This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This copycat of Chili’s chicken enchilada soup tastes just like the restaurant’s version. It’s a new favorite dinner meal!
Sometimes I like to switch up our usual soup recipes, and opt for a soup with more of a Mexican flavor like today’s soup recipe and our Mexican Soup and Taco Soup as well!
We LOve a Good Soup!
We love a good soup recipe!!
This copycat version of Chili’s chicken enchilada soup is AMAZING!! I finally decided to try and make a copycat version, and it turned out SO full of flavor and tasted just like the real thing!
Why we love it:
- Easy. With a quick prep, this copycat recipe comes together quite easily.
- Flavor. The masa harina (corn tortilla mix) gives it that enchilada flavor that is addicting and delicious.
- Filling. With chicken and a thick creamy base, it’s a hearty soup!
Ingredients
- chicken breast – or chicken thighs
- minced garlic
- chicken broth – or vegetable broth. Or use chicken bouillon cubes to mix up chicken broth.
- masa harina corn tortilla mix – Masa harina is dried corn dough. As an alternative with the same flavor, put dried corn tortillas in a food processor until they turn into fine corn flour. Or use cornmeal which will give you the same texture, but not the same flavor.
- water
- mild red enchilada sauce – or spicy if you like the heat. Use store-bought or Homemade Enchilada Sauce.
- Velveeta cheese – Substitute all or half of the Velveeta with cheddar cheese.
- salt (and pepper)
- onion powder
- chili powder
- cumin
- garnish – tomatoes & corn tortilla strips
A Quick + Simple Soup!
- SAUTÉ. Begin by sautéing your garlic in a large pot and adding your chicken broth.
- ADD INGREDIENTS. In a separate bowl, whisk together masa harina and water until well blended. From there, you add the masa mixture to the pot followed by the remaining water, enchilada sauce, Velveeta cheese, and seasonings.
- BOIL & SIMMER. Bring this to a boil, add the chopped chicken, and simmer for thirty minutes. Add more broth, if needed, to be the consistency you like.
- SERVE. Top this delicious soup with your favorite taco toppings like sour cream, tomatoes, cilantro, cheese, and tortilla strips (or regular tortilla chips), and you’re set!
In the Crock Pot
Add all the ingredients, except for the Velveeta cheese, to a crock pot. Stir and top with the lid. Cook on HIGH heat for 3-4 hours, or LOW heat for 6-8 hours. Add the Velveeta during the last hour of cooking time. Stir and serve.
Recipe Tips
- Texture. If it’s too thick, add a little milk, water, or broth. To thicken the soup add any one of the following:
- Extra enchilada sauce
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Cornstarch: In a separate bowl mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water, then pour into the soup
- Mixins. Add a can of corn (drain liquid)
- For a milder flavor, reduce the amount of chili powder, cumin, or any other spices that add heat to the soup.
- For more spice, add additional spices or even hot sauce to amp up the heat.
- Vegetarian-friendly. Replace the cooked chicken with plant-based alternatives such as pinto beans, black beans, cooked rice, tofu, or tempeh. Use vegetable broth in place of the chicken base broth.
Storage Tips
- STORE leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
- Freeze ahead of time. Make a couple of batches of this Chili’s copycat chicken enchilada soup recipe to freeze for later. Follow the recipe except for adding the cheese. Allow the soup to cool, and store it in an airtight freezer-safe container for up to 6 months.
- Thaw overnight in the fridge. Reheat it on the stovetop over medium-low heat using a large cooking pot or Dutch oven or reheat it in a crockpot. Once heated, add the cheese mix to combine, and enjoy!
For More Mexican Soups with Chicken:
Chili’s Chicken Enchilada Soup
This copycat of Chili's chicken enchilada soup tastes just like the restaurant's version. It's a new favorite dinner meal!
Ingredients
- 3 chicken breast cooked and cubed
- 1-2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 2 (14.5-ounce) cans chicken broth
- 1 cup masa harina corn tortilla mix – found near flour/corn muffin mix
- 3 cups water divided
- 1 cup mild red enchilada sauce
- 16 ounces Velveeta cheese cubed
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- tomatoes (garnish)
- corn tortilla strips (garnish)
Instructions
- Add garlic to a large pot and saute for 1-2 minutes. Add chicken broth.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together masa harina and 2 cups water until well blended. Add masa mixture to the pot.
- Add remaining water, enchilada sauce, cubed Velveeta cheese, salt, onion, powder, chili powder and cumin. Bring to a boil.
- Add cubed chicken, reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes. **Add more broth, if needed, to be the consistency you like.
- Garnish with tomatoes and tortilla strips.
Video
Notes
STORE leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Freeze ahead of time. Make a couple of batches of this Chili’s copycat chicken enchilada soup to freeze for later. Follow the recipe except for adding the cheese. Allow the soup to cool, and store it in an airtight freezer-safe container for up to 6 months.
Thaw overnight in the fridge. Reheat it on the stovetop over medium-low heat using a large cooking pot or Dutch oven or reheat it in a crockpot. Once heated, add the cheese mix to combine, and enjoy!
Nutrition
Calories: 390kcal, Carbohydrates: 27g, Protein: 41g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 104mg, Sodium: 2441mg, Potassium: 808mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 9g, Vitamin A: 1150IU, Vitamin C: 9.3mg, Calcium: 475mg, Iron: 2.5mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe adapted from Food.com.
Are there any substitutions for the masa? maybe almond or coconut flour? currently doing the keto diet but missing chilis enchilada soup!
I haven’t tried substituting anything before, so I’m not really sure how those would work. I would maybe google & find out what good substitutes are.
This soup was awesome! The Velveeta was a little overpowering like others suggested but I just added a another can of enchilada sauce and it made all the difference.
So glad you liked it! Thanks for sharing what you did 🙂
Love these Receipes, can,t wait to try them!
Definitely your chilis copycat enchilada soup is awesomeness! This is a great recipe Kristyn, as you know I made it a short while ago and it was lovely, in fact have made it again since. Thanks for sharing!
Glad to share!! I love this soup, too 🙂 I am glad you do! Thank you!
Could you tell me how much a serving is?
I don’t have that, but really it’s however much you like. It can feed my family of 8 (minus the baby), if that helps. I hope you will try it!
Made this for dinner tonight. Turned out wonderful! Only change I made was I added some more cumin and chili powder (making both a full tsp), but I love extra spice. Will make it again!
Sidenote:
Has anyone tried this with shrimp? Im curious to know.
Perfect! Thank you so much for trying it! I haven’t added shrimp, but you for sure could 🙂
so just throw garlic in a pot? No oil, just a dry pot? Hmmmm. Never seen that before.
You can add a little butter or oil, but on low it’s ok by itself 🙂 Whichever you prefer. Hope you like it!
Made this today and it is DELICIOUS. Tastes as GoOd as Chilis. I confess, I added a bit more cumin, chili powdEr and an extra cup of enchilada sauce. Used cheddar and a mexican blend cheese. Absolutely wonderful.
Thank you for sharing that!!
Made the chicken enchilada soup and it was absolutely FABULOUS!!!!
I do have a question can the soup be frozen in a air tight container for 3 days and then unthawed to eat?
Yes, it should be ok 🙂 Glad you liked it! Thank you!
I love this recipe! Tried it the way you had it the first time. Then decided to have some fun! I added frozen corn (not in season so I didn’t have fresh) and black beans! Talk about YUUUUM! Just gives it a bit of added flavor and is really a nice compliment to the soup.
Sounds perfect!! Thanks so much for sharing!
I would like to know if there is a substitute for chicken broth or which brand you use. The last time I used it, I didn’t like the smell and I used swansons. Can I use the Maggie chicken bouillon cubes instead.
You sure could. I would just follow the instructions to make the broth with the cubes. I may have used Swanson’s as well.