I've been making this soup for a couple years now, and every time I do, I can't get over how easy and how delicious it is. I know those terms are used quite loosely in the foodie world, but this is pretty dang foolproof, takes 5 minutes to throw in the crock pot, and the flavors are incredible.
Start With Salsa Verde
Start with a great salsa verde (Trader Joe's for the win, but any will do) and that does most of the work for you with it's tangy tomatillo, savory garlic, and yummy onion and garlic. We fight over leftovers, and I even make baby food with it that my 10-month-old grunts between bites for (don't worry, baby food recipes to come next week).
Homey Soup With A Mexican Flair
While we do have a similar recipe here on the site already, Des' Creamy White Chili, this has a little bit of a Mexican flavor to it, especially if you garnish it with lime, avocado, cilantro, and some crispy salty tortilla chips. I also throw in some kale for you-can't-even-taste-it nutrition.
This has become our healthy Halloween tradition before heading out to gather all that sugar.
Pair it with my bubbly Green Chili Cheese Bread, and you have a match made in heaven.
Salsa Verde Chicken and Kale Soup
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts
- 12 ounces jar salsa verde Trader Joe's has an excellent one
- 1 can chickpeas
- 1 can great northern beans
- 4 ounces chopped green chilies
- 32 ounces chicken broth
- 1 bunch of kale stems removed and leaves chopped
optional garnish:
- lime wedges
- tortilla chips
- sour cream
- monterey jack cheese
- avocado
- cilantro
Instructions
- Place chicken breasts, salsa verde, beans, green chilies, and broth into crock pot. Cook on low 6 hours.
- Remove chicken from crock pot and shred with two forks. Return to crock pot.
- Add kale to crock pot. Continue to cook on low 2 more hours.
- Garnish as desired.
Notes
Pressure Cooker directions: Place everything in pressure cooker, cook on 'soup' mode for 1 hour. Shred chicken, garnish.
Nutrition
Patricia says
Talked to a young couple in an ALDI GROCERY & she bought the ALDI brand green salsa. I asked for your recipe. Made it. Loved it! I wonder if putting chick peas & beans in a little latter would help with firmness. I shared this with my Belgium friend & she thought spinach would be good in this recipe. BOTTOM LINE COMMENT. WONDERFUL RECIPE. I DID WONDER WHAT U THOUGHT ABOUT THE SPINACH IDEA?? Surely, as fast as spinach cooks, it would not be a good idea to cook for an add'l two hours. I personally liked the kale idea. It blends very well & no bitter taste. Thank you for sharing.
Stephanie says
What a great story! Glad you made it! Did you think the beans were too soft? I like them just how they turn out, so feel free to add them in later if you'd like! I also prefer kale to spinach in most soup recipes, I'm personally not a fan of cooked spinach in soups. I prefer the more firm texture of the kale. Love to hear your ideas though, adapting recipes makes cooking fun!
Patricia says
Thanks for responding to my idea about spinach in ur recipe. I am going to make double today. Very healthy w kale. I'll do most anything to get all the kale possible in me! I put spinach in quesadillas. Love ya's cookin. TAKE CARE
Susi says
Do you drain the beans and chickpeas?
Stephanie says
Yes ma'am!
Aubrey says
Made this! It was delicious Steph!! I double the chicken thinking I wanted to freeze some, added in the rest of the ingredients, but there wasn't enough room in my crockpot to double the rest. However.. there was still plenty of soup! We topped it with lime and avocado like you suggested and it was perfect. My kids loved it.
Also we don't have a trader joes close (tear..) so I used the Tostitos Brand Green salsa and it was perfect. Thanks so much for the recipe!!
Stacey says
This recipe sounds amazing - I'm going to make it this weekend!