Toss out your everyday boring chicken soup. This version adds some heat and cheese to make a wonderfully balanced, rich and hearty, soup perfect for cold nights.
Prep Time15 minutesmins
Cook Time30 minutesmins
Total Time45 minutesmins
Course: Side
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: leftover friendly
Servings: 4
Calories: 714kcal
Ingredients
3cupschicken broth
1poundchicken tenders
1bay leavesfresh if available
1tablespoonextra-virgin olive oil
4slicesbaconthick smoky center cut, chopped
1onionfinely chopped
4clovegarlicchopped
2chipotles in adobochopped, plus
2tablespoonadobo sauce
28oztomatoesdiced, fire roasted, canned
Salt
4cupscorn tortilla chipslightly crushed
2cupssmoked mozzarella or smoked sharp white Cheddarshredded, about 3/4 pound
1limecut into wedges
1/2red onionchopped
cilantro leaveschopped, for garnish
Instructions
Bring broth to a simmer and add chicken tenders, poach 6 to 7 minutes with a bay leaf.
While chicken poaches, heat extra-virgin olive oil in a medium soup pot or deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add bacon and cook until crisp then remove with slotted spoon. Drain off excess fat, leaving 2 to 3 tablespoons in the pan. Add onions and garlic to the skillet and cook 5 minutes then stir in chipotles and tomatoes.
Remove chicken from stock, dice and then add to soup. Pass stock through a strainer then add to the soup.
Place a pile of crushed tortilla chips in the bottom of each soup bowl. Cover liberally with smoked cheese then ladle the hot soup down over the top. Serve with lime, raw onions and cilantro at table to finish the soup.
Notes
If you have an avocado, slice it up on add in the last step. Adds a little creaminess to it.