Enchilada soup is a flavorful Mexican-inspired soup made with chili peppers, tomatoes, onions, chicken or beef, beans, corn, and a variety of spices and seasonings. The soup gets its name from the fact that it contains many of the same ingredients found in enchiladas, the popular Mexican dish made of corn tortillas rolled around seasoned fillings. Just like enchiladas, enchilada soup can have red or green chile sauce as its base. Both versions are rich, hearty and warming, perfect for a cold winter day or anytime you want to add some spice to your soup rotation.
Main Ingredients
While recipes can vary, most enchilada soups contain the following core ingredients:
- Onion – A staple in Mexican cooking, onion provides aromatic flavor.
- Garlic – Adds richness and depth of flavor.
- Oil or broth – The soup base, often vegetable or chicken broth.
- Tomatoes – Tomato puree, diced tomatoes or tomato sauce gives the soup its rich, red color.
- Chili peppers – Usually a combination of mild and hot peppers like jalapeno, ancho, chipotle, etc. This gives the soup its signature spicy kick.
- Chicken or beef – Shredded or ground meat provides protein. Can use rotisserie chicken.
- Beans – Black or pinto beans are traditional. Good source of fiber.
- Corn – Usually frozen or canned corn kernels.
- Spices – Cumin, oregano, chili powder, coriander and epazote (a traditional Mexican herb) add layers of flavor.
Beyond these core ingredients, enchilada soup recipes allow for a lot of flexibility and customization. Some versions may also contain olives, cilantro, cheese, avocado, rice or tortilla strips as toppings or garnishes.
Types of Enchilada Soup
There are two main varieties of enchilada soup:
Red Enchilada Soup
Red enchilada soup gets its signature hue from tomato sauce or tomato paste. The red chile peppers used, like ancho, New Mexico, guajillo, and cascade can also impart a reddish color. Some recipes may use enchilada sauce as a shortcut to get both the red color and spicy chile flavor at once. The soup has a richer, earthier taste compared to the green version.
Green Enchilada Soup
Green enchilada soup is made with tomatillos or green tomatoes as the base, along with green chile peppers like jalapeno, serrano, and Hatch or Anaheim chiles. It has a brighter, fresher taste compared to the red version. Cilantro is commonly used to enhance the fresh green flavors.
Ingredients for enchilada soup
Here is more detail on the key ingredients that go into enchilada soup:
Onions
Onions are an essential aromatics builder in enchilada soup. Yellow onions are most common, but white, red or sweet onions would also work. Onions are diced or sliced and cooked down at the start of the soup to release their savory flavor into the broth. This forms a flavor base before other ingredients are added.
Garlic
Garlic pairs very well with the seasonings used in enchilada soup. Minced garlic cloves are sautéed briefly with the onions to infuse the soup with garlicky richness.
Oil or Broth
Enchilada soup needs a liquid base to simmer the ingredients and form the body of the soup. Vegetable or chicken broth are typical choices. For vegetarian versions, vegetable broth provides savory flavor. Chicken broth works well for chicken enchilada soup. Olive oil or bacon drippings may also be used alone or along with broth to cook the aromatics.
Tomatoes
Crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce or tomato puree give enchilada soup its classic red hue. Green enchilada soups use tomatillos or raw green tomatoes instead. Canned diced tomatoes can also be used for texture. Tomatoes also add body, flavor, and vitamin C to the soup.
Chili Peppers
A variety of fresh and dried chili peppers are used to give enchilada soup its signature spicy kick. Jalapeno, serrano, anaheim, poblano, guajillo, chipotle, cascadeo, ancho, and New Mexico are all good choices. Using a combination of peppers provides well-rounded chile flavor. Dried chiles are toasted to bring out their flavor before use. Chili powder and cayenne can provide extra heat.
Chicken or Beef
Shredded cooked chicken or ground beef make classic protein additions. Lean ground beef provides a meaty texture and savory flavor. Shredded chicken breast or thigh can be simmered right in the soup. Rotisserie chicken works very well for an easy shredded chicken. For vegetarian options, beans, tempeh, or mushrooms can replace the meat.
Beans
Black or pinto beans are traditional in enchilada soup, providing fiber, protein and hearty texture. Canned beans are convenient, but dried beans can be cooked from scratch and used as well. White beans like cannellini can also be substituted.
Corn
Corn is a classic addition that provides pleasant sweetness to balance the spice. Frozen or canned corn kernels are simple to use. Some recipes also use corn tortillas blended into the soup for thickening.
Spices and Herbs
Ground cumin, oregano, coriander seed, chili powder, paprika and epazote (a traditional Mexican herb) are commonly used to give enchilada soup authentic Mexican flavor. Chopped cilantro also freshens up the soup. Bay leaves are good for simmering in the broth.
Steps to Make Enchilada Soup
Here is an overview of the basic steps for making enchilada soup:
- Sauté aromatics – Cook onions and garlic in oil until softened.
- Add broth and tomatoes – Pour in veggie or chicken broth and tomatoes. Simmer.
- Add spices and herbs – Stir in cumin, oregano, bay leaf, chili powder and other dried spices.
- Simmer chiles – Add fresh and/or dried chiles and simmer to infuse flavor.
- Cook protein – Simmer ground beef or shredded chicken in the soup to cook through.
- Add remaining vegetables – Stir in corn, beans, or other veggies near the end.
- Adjust seasonings – Taste and adjust salt, pepper and additional chili powder if needed.
- Finish with toppings – Ladle into bowls and top with desired garnishes like cheese, avocado, cilantro, etc.
The exact order can vary slightly depending on ingredients and personal preferences. Some cooks prefer to blend their soup to a smooth texture, while others keep it chunky. Tailor the soup to your liking as you go!
Tips for Making the Best Enchilada Soup
Follow these tips for flavorful, authentic tasting enchilada soup:
- Use both dried and fresh chiles – This provides the best well-rounded chile flavor.
- Toast dried chiles – Briefly toast anchos, guajillos, etc. before use to intensify their flavor.
- Simmer corn tortillas – For thickening and subtle corn flavor, simmer tortilla pieces in the broth.
- Top it off – Garnish with fresh avocado, cilantro, shredded cheese, tortilla strips.
- Make it vegetarian – Substitute tempeh, mushrooms or extra beans for the chicken or beef.
- Go low-sodium – Use no-salt-added tomatoes and low sodium broth.
- Spice it up – Adjust the spiciness to your tastes with extra chili powders or hot sauces.
Common Add-Ins and Garnishes
Enchilada soup is very customizable to your tastes. Here are some common additions:
Protein Options
- Shredded chicken
- Ground beef or turkey
- Chorizo sausage
- Crumbled tempeh
- Sauteed mushrooms or peppers (for vegetarian)
Vegetable Additions
- Fire roasted diced tomatoes
- Roasted green chiles
- Mild green peppers like poblano or Anaheim
- Zucchini
- Squash
- Spinach or kale
Herb and Spice Options
- Fresh cilantro
- Chili powder
- Smoked paprika
- Ground chipotle powder
- Cayenne pepper
- Mexican oregano
- Bay leaf
- Lime juice
Toppings
- Shredded cheese like cheddar, Monterey Jack, Mexican blend
- Sliced avocado
- Chopped onion
- Lime wedges
- Crumbled queso fresco or cotija cheese
- Sour cream or Greek yogurt
- Crushed tortilla chips
- Cilantro
Common Variations
Enchilada soup is very versatile. Here are some common ways cooks customize it:
- White Enchilada Soup – Made without tomatoes for a unique spin.
- Cheesy Enchilada Soup – Loaded up with extra cheese like cheddar, Jack, or queso.
- Chicken Tortilla Soup – Similar, but usually includes strips of corn tortillas.
- Vegetarian Enchilada Soup – Uses beans, tempeh, mushrooms instead of chicken.
- Turkey Enchilada Soup – Substitute lean ground turkey for variety.
- Spicy Enchilada Soup – Packs extra punch with extra chili peppers and powders.
- Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Soup – Made with a green chile sauce base.
Have fun and get creative with the ingredients as you make this Mexican favorite!
Conclusion
Enchilada soup brings the flavors of enchiladas in hearty, comforting soup form. It contains chili peppers, tomatoes, onions, chicken or beef, beans, corn, and assorted spices like cumin and oregano. The ingredients meld together in a rich, red or green chile-infused broth that makes this Mexican soup so crave-worthy. Enchilada soup is highly customizable, so have fun experimenting with add-ins like different vegetables, herbs, chiles and toppings until you create your favorite version.