A few easy steps and special ingredients make this Green Chile Chicken Soup recipe the best one out there! It all starts with a simple roasted salsa verde that gets mixed in with a can of diced green chiles and tons of spicy, authentic Mexican flavors.
Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper. Add the tomatoes, jalapeños, and tomatillos. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of the avocado oil and sprinkle with ½ teaspoon of salt. Toss until well coated. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until tomatillos and tomatoes are blistered. Let rest at room temperature for 5 minutes.
Add the roasted tomatillos and jalapeños (but not the tomatoes) to a large food processor and process for 30-60 seconds, or until smooth. Add the cilantro and lime juice. Pulse 10-15 times, or until cilantro is finely chopped. Set aside.
½ bunch cilantro, 1 tablespoon lime juice
Sprinkle chicken thighs all over with ½ teaspoon of salt. Heat 1 tablespoon of avocado oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the chicken thighs and cook for 4-5 minutes, or until golden. Flip and cook for 4-5 more minutes. (They do not need to be fully cooked at this point). Transfer chicken to a clean plate.
1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of avocado oil to the Dutch oven. Add the onion and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until translucent. Add the potatoes and continue cooking for 4-5 minutes, or until they begin to soften. Add the garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds, or until fragrant.
1 small white onion, 4 garlic cloves, 1 pound Yukon gold potatoes
Pour the tomatillo mixture into the pot along with the chicken broth, green chiles, oregano, cumin, 1 teaspoon of salt, and black pepper. Stir to combine.
5 cups chicken broth, 2 (4-ounce) cans diced green chiles, 2 teaspoons dried oregano, 1 teaspoon cumin, ½ teaspoon black pepper
Add the chicken thighs and make sure they are completely covered by the liquid. Increase the heat to high and bring the soup to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
Use tongs to transfer the cooked chicken to a cutting board and shred it using two forks.
Add shredded chicken back to the Dutch oven, along with the corn and roasted tomatoes. Continue simmering for another 5 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender.
1 (15.25-ounce) can corn
Serve the soup with tortilla chips, sliced avocado, lime wedges, and additional cilantro, if desired.
Tortilla chips, Avocado
Video
Notes
Spice: You can easily add more jalapeños or go with a spicier pepper, or add in some chili powder.
Chicken: Thighs will deliver the most flavor, but chicken breasts will work. You can also use rotisserie chicken or another leftover chicken for this recipe.
Prep-ahead: This soup is great to make ahead of time since the flavors continue to marry. Just wait to add the toppings until you're ready to serve.
Storage: Keep leftover soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 to 4 days. Or, freeze it for up to 6 months. Warm the soup back up on the stovetop over medium-low or low heat, until it's heated through. You can also use the microwave if needed.