Southwest Chicken Soup {Chili’s Copycat} Recipe
This Southwest Chicken Soup is a hearty and flavorful Chili’s copycat recipe, featuring tender shredded chicken, hominy, and a blend of classic southwestern spices. Thickened with crushed tortilla chips and garnished with fresh cilantro and tortilla strips, it’s a comforting and spicy soup perfect for any day.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Southwestern American
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 large white onion, finely diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 cups shredded chicken (cooked)
- 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
- 1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes with green chiles
- 1 can (15 oz) white hominy, drained
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 12 corn tortilla chips
- 1 lime, juiced
- 1 tablespoon hot pepper sauce (optional)
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
Garnishes
- Tortilla strips
- Freshly chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Sauté aromatics and spices: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the finely diced onion, minced garlic, chili powder, cumin, and smoked paprika. Sauté, stirring regularly, until the onion becomes translucent and fragrant, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add main ingredients and simmer: Stir in the shredded chicken, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes with green chiles, and drained hominy. Mix everything to combine evenly. Pour in the chicken broth, stir well, and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
- Thicken soup with tortilla chips: Add the corn tortilla chips to the simmering soup. Let the soup simmer for 15 minutes, allowing the chips to break down and thicken the broth naturally. Season the soup by gradually adding salt in 1/4 teaspoon increments, tasting in between until the desired flavor is achieved.
- Finish and serve: Remove the soup from heat. Stir in the fresh lime juice and hot pepper sauce if using. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with crispy tortilla strips and freshly chopped cilantro. Serve warm and enjoy.
Notes
- For a spicier kick, increase the amount of chili powder or add more hot pepper sauce.
- Use leftover shredded chicken or rotisserie chicken to save prep time.
- The tortilla chips help thicken the soup but can be replaced by crushed tortilla strips or cornmeal if preferred.
- Adjust salt gradually to avoid over-seasoning.
- Garnishes like avocado, shredded cheese, or sour cream make great additions.
Keywords: Southwest Chicken Soup, Chili's copycat, chicken soup, hominy soup, tortilla soup, Mexican inspired soup, easy chicken soup
