This soup has all the flavors of a chile relleno along with tender chicken. If you love a spicy Mexican soup on a cold night, this recipe is one you’ll want to add this chicken chile relleno soup to your meal plan.
If you love spicy recipes and using your slow cooker, you must try my Mexican Pot Roast or my Pork Chile Verde recipes next!
What is a Chile Relleno
- Chile rellenos were created in Pueblo, Mexico, in 1858.
- A chile relleno is roasted poblano pepper that is stuffed with cheese (or often meat), and then it is either deep-fried with a light batter or sometimes has a thick egg style coating. Chile rellenos are usually served with a tomato-based sauce.
Why this recipe works
The slow cooker is the perfect cooking vessel for this type of dish because you can load up all your ingredients, set a timer, and let the pot do its thing. It’s simple to make and full of flavor.
This soup recipe doesn’t have a ton of steps; just set the slow cooker in the morning with the chicken, peppers, broth, and cream cheese. When you get home, stir in freshly grated cheese for the best spicy soup you will ever have.
How to make chicken chile relleno soup
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts – This is the best for this recipe, it doesn’t add much fat and shreds perfectly.
- Chicken broth – Just one carton!
- Poblano peppers – we use fresh for this recipe, although canned poblano peppers work if in a pinch.
- Flavorings – White onion, salt, pepper, and bay leaves. Note that there isn’t much seasoning, the poblano pepper flavor is the main star in this recipe.
- Cream cheese – We cube this and add it at the beginning of the cooking time, it will melt into the soup as it cooks.
- Sharp cheddar cheese– Use a block of sharp cheddar to hand shred. Pre-shredded versions won’t melt as well.
Step-by-step directions
Step One – Add the chicken breasts to the slow cooker. Sprinkle with the salt and pepper.
Step Two – Add the chopped poblano peppers and onions.
Step Three – Add the cream cheese cubes and the bay leaves. Pour over the chicken broth. Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 4 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
Step Four – After the cooking time is up, shred the chicken with two forks, I do this right in the slow cooker. Next, stir in the cheese; do this a little at a time so the cheese won’t clump.
Step Five – Stir and serve!
Recipe FAQs
Jalapenos – You can use raw jalapenos in this recipe, but it will not be much spicer. Only use two jalapenos and remove the seeds if you don’t want it too spicy.
Canned Fire-Roasted Chiles – These will work in a pinch; you will need two 10-oz. cans.
This soup is perfect served with warm tortillas or tortilla chips for dipping. Top this Creamy Poblano Soup with your favorite Mexican toppings- tomatoes, avocados, cilantro, onions, and guacamole are delicious options.
Although this recipe doesn’t call for roasted poblano peppers, you certainly can roast the peppers before adding them to the soup for a mild, smoky flavor.
To roast poblanos, heat your broiler on low and place halved poblano peppers onto a baking sheet. Let the skin blister on all sides of the pepper halves so that you have blackened pieces. Once done, remove from the oven and place in a bowl, and cover with plastic wrap for 5-10 minutes to steam the skin so you can remove it easier. Once the poblano peppers have steamed, cut around the core and remove seeds and stems. Slice into strips, then dice.
You can add two cans of drained beans (black beans) and a can of drained corn, and you will have yourself a fantastic vegetarian soup!
Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Chile Relleno Soup is a delicious and easy Mexican dish that you can make in the comfort of your own home.
The slow cooker does all of the work for you, so this chili relleno soup recipe is perfect for taking to any potluck or for a weeknight meal for the family. Add it to your menu this week and enjoy the rich flavors of this soup.
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Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Chile Relleno Soup
Equipment Needed:
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 32 oz. chicken broth
- 1 cup small white onion diced
- 3 poblano peppers, diced (this will be about 2.5 cups after being diced)
- 8 oz. cream cheese cut into cubes
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
- 2 bay leaves
- 8 oz. block sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (do not use bagged pre-shredded, it won't melt as well) WAIT TO ADD
Instructions:
- Add everything except the shredded cheddar cheese to the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 4 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
- Discard bay leaves. Remove chicken breasts, shred and set aside.
- Add half of the cheese and stir until dissolved. Then add the rest and stir until dissolved. The cheese will melt better and not clump if you add it slowly. Add the chicken back into the soup, stir.
- Serve and enjoy!
How to Video:
Recipe Notes:
- Jalapenos – You can use raw jalapenos in this recipe, but it will not be much spicer. Only use two jalapenos and remove the seeds if you don’t want it too spicy.
Canned - Fire-Roasted Chiles – These will work in a pinch; you will need two 10-oz. cans.
Nutrition Information:
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
One of my favorite soups ever!
Another similar recipe has you blister the Chile’s and remove the skin. You don’t take this step? Chile’s are pleasant to chew with the skin still on?
The slow cooker breaks them down. 🙂
Thank you, I’d forgotten.
can this soup ‘sit’ in the crock pot after the cheeses and chicken are added? I would like to use this recipe for a ‘soup buffet’ party and the soups must be able to ‘sit’ on warm for a while …….
Yes, it does fine!
What liquid can I leave out so it won’t be soup?
You can leave out all of the broth. It will be similar to my crack chicken recipe.
Should the peppers be de-seeded? My peppers had zero heat. The soup had a very mild flavor. I mostly tasted chicken broth and cream cheese.
No I don’t de-seed peppers in any of my recipes. That’s where the heat is.
Do you think you could freeze this soup?
I cook for two people and like to freeze portion sized meals.
Thanks!
I don’t see why not!
This was wonderful and easy to make!
This soup is yummy ..I add cilantro and black beans to it and sometimes hot rotel to spice it up
I just bought a 3 qt slow cooker.. how would I measure this? Cut everything in half?
I think that would be the best bet.
Sarah, crazy question. This recipe sounds delicious. I LOVE chili rellenos. I don’t eat meat. Any ideas on how I could adjust the recipe??
Use jack fruit in place of the chicken
You can leave out the chicken and a few cans of bean and maybe a can of corn. It will be great!
Do you roast the poblano peppers before adding them or do you put them in raw?
I put them in raw.
Making this for dinner tonight. Used thighs instead of breasts.. also added some oregeno amd garlic powder. Smells yummy, cant wait to taste it!
Sounds great with the thighs, oregano and garlic powder. How did it turn out?
Do the chicken breast need to be frozen or thawed?
I always use thawed 🙂
Oh Sarah! This looks so yummy!!
A definite YES on this soup! It looks soooo good!!!