese on a wooden surface.

There’s nothing quite like warming up to a big bowl of flavorful, spicy soup on a cold winter day!

The idea for this Chicken Enchilada Soup recipe came from a craving I’d been having for my Dad’s Chicken Enchiladas. The only thing I remember him using in the enchiladas was a can of diced green chilies, which I had, the rest I came up with as I went along.

The result was a soup with a little bit of spice and so much flavor! It’s made with delicious, fresh ingredients, creating a recipe that’s both healthy and super tasty. The entire recipe can be easily prepared in under an hour, so why not make it for dinner tonight?!

Ingredients for Green Chili Chicken Enchilada Soup on a wooden surface.

Ingredients you’ll need

  • Tomatillos
  • Serrano chilies
  • Jalapeno peppers
  • Olive oil
  • Red onion
  • Garlic cloves
  • Diced green chilies – you’ll find these in a can in the hispanic section at American grocery stores.
  • Chicken broth
  • Milk – I used 2% for this recipe, but soy milk or almond milk can be used in place of dairy milk to make this recipe dairy-free.
  • Lime juice
  • Chili powder
  • Cumin
  • Black pepper
  • Kosher salt
  • Cilantro
  • Cooked, shredded chicken – you can use this Instant Pot Shredded Chicken recipe, or pull chicken from a rotisserie chicken and shred it for this recipe.

Step by step instructions

  • Roast the peppers. Place the tomatillos, jalapeños and serrano peppers on a baking sheet and into the oven under the broiler on high. Broil for 5 minutes or until the tomatillos and peppers begin to blacken on the outside. Remove and allow to cool.
  • Sauté the onions and tomatillos. In the meantime, add the olive oil to a large pot or dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onions, cook 3-5 minutes, then add the garlic and cook for an additional minute. Roughly chop the broiled tomatillos and add them to the pot.
  • Add in the other ingredients. Peel the black skins from the jalapeños and serranos, remove the seeds and roughly chop the peppers, then add them to the pot with the green chilies. Stir in the chicken broth, milk, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper and cilantro.
  • Finish the base. Simmer for 3-5 minutes, then use an immersion blender to puree the soup. If you don’t have an immersion blender, pour the soup from the pot into a blender, puree, then return the soup to the pot.
  • Toss in the protein. Add the chicken to the soup. Stir everything together, cover and simmer on low for 15-20 minutes.
Green Chili Chicken Enchilada Soup topped with tortilla strips in a bowl.

Frequently asked questions

  • Is a tomatillo a tomato or pepper? Tomatillos are their own fruit! Like tomatoes, they are part of the nightshade family. Tomatillos taste slightly similar to unripe tomatoes, but are a bit more acidic and not as flavorful.
  • What can I add to my chicken soup to give it flavor? Blending in roasted peppers, and extra herbs and spices is a great way to liven up chicken soup.
  • What kind of peppers are green chilies? More often than not, diced green chilies that come in a can are Anaheim, Poblano, or Pasilla chilies. They are all mild in spice.
  • Should roasted peppers be peeled? While the peels are edible, most people prefer to peel the skins off of roasted peppers to improve the texture.
Overhead shot of Green Chili Chicken Enchilada Soup in a speckled bowl with a gold spoon handle sticking out.

What to serve with it

Top this comforting soup with all sorts of tasty toppings! Here are some of my favorite options:

  • Queso fresco
  • Avocado
  • Tortilla strips
  • Lime wedges
  • Fresh cilantro
  • Sour Cream

You can also pair this chicken enchilada soup with the following dishes:

Green Chili Chicken Enchilada Soup in a bowl topped with tortilla strips.

More soup recipes to try

When the cool weather hits, warm up with these comforting soup recipes:

This flavorful Green Chili Chicken Enchilada Soup made with roasted chilies, tomatillos, fresh herbs & chicken is sure to be your new favorite soup recipe!
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Green Chili Chicken Enchilada Soup

This flavorful Green Chili Chicken Enchilada Soup made with roasted chilies, tomatillos, fresh herbs & chicken is sure to be your new favorite soup recipe!

Ingredients

Optional Toppings

Instructions

  • Place the tomatillos, jalapeños and serrano peppers on a baking sheet and into the oven under the broiler on high.
  • Broil for 5 minutes or until the tomatillos and peppers begin to blacken on the outside, remove and allow to cool.
  • In the meantime, add the olive oil to a large pot or dutch oven over medium heat.
  • Add the onions, cook 3-5 minutes, then add the garlic and cook for an additional minute.
  • Roughly chop the tomatillos and add to the pot.
  • Peel the black skins from the jalapenos and serranos, remove the seeds and roughly chop the peppers, then add to the pot with the green chilies, chicken broth, milk, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper and cilantro.
  • Simmer for 3-5 minutes, then use an immersion blender to puree the soup. If you don’t have an immersion blender, pour the soup from the pot into a blender, puree, then return the soup to the pot.
  • Add the chicken to the soup.
  • Mix together, cover and simmer on low for 15-20 minutes.
  • Top with the optional ingredients of your choice, such as sliced avocado, queso fresco and tortilla strips.

Notes

  • Nutrition information provided does not include optional toppings.
  • To make this recipe dairy-free, I recommend using plain unsweetened soy milk or almond milk instead of traditional milk. Omit the cheese as an optional topping.

Nutrition Facts

Serving 4servingCalories 291kcal (15%)Carbohydrates 13g (4%)Protein 36g (72%)Fat 9g (14%)Saturated Fat 2g (10%)Cholesterol 95mg (32%)Sodium 934mg (39%)Potassium 622mg (18%)Fiber 2g (8%)Sugar 7g (8%)Vitamin A 510mg (10%)Vitamin C 31.8mg (39%)Calcium 110mg (11%)Iron 2mg (11%)
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