Cafe Zupas is famous for its delicious soups and for good reason. All of the soups at Cafe Zupas are amazing, but this one is my very favorite. It is so convenient to make in the crock pot. I have been working on a replica for Chicken Enchilada Chili for a while now and I feel like I finally have it. My husband actually prefers this version to all other chili recipes now. I am so excited to share this chili with you — and just in time for Cinco de Mayo. This chili is great because you can serve it as a side or as the main dish. It makes a great lunch or dinner and your kids will love it.
Ingredients in Chicken Enchilada Soup
It may seem like there are a ton of ingredients in this chili, but trust me, it comes together in a snap. Here’s all you need:
Chicken breasts – they’ll boil right in the enchilada sauce. Chicken thighs work great too!Green AND Red Enchilada Sauce – read more on the sauce above.Cream of chicken soup – if you don’t want to use a can of soup, we have a delicious homemade Cream of Chicken substitute recipe.Milk – adds extra creaminess to the soup. It’ll also help thin out the soup if it seems to thick. You can also add a bit of chicken broth.Rotel tomatoes – or a can of tomatoes with green chilis addedSome chili powder and paprika – for flavor and color. You can add more or less of these ingredients depending on how spicy you like your soup.Black beans -I love the black beans in his chili but if you don’t have any on hand, kidney beans are a great substitute.Corn – I stir in a can of fire roasted corn niblets but you can use frozen or fresh corn in this recipe.Cheddar cheese – use a block and shred it yourself. It’s so much better than the pre-shredded stuff.Sour cream – use a little in the souprecipe and some as a garnish on top.Top this white chicken chili with tortilla chips, green onion, diced avocado, cilantro, salsa verde, more cheese and sour cream.
The Secret’s in the Sauce
What makes this chili taste so amazing is that it is made with red and green enchilada sauces. If you don’t like using canned enchilada sauce, we have a great homemade red enchilada sauce. It is so easy to make and you will love the taste. I bet you have most of the ingredients to make it in your pantry right now. For the green sauce, just type “homemade green enchilada sauce” into Google and you will be swimming in DIY options. The broth of the chili is a little cheesy, a little creamy, a little spicy, and a lot of yummy. It is loaded with shredded chicken, tomatoes, chilies, black beans, and corn. Then top it off with crunchy tortilla strips, shredded cheddar cheese, and some sour cream and you have the most incredible soup! To add even more of a homemade touch, you can make our Homemade Tortilla Strips for a topping.
What Readers are Saying About our Cafe Zupas Chicken Enchilada Chili
“5+ stars for this recipe! The flavor is amazing 🤩 soooo good especially if you love anything Mexican! You can taste the richness and calories but so worth it! Great for colder weather!” – Denise “We love this recipe! I’ve made it several times. I’ve never actually had Cafe Zupa’s anything but this is close to Chili’s chicken enchilada soup. It’s one of those recipes that you can make your own- add more or less of the ingredients, add in extra stuff if you want and it’ll still turn out fine. I made it for work and for a baby shower and both times it was a big hit.” – Lisa S. “I made a double batch and it was so large I didn’t think my boyfriend and I could finish it before it went bad. We ate it in 3 days for lunch and dinner because it was absolutely PHENOMENAL. I’m actually making a double batch again today, just week later haha! This is the best recipe I have found online. Thank you thank you thank you!!” – Sarah C.
Frequently Asked Questions
Slow Cooker Soups to Try
If you like the ease and convenience of making soup in the slow cooker, you have to try more of these delicious slow cooker recipes. If you love Mexican-inspired soups be sure to try our Copycat Cafe Rio Tortilla Soup, Emily’s Southwest Taco Soup, or our Black Bean Soup. Any one of these are sure to warm you up on a cold day and fill that comfort food craving.
How to Make Cafe Zupas Chicken Enchilada Chili
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