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Green Chicken Chili Soup

This versatile green chicken chili soup recipe can be made ahead as a freezer meal, made just a few hours ahead in a slow-cooker, or even cooked right away on the stove top.

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Green chicken chili verde soup in a bowl with avocado, lime and cilantro

Green Chicken Chili, but Make It Soup!

Salsa verde (store-bought or homemade, whatever works for you!), canned white beans, and—one of our favorite flavor-giving ingredients—canned green chilis make this easy chicken chili verde soup a total breeze. We’ve got instructions for how to make it as a make-ahead freezer meal, in the Crock Pot, or even just on the stove top—whatever method you pick, you’ll wind up with a bowl of lightly spicy, hearty, white bean-studded chicken chili soup that’s low-carb, keto-friendly and sure to please the whole family.

Ingredients laid out for Green Chicken Chili Soup with chicken stock, onions, green bell peppers salsa, garlic and beans
Ingredients in a bowl Green Chicken Chili Soup with chicken stock, onions, green bell peppers salsa, garlic and beans
Ingredients mixed in a bowl Green Chicken Chili Soup with chicken stock, onions, green bell peppers salsa, garlic and beans
Ingredients in a freezer bag for Green Chicken Chili Soup with chicken stock, onions, bell peppers salsa, garlic and beans

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Chicken Verde Soup: Ingredients

This Mexican-inspired, easy, green chili chicken soup bursts with bright, bold, satisfying flavors and is healthy to boot. What more could a person wish for? Here’s everything you’ll need to make this:

  • Olive oil.
  • Onion & garlic.
  • Chicken stock. Take note! You’ll need different amounts of stock depending on how you’re planning to cook the chicken soup recipe.
  • White beans. Great Northern, cannellini beans—whatever kind of white bean you’ve got or prefer is just fine.
  • Jarred salsa verde. Or use homemade, if you’ve got it!
  • Can of green chilis. Mild, with a hint of sweetness and smoke, canned green chilis make everything better.
  • Green bell pepper, chopped
  • Jalapeño. We love a little kick, but for this green chicken chili we choose to seed the jalapeño to cut down on the spice and make sure this soup is family-friendly. That said, if you like it hot, leave the seeds in.
  • Chicken breast.
  • Spices! Cumin & chili powder
  • Fresh lime juice
Onions sautéed in olive oil in a stock pot
Green Chicken Chili Soup in a stockpot getting ready to be simmered
cooked Green Chicken Chili Soup in a stock pot with a wooden spoon
Green Chicken Chili Soup with avocado and cilantro in a soup pot

Our Best Freezer Meal Tips

If you’re new to freezer meals, welcome! Welcome to the wild world of feeling extremely on top of it all the time. Or at least, in those glorious moments when you remember that your freezer is full of meals that are ready whenever you are. Here are a few of our best make-ahead meal beginner tips:

  1. This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s worth mentioning that it’s important to buy freezer bags, NOT just regular zip-top bags. Not all one-gallon zip-top bags (like Ziploc) are meant for freezing. Just check the label and be sure you’re buying freezer bags, which are thicker than regular and made to withstand months in the freezer.
  2. Label label label! Use a sharpie to label your freezer meals with the date you made them, and the name of the recipe. If you’re feeling really ambitious, it’s also nice to label the bags with a “good until” date, too. For this low carb salsa verde chicken soup, it’s good for three months from the date you freeze it.
  3. When in doubt, throw it out. The old adage holds true! If you’re not sure (or forgot to label the bag) don’t take chances. If there’s ever a time to order pizza, its when the alternative is a mystery bag from the back of the freezer.
frozen green chicken chili soup in a crockpot
Green Chicken Chili Soup in a slow cooker with a wooden soon

Tools You’ll Need:

The tools you’ll need to make this chicken chili verde soup will depend on which green chili chicken soup recipe variation you decide to make. You’ll definitely need:

And you might need:

Slow cooker green chicken chili soup in a crock pot with a wooden spoon
green chicken verde soup in a bowl with avocado and lime

More Easy Freezer Meals We Love:

Chicken and freezer—they’re so MFEO.

green chicken chili soup in a bowl with limes, cilantro and white beans

How Did You Make It?

Did you make this chicken verde soup in the slow-cooker? Or as a freezer green chicken chili? Or did you just go ahead and cook it for dinner tonight? Let us know! Snap a photo of your green chicken chili soup, and maybe even a video of the beautiful people you feed it to. Tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper so we can see!

Green Chicken Chili Soup

  • Serves: 6
  • Prep Time:  15 min
  • Cook Time:  36 min
  • Calories: 244

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced
  • 1 green bell pepper, diced
  • 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 cups chicken stock
  • 1 (14 ounce) can white beans such as navy beans, cannellini beans or “great northern”, drained and rinsed
  • 1 (16 ounce) jar salsa verde
  • 1 (4 ounce) can green chilis
  • 1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, 2-inch cubed
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • Diced avocado, for serving
  • Minced cilantro, for serving

Method

  1. In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat until glistening. Add the onion and bell pepper and cook, stirring, until softened, 5 minutes. Stir in the jalapeño and garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 more minute.

  2. Stir in 3 cups chicken stock, white beans, salsa verde, green chilis, chicken, cumin, chili powder and salt. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the chicken is cooked through, about 30 minutes.

  3. Stir in lime juice and serve with avocado and cilantro.


Note: To make ahead, (reduce the chicken stock to use only 2 cups) cool the soup and add it to a freezer ziplock bag or airtight container. Store in the freezer for up to 1 month. When ready to use, thaw out and reheat in a pot over medium heat on the stove or in a crockpot on high for 4 hours.

To make in a slow-cooker:

  1. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat until glistening. Add the onion and bell pepper and cook, stirring, until softened, 5 minutes. Stir in the jalapeño and garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 more minute.

  2. Transfer the onion mixture to the base of a slow-cooker. Stir in just 1 cup chicken stock, white beans, salsa verde, green chilis, chicken, cumin, chili powder and salt. Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.

  3. Stir in lime juice and serve with avocado and cilantro.

Nutrition Info

  • Per Serving
  • Amount
  • Calories244
  • Protein38 g
  • Carbohydrates14 g
  • Total Fat7 g
  • Dietary Fiber2 g
  • Cholesterol66 mg
  • sodium1008 mg
  • Total Sugars6 g

Green Chicken Chili Soup

Questions & Reviews

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  • Olivia Small

    This says freezer meal but doesn’t actually have freezer instructions? Other than photos? Assuming you just mix together all the ingredients, freeze and cook, but unsure on specifics because I don’t see them written out

    The instructions are right under step 3 "Note: To make ahead, (reduce the chicken stock to use only 2 cups) cool the soup and add it to a freezer ziplock bag or airtight container. Store in the freezer for up to 1 month. When ready to use, thaw out and reheat in a pot over medium heat on the stove or in a crockpot on high for 4 hours." Hope you enjoy Olivia!

  • Riah

    What’s a good side for this dish?

    Our Tex Mex Salad would be delicious or homemade corn bread. Hope you enjoy Riah!

  • Rigdon

    Can I make this green chicken in a Dutch oven?

    Yes, hope you enjoy!

  • Carol G

    Can I use ground chicken in this?

    sure!

  • Mariano

    How big is your serving size?

    We don't have yield yet for most recipes, we are working on getting that added in the future. But this soup serves 6 people. Hope you enjoy Mariano!

  • LS

    Amazeballs. Even my picky daughter liked it. I have shared it already with several friends. Thank you for this tasty, delicious recipe.

    HAHA! You're so welcome, we are so happy you love it!

  • Katie Falk

    Very yummy! More of a soup vs a chili - next time I’ll do 2 cans of beans, I think that’d make it chunkier. Great flavor!

    Thanks Katie, glad you enjoyed it!

  • Alison

    This recipe is so good! My stepson literally said “yummmm” after every bite, AND said that it is now his favorite dinner, haha. I had to sub the jalapeño for a poblano, and it still had a perfect kick to it. Served it with a little rice, and also sprinkled roasted pelicans on top. YUM, and thank you!

    YES! That is the best, we are so glad you all loved it!

  • Lola

    I was looking for a recipe to use up some excess rotisserie chicken. This fit the bill as I has most of the pantry items on hand. The only change I made was to chop up two poblano peppers I has that were almost by their best by date. I didn’t purée the beans as I like them whole. Just mashed a few at the end to thicken.
    I’ve never had green Chili and honestly I wish I had tried this sooner! A winner all around! Delish and a keeper!

    Thank you, that's so great to hear Lola! We are so glad you loved it!

  • Joe Malon

    This was great! Wanted a simple dinner to go with the Oilers/Leafs game. Fit the bill and more. Perfect spice (I’ll never be able to replicate since I NEVER measure) and super easy to make. This will be made again!!!

    Thanks Joe, so glad you loved it!