Instant Pot Chicken Enchilada Soup

This Instant Pot Chicken Enchilada Soup is creamy, cheesy and the ultimate comfort food! Shredded chicken, black beans, sweet corn, bell peppers and tomatoes, cooked with warm spices and topped with fresh herbs. You will love this Instant Pot soup recipe!

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We love cooking Mexican-inspired recipes in the Instant Pot and this soup is a deconstructed version of the classic enchiladas – a delicious fiesta of flavors and textures in a bowl.

Many chicken enchilada soup recipes call for a store-bought enchilada sauce but we are using canned tomatoes, paste and spices to make it from scratch directly in the soup.

This recipe uses simple ingredients from the pantry, some fresh chicken, onions, garlic, and a few veggies. You can use pre-cooked leftover chicken as well, simply reduce the cooking time to 2 minutes.

To make this soup creamy and hearty, we stir in some cream cheese and grated regular cheese right at the end. Topped with fresh cilantro and scallions, this chicken enchilada soup is simply irresistible!

Here are the key ingredients you will need to make this soup.

• Vegetables  – every soup needs a hefty dose of veggies and we are using onions, celery, carrot and bell peppers – a classic combination for soups. 
• For flavor – lots of lovely Tex-Mex spices like cumin, coriander seed and smoked paprika, a bit of chili and dried oregano and lots of garlic. You can also use a Tex-Mex spice blend for enchilada sauces or tacos.
• Chicken – you can use fresh chicken breast or thighs or shredded leftover cooked chicken.
• For the broth – chicken stock, diced tomatoes and tomato paste. 
• Black beans & sweet corn – these will add extra bulk to the soup, plus fibre and lovely textures in every spoonful.
• To finish – cream cheese, grated Cheddar or Jack and some fresh cilantro and scallions.

You will find the full recipe with ingredients and nutritional breakdown in the recipe card below.

There are two simple stages to making this stuffed pepper soup in the pressure cooker. The first stage is to saute the onions, celery, carrots and bell peppers. The second stage is to cook the soup with chicken and tomatoes. You then finish the soup with a little cream cheese and grated cheese or serve it with your favorite Tex-Mex toppings.

Let’s break it down with step-by-step photos and video. You can use a 6-quart or 8-quart Instant Pot.

Step 1. Turn the Instant Pot on and turn the Saute function on. Add olive oil, onions, celery, carrots and bell peppers and season with ½ teaspoon of salt. Stir and cook for 3-4 minutes to soften.

Step 2. Add the garlic, all of the spices, oregano and chili and stir through for 20-30 seconds. Press Cancel to stop the Saute.

Step 3. Add the chicken pieces and pour in the stock, stir by scraping the bottom of the pot.

Step 4. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato paste and sugar.

Step 5. Secure and lock the lid. Set to Pressure Cook for 5 minutes on HIGH. When the cooking time ends, turn off the pressure cooker. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then finish with a quick pressure release.

Step 6. Remove the chicken pieces from the soup and dice or shred the meat. Return the chicken to the soup in the cooking pot.

Step 7. Stir in the black beans and corn. Select Saute and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, until the beans and corn are heated through.

Step 7. Add the cream cheese in chunks or cubes and stir through until melted. As soon as it starts melting, turn the Saute off. Finish by stirring in the cheese and once melted, stir in the fresh cilantro and half of the green onions. Then top with the remaining onions.

Serve in bowls topped with extra grated cheese, sliced or diced avocado, tortilla chips, and extra cilantro and green onions on top.

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Recipe Tips

For a thicker soup, add extra beans and corn or you could cook more chicken (same cooking time). Another good way to bulk up this soup is with cooked rice or pasta.

If you want to use store-bought enchilada sauce, skip all of the spices and add stock and enchilada sauce equal to the amount of diced canned tomatoes. You can still add some tomato paste though.

For a dairy-free version, puree a can of white beans with some of the soup broth and stir into the soup.

How To Serve Chicken Enchilada Soup

The soup is served in bowls with a variety of toppings. These depend on what you like but are typically some or any of the following: sour cream, diced or sliced avocado, chopped raw onion, extra diced tomatoes, extra grated cheese, tortilla or corn chips, cilantro, scallions, lime juice, hot sauce.

You can serve enchilada soup as is or with a side of cornbread, regular bread or rolls, grilled cheese sandwiches and so on.

You can also add cooked rice or pasta to the soup to bulk it up and make it more satiating.

Storing Soup

Chicken enchilada soup will last for no more than 3-4 days in the fridge. Make sure to seal tightly in a container if there are leftovers or you are meal prepping. The soup will last up to a month in the freezer BUT add the cream cheese and grated cheese after defrosting the soup and reheating it on the stove or in the Instant Pot on Saute.

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More Mexican-Inspired Instant Pot Recipes

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