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You have got to try our crock pot version of Cafe Zupas Chicken Enchilada Chili! It’s loaded with seasoned chicken, beans, and corn in a creamy, slightly spicy, soup.
Featured with this recipe
- Ingredients in Chicken Enchilada Soup
- The Secret’s in the Sauce
- Tips for Making Chicken Enchilada Chili
- Pressure Cooker or Instant Pot Instructions
- What Readers are Saying About our Chicken Enchilada Chili
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Slow Cooker Soups to Try
- How to Make Cafe Zupas Chicken Enchilada Chili
- Chicken Enchilada Chili (Easy Cafe Zupas Copycat Recipe) Recipe
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 – It is especially good with our Homemade Enchilada Sauce
- 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 added
- Some 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.
Tips for Making Chicken Enchilada Chili
- Sear the Chicken: Before adding it to the chili, try searing the chicken in a hot pan with a bit of oil. This step adds flavor and helps lock in the juices.
- Spices and Seasonings: The key to great chili is the seasoning. Use a blend of chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, and oregano to add to the Mexican flavor. Adjust the heat level with cayenne pepper or diced jalapeños.
- Simmer Slowly: Allow your chili to cook for an extended period in the Crockpot, ideally 2-3 hours on high heat or 4-6 hours on low. This allows the flavors to meld and develop depth.
- Beans: Use a combination of black beans, pinto beans, chili beans and/or kidney beans for added texture and flavor. Rinse and drain canned beans before adding them to the chili.
- Cream Cheese: Want to make your chili even creamier? Try adding 8 oz. of cream cheese to the mix. You can add it at the beginning or melt it in the microwave and add it at the end.
- Garnish Well: Top your chicken enchilada chili with a variety of garnishes for extra flavor and texture. Consider shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped cilantro, diced onions, sliced jalapeños, and a squeeze of lime juice.
- Serve with Tortilla Chips or Rice: Offer tortilla chips or cooked rice on the side. These make great accompaniments for scooping up the chili.
- Adjust Seasoning: Taste your chili before serving and adjust the seasoning as needed. You might want to add more salt, spice, or acidity, depending on your preference.
- Leftovers: Chicken enchilada chili often tastes even better the next day, as the flavors continue to meld. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave.
Pressure Cooker or Instant Pot Instructions
To make this recipe in an Instant Pot or pressure cooker. Simply add 1 cup of chicken broth to the bottom of the Instant Pot, then add the chicken, and then top with the the remaining Crockpot ingredients. Cook on high pressure for 40 minutes, then slow release for 20 minutes before doing a full release.
What Readers are Saying About our 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
It is a chili that incorporates the flavors of enchiladas. The protein in the soup is shredded chicken, instead of beef. In addition, red and green enchilada sauce are used in the base of the chili.
It’s very easy to make this gluten free! Just look for a gluten free cream of chicken soup and make sure your red enchilada sauce is gluten free.
Sure! Make sure to store in an airtight container and freeze for up to two months. To reheat, simmer in a saucepan on the stovetop.
Yes absolutely! Cook your chicken in the enchilada sauce in the instant pot and then add all the other ingredients. It will turn out great!
More 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
Chicken Enchilada Chili (Easy Cafe Zupas Copycat Recipe)
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 cups red enchilada sauce It is especially good with our Homemade Enchilada Sauce
- 1 cup green enchilada sauce
- 1 (22.6 ounce)can cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup milk
- 1 (10-ounce) RO*TEL diced tomatoes & Green Chilies
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15-ounce) can corn, drained
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup sour cream
Toppings
- tortilla strips
- sour cream
- shredded cheddar cheese
- cilantro
- sliced avocado
Instructions
- In a large slow cooker, add the chicken breasts and both kinds of enchilada sauce.
- Cook for approximately 3 hours on high, until the chicken is cooked and will shred into the sauce.
- After shredding the chicken, add all remaining soup ingredients except the sour cream. Cook for 1 more hour.
- Turn off the heat. Whisk in the sour cream.
- Serve in individual bowl and garnish with toppings of choice.
Notes
- You can use our homemade red enchilada sauce in this recipe-it makes the soup especially good.
- Check the expiration date on dry spices and seasonings. Make sure they are fresh so they will give flavor to the chili.
- If you don’t have time for the slow cooker, you can make this recipe on the stovetop with an easy shortcut. Buy a rotisserie chicken at your local grocery store and shred the meat. Add it to a large pot on the stovetop along with the enchilada sauces. Bring to a boil. Add remaining ingredients except the sour cream and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes. Stir in sour cream and serve.
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.
If you love Mexican food this soup is out of this world delicious! It’s a staple for winter weather!
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!
Oh my goodness this is definitely going on our soup list for the fall! I can’t wait to give this a try!
This is so comforting! My family really loved it!
Such a delicious recipe. Our whole family absolutely loved it! It’s perfect for colder days.
Could I do this in an instantpot?
Sure! I don’t see why not!
Do you ever use coconut milk instead of milk? Lactose intolerant ;(
I haven’t used coconut milk in this recipe, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. Let me know how it goes if you try it!
This is the best! I have made it so many times and have found my favorite enchilada sauce is Hatch brand. It comes in mild and medium so you choose the best spicy for your family. During the quarantine, I’ve made it twice. My daughter and daughter-in-law both make it for their families.
Just made this, albeit a lower sodium version – low sodium cream of chicken, no salt added Rotel and Black Beans, did not add any salt – and still came out great. Also, did mine on the stove instead of crock pot, no problem. I eat at Cafe Zupas several times a week when I am traveling to SLC for work and often get the Chicken Enchilada Chili when I go. Great recipe and super easy!
Do I need to drain the corn and beens before adding to the soup?
I have done it both ways. If you like your soup to be on the thicker side, you can drain the beans and corn. Hope this helps!
This chili is awesome!! This is the second year I have won in our annual chili cook off. First time I took 2nd and this time I took 1st. I also won 1st place a couple years ago with your Pork Chile Verde. Thank you for sharing all your wonderful recipes ladies!
I made this for our family dinner last night and it turned out very well. It tasted great and was super simple to make. I doubled it and cut the chili powder in half (personal preference) and it made quite a lot of soup but the left overs will be happily eaten.
Just wanted to drop you a line to let you say thank you for posting this recipe! I have have plans to try several other of your recipes. Thanks again:)
So glad you liked it! Hope you like out other recipes as well 🙂
Absolutely love this soup!! I’ve made it twice now but each time it comes out way spicier than the Zupas version (which I LOvE!). I use mild canned enchilada sauce for both the red and green and even tried cutting down the chili powder. What can I do to make it more palatable?
hmmm, what brand of enchilada sauce are you using? When we have made it, I have never noticed it being much spicier than Zupas.. I know the difference between enchilada sauce brands can vary greatly. I don’t know what else it could be?
Yes! It was so spicy, we could barely eat it. I’m also trying to figure out why.
The only factor that could change the spiciness level is the enchilada sauce. I would suggest finding an enchilada sauce that is extra mild to start off with. Or try tasting it before adding to the soup to see if it is too spicy. All of the other ingredients are very mild. Hope this helps!
I didn’t find it spicy at all. I even added a tsp of Cayenne pepper to mine.
If the soup is spicier than you like, make sure you use the mild diced tomatoes and chili version rather than the original or hot.
This was SO good. Definitely keeping the recipe for my slow cooker soup rotation!
This is my go to for potlucks or when I don’t know what meal to plan. I love it so much, and sometimes I’ll make a batch and freeze it in smaller amounts to just have on hand for my busy days! I’m obsessed with Fritos and cilantro, so I put put both of those in mine when I make it. So good. So grateful I stumbled across this!
Thank you so much for your comment! So glad you like this recipe! Great idea using Fritos and cilantro 😀
We made this tonight and it ended up really good. I will say that the mild enchilada sauce may give it too much of a spice kick for my liking. Next time i will use original enchilada sauce and try to avoid the spicy kick.
Also i barely noticed the cream of chicken soup and i used 90% of two smaller cans. So maybe i will use a little less of this also next time to make up the difference?
We also couldn’t find the tortilla strips anywhere….
I usually find the tortilla strips in the grocery store next to the croutons. They come in a similar looking package. I’m so glad you like the chili!
I need to make it gluten free. Can I replace the chicken soup with something else?
This is a good gluten free recipe for cream of chicken (or cream of anything) soup: https://www.gluten.org/recipe/condensed-cream-of-anything-soup/
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Can u give meatless version of it
You can just leave the chicken out if you would like
Made this with boneless skinless chicken breasts. I browned them before i put them in the slow cooker. Turned out awesome; my girlfriend loved how creamy it was.