Recipe of the Month – Mexican Chicken Soup

Yep, you read that correctly, the recipe of the week is becoming the recipe of the month so that we can focus on bringing you more content in other areas, such as Camino planning and recaps of some of our best previous adventures.

With all of the cold weather we have been having lately, I’ve been making lots of soup. It not only warms the stomach but also the house! I love this recipe but it’s not ours, we have to thank Laurie (one of Michelle’s colleagues) who found the recipe on Cooks Country. On a side note and a fun fact we learned that Laurie has diligently subscribed to Cooking Light magazine since its inception 40 years ago and was one of their first subscribers! The soup has just enough kick to warm you up on multiple fronts. Of course, you could adjust the spicy heat up or down depending on your preferences.

Begin by bringing six cups of chicken broth to a simmer in a large pot and add about a pound and a half of chicken thighs to poach for 15 minutes.

In a food processor, combine half of a large onion, a can of diced tomatoes (or Ro-tel tomatoes with you like things on the spicy side), half (or more) of a seeded jalapeno pepper, four cloves of garlic, one canned chipotle chili and a tablespoon of the adobo sauce it’s packed in, and a teaspoon each of salt, pepper, and cilantro. Pulse the whole thing until it is smooth and well pureed. If I had any tortilla chips in the house this is probably as far as I would have gone because it looked and tasted like a smooth salsa at this point.

Remove the chicken from the pot and set aside to cool. Pour the broth into a container to skim the fat off the top.

In the same pot, heat a tablespoon of oil and add the “salsa” to the pot. Let it simmer for five minutes or so to cook the “green-ness” out of it and allow the flavors to combine.

Skim the fat off the broth and add it back into the pot along with two cups of frozen corn and a can of rinsed and drained tri-blend beans (or kidney, pinto, or black beans). Allow the soup to come to a boil and then reduce the heat. Simmer for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, run a knife through the chicken to cut it into bite-sized pieces. Take the pot off the heat and add the chicken and two tablespoons of lime juice. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed (I added a little more salt).

Top the soup with diced avocado, slices of fresh or crispy tortilla, or a little cojita or queso fresco. We served it with pao de queijo, which are amazing gluten-free cheese rolls.

Mexican Cheese Soup

  • 6 c chicken broth
  • 1 1/2 pounds chicken thighs
  • 1/2 of a large onion
  • 1 t each salt, pepper, and cilantro
  • 1 can of diced tomatoes (get the kind with chilis or jalapeno if you like)
  • 1/2 jalapeno pepper, seeded
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 1 canned chipotle pepper plus 1 T adobo sauce it’s packed in
  • 1 T oil
  • 2 c frozen corn
  • 1 can beans, any variety, drained and rinsed
  • 2 T lime juice
  • assorted toppings such as diced avocado, Mexican cheese, or tortilla strips

Bring chicken broth to a boil and add chicken. Simmer for 15 minutes until the chicken is done and there is no pink remaining.

In a food processor, combine onion, spices, tomatoes, garlic, and peppers and pulse until smooth.

Remove chicken from pot and set aside to cool. Pour broth into another container to skim fat once cooled. In the same pot, heat the oil and add the tomato mixture. Simmer for 15 minutes over medium heat to combine flavors.

After skimming fat from broth, add back to the pot along with the corn and beans. Bring to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes. Shred the chicken and add to the pot at the end of cooking along with the lime juice. Adjust seasonings if needed.

Let us know if you try this recipe or any other recipe we have posted! Tag us on Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #cruisinwiththecolemans! We’d love to hear from you!

Recipe of the Week – Chicken Tamale Pie

We love flavors inspired by Mexican food and while this tamale pie is far from an authentic dish, it is quick and easy, perfect for RV cooking on a day you need to cook inside and don’t mind firing up the oven.
Start by preparing the cornbread base: mix half of a gluten-free cornbread mix with half a cup of frozen or canned corn (drained), half a cup of Greek yogurt, and on egg.  The mixture will be dry and sticky. If it is too dry, add a little milk or half and half. Spread the mixture into a baking pan. Place into a 400º oven and bake for 15 minutes. It will not be golden and crispy and it should be set in the center, but not “done.”

While the cornbread mixture is in the oven, prepare the topping. On the stove top, sauté one large diced onion in olive oil until tender then add 2 cloves of minced garlic for another minute. Add one tablespoon (about half a packet) of taco seasoning, two cups of diced cooked chicken, and about half a cup of enchilada sauce. The chicken can be poached, grilled leftover from a previous meal, or a rotisserie chicken that has been shredded. It doesn’t even have to be chicken. We grilled pork chops the night before and made a couple of extras for this meal.

Take the cornbread out of the oven and poke holes in it with the handle of a wooden spoon. Pour about half a cup of enchilada sauce over the mixture, allowing the sauce to fill in the holes.

Top with the chicken mixture.

Cover the whole thing with a layer of shredded cheddar or Mexi-blend. If yours is as full as mine, place it on a cookie sheet or you will end up with a huge mess (I may speak from experience here)!

Bake for another twenty minutes, until bubbly and the cheese has toasted. Bubbly and toasted are two of my favorite cooking techniques!

Serve with guacamole, green salad, or eat it all by itself. Stay tuned in future weeks for more traditional recipes turned into casseroles for a quick and easy weeknight dinner. Leave a comment below with your favorite dinner casserole recipe, maybe we will feature it as one of our recipes of the week.

Chicken Tamale Pie

  • 1/2 package of gluten-free corn bread mix (we like Krusteaz brand)
  • 1/2 c plain Greek yogurt (sub sour cream if you prefer)
  • 1/2 corn kernels (frozen or drained canned)
  • 1 egg
  • 1 T olive oil
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 T taco seasoning (about 1/2 a packet)
  • 2 c diced chicken or pork, already cooked
  • 1 c enchilada sauce, divided (I buy the small-sized can and use the whole thing)
  • 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese (or Mexi-cheese, or pepper jack, or whatever you have on hand)

Preheat the oven to 400º. Prepare the base by mixing cornbread mix, yogurt, corn, and egg in a bowl. The mixture will be dry but if it doesn’t come together, add a little milk or half and half. Spread the mixture into a 9×9 pan and bake for 15 minutes while you prepare the topping.
In a large skillet, heat oil and sauté the onion for about 5 minutes, until tender. Add garlic and cook one more minute. Add taco seasoning, 1/2 c sauce, and chicken. Cook until heated through.
Remove the cornbread from the oven. It will not be done but should be mostly set in the center. Poke holes throughout with the handle of a wooden spoon and top with the remaining enchilada sauce. Top with the chicken mixture and finally, the cheese.
Bake for another 20 minutes until bubbly and the cheese has melted and toasted.

★ 25 years guiding ★ 48 U.S. states ★ 10 countries ★ 3,000+ Camino miles