Mexican Chicken Soup

Chicken soup doesn’t need to be boring! Move over same-old chicken soup and say hello to this flavor-packed Mexican Chicken Soup. Loaded with veggies, lots of tender chicken, and a bright note from the limes, this soup is delicious! Don’t forget the garnishes! With lots of avocado and crema, this soup will win you rave reviews!

Using up leftovers is kind of my jam. And when not making chilaquiles with leftover chicken, this soup is my go-to recipe!

To jazz up the flavors in this easy chicken soup recipe, we’re going to add loads of flavorful veggies, but it’s what we add to the TOP of the soup that really makes it shine. 

I’m pulling out all the flavor stops for you with this recipe; don’t tell anyone how easy it is to make! And, just like any caldo de pollo recipe (chicken soup), this is a fun twist that’s my version. It may not be exactly like your grandmother’s famous soup, but give it a try – I bet you’ll love it!

What You Need To Make Mexican Chicken Soup

Move over noodles and bland broth; there’s a new soup in town! Here’s what you’ll need to make this easy Mexican chicken soup recipe.

For the soup:

• Cooking oil – Olive or vegetable oil is fine.
• Leeks – Rinse and chop the white part.
• Celery 
• Carrots
• Garlic – Fresh garlic is best!
• Girl Carnivore Chick Fest seasoning
• Chicken broth or chicken stock – Use low or no sodium added to control the salt.
• Chicken – Leftover rotisserie chicken, grilled chicken, smoked chicken quarters, smoked chicken thighs, whatever you’ve got!
• Fire roasted diced tomatoes – 1 14-ounce can will do it.
• Limes – You’ll need the juice from 4 limes.

To garnish your soup:

• Avocados – Count on 1 to 1 ½ avocados per bowlful
• Shredded cabbage 
• Scallions – AKA green onions, just the green parts.
• Fresh cilantro – Finely chopped
• Crema
• Lime zest – Just a pinch per bowlful!

How To Wash Leeks

Leeks grow in soft, sandy soil, and that dirt loves to get trapped inside the layers of a leek. Leeks need to be properly washed so that dirt is removed. You don’t want to eat a soup that has improperly washed leeks in it. Here’s how I do it:

• Trim the root end from the leek and the top green part. You don’t eat the green parts – they’re tough and fibrous. 
• Slice the leek in half lengthwise, then lay the halves cut-side down on your cutting board and slice the leek into half-moons.
• Pop the half-moons into a large strainer and set the strainer inside a (clean) sink half-filled with water.
• Agitate the leeks with your hands, swishing them around to break up the half-moons and dislodge the dirt from inside the layers. 
• Lift the strainer and let the water drain. 
• Now, give them another good rinse with the water running, swishing the cut leeks around under the running water. 2-3 minutes should do the trick.
• Have a close look at some of the leeks, inspecting for dirt. If there’s still dirt, repeat the process.

How To Make This Chicken Soup with Avocados

Start with a large Dutch oven and heat it over medium heat. When it’s hot, add the oil.

Add the leeks, celery, and carrots to the hot oil and sautee until soft. Add the garlic and cook another 30 seconds.

Add the Girl Carnivore Chic Fest seasoning, then deglaze the Dutch oven with a splash of chicken broth.

Pour the remaining chicken broth, then add the leftover chicken and tomatoes. Bring to a boil.

Reduce the heat and cook at a bare simmer for 45-60 minutes. 

Remove the Mexican soup with chicken from the heat and stir in the lime juice.

Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with avocado, cabbage, cilantro, lime zest, and crema.

Recipe Tips

What To Serve With Mexican Chicken Soup

You don’t need much else with this hearty homemade chicken soup. Perhaps a nice slice of crusty bread or a bowlful of tortilla chips, or serve a smaller portion of this soup as a prelude to a Mexican meal. I love serving it with carnitas, tacos, or when we have breakfast for dinner, chilaquiles. 

But seriously, this soup is so good you can forget the rest of the meal. Curl up on the couch with a bowlful of this and forget about the rest of the world for a while.

How To Store Leftover Chicken Soup

This soup will keep for 4-5 days if stored in an airtight container in the fridge, and the leftovers also freeze for up to 3 months.

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Chicken Soup with Avocados

This recipe puts a spin on the classic with Mexican chicken soup, loaded with tender bites of leftover chicken, fresh vegetables, tons of avocado, and a splash of lime. It's a fun recipe that goes quick because everyone loves it!

Course: Soup

Cuisine: Fusion, Mexican

Author: Kita Roberts

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time1 hr 20 mins

Resting Time5 mins

Total Time1 hr 30 mins

Servings: 6

Calories: 247kcal

Equipment

• dutch oven

Ingredients

For Soup

• ▢ 2 tablespoon cooking oil
• ▢ 2 Leeks rinsed and chopped
• ▢ 2 Celery stalks rinsed and chopped
• ▢ 2 Carrots rinsed and chopped
• ▢ Salt to taste
• ▢ 4 cloves Garlic minced
• ▢ 2 tablespoon Girl Carnivore Chick Fest
• ▢ 4 – 6 cups low sodium Chicken broth
• ▢ 2-3 cups Leftover chicken chopped into bite size pieces
• ▢ 14 oz fire roasted Diced tomatoes
• ▢ 4 Limes juiced

To serve

• ▢ Avocado 1 – 1 ½ per bowl
• ▢ Shredded cabbage
• ▢ Scallions sliced green parts only
• ▢ Cilantro chopped
• ▢ Crema
• ▢ Lime zest

Instructions

Saute veggies

• Heat Dutch oven over medium heat.
• Add oil
  2 tablespoon cooking oil
• Add leeks, celery and carrots. Season with salt
  2 Leeks, 2 Celery stalks, 2 Carrots, Salt
• Sautee 5 to 7 minutes.
• Add garlic cook 30 seconds longer.
  4 cloves Garlic
• Add GirlCarnivore Chick Fest
  2 tablespoon Girl Carnivore Chick Fest
• Deglaze with a splash of chicken broth

Add broth

• Slowly add in the chicken broth, leftover chicken, and tomatoes
  4 – 6 cups low sodium Chicken broth, 2-3 cups Leftover chicken, 14 oz fire roasted Diced tomatoes
• Bring to a boil.

Simmer:

• Reduce heat and let the soup cook over a low simmer 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Remove from heat and stir in the lime juice, stirring to combine.
  4 Limes

Serve:

• Allow the soup to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
• Ladle into bowls and top with lots of chopped avocado, shredded cabbage, scallions, cilantro, and a drizzle of crema, if desired.
  4 Limes, Avocado, Shredded cabbage, Scallions, Cilantro
• Add a pinch of lime zest to finish and serve hot.
  Lime zest

Notes

If not whole 30, you can use a splash of dry white wine to deglaze the dutch oven. The alcohol cooks out.

If keto, but not whole 30, feel free to add a splash of crema to this.

To keep the avocado from getting soft or mushy, add it only when serving the soup to individual bowls.

Serve with hot sauce if desired.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 247kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 278mg | Potassium: 634mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 4209IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 98mg | Iron: 3mg

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