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Creamy Chicken Poblano Soup

This comforting chicken poblano soup recipe is creamy, speckled with cilantro (if you're into it), and full of tender chunks of chicken. This amazing soup comes together quickly in the most perfect way for those cold nights during soup season.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: dinner
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Keyword: chicken poblano soup recipe
Servings: 6
Calories: 311

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil
  • 1 small onion diced
  • 3 celery stalks chopped
  • 2 carrots peeled and shredded or chopped
  • 3 fresh poblano peppers seeded and 1 inch chop (wear gloves just in case!)
  • kosher Salt and black pepper
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • 5 cups chicken stock see notes
  • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast see notes
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • ½ bunch fresh cilantro chopped
  • Thickening agent see notes

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in a large dutch oven or heavy bottom pot over medium heat. Stir in the onion, celery, carrots, and poblano peppers. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft, about 8 minutes. Stir in the garlic, thyme, and cumin and cook for 1 minute more.
  • Pour in the chicken stock and give a big stir. Carefully lower the chicken breast into the liquid and let poach for 10 minutes. Use tongs to carefully remove the chicken from the pot to a cutting board. Let cool slightly before chopping into bite size pieces. Return the chicken to the pot. (if your chicken seems slightly undercooked, it will continue to cook through in the hot liquid).
  • Stir in the heavy cream and the cilantro and taste for seasoning. Finally, thicken the soup using one of the methods in the notes below, if desired. Makes 6 generous servings.

Notes

  1. Chicken stock: to make my chicken soup I always us Kitchen Accomplice chicken broth concentrate for the best flavor.  You could also add more flavor by adding in chicken bouillon.
  2. Chicken breast: I like to cook the chicken breast directly in the soup so the chicken has the most flavor.  You could also use boneless skinless chicken thighs, cooked rotisserie chicken from the grocery store, or leftover shredded chicken.  Use 3-4 cups cooked and chopped chicken.
  3. Thickening
    1. Using flour and butter:  melt ¼ cup of unsalted butter with ¼ cup of flour in a small skillet over low heat.  Cook for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, to let the raw flour taste cook out.  Stir into the soup and bring the soup to a boil to thicken.
    2. Using Xanthan gum for keto:  combine 1 teaspoon xanthan gum with 1 tablespoon of melted butter.  Stir into the soup and bring the soup to a boil to thicken.
  4. Optional flavor enhancers and toppings: crispy tortilla strips, sour cream, hot sauce for a spicy kick, pepper jack cheese, sliced jalapeno peppers, sliced green onions.
  5. Nutrition does not include any thickening agents.

Nutrition

Calories: 311 | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 21g | Fiber: 2g