Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- In a large soup pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned and translucent.
- Stir in the crushed tomatoes, Rotel tomatoes with their juices, and chicken broth. Add the garlic powder, smoked paprika, chili powder, corn, and black beans. Stir well to combine, then increase the heat to high and bring to a boil, which should take about 3-5 minutes.
- Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and cover the pot with the lid slightly ajar. Let the soup simmer gently for 5 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and deepen.
- While the soup simmers, prepare your toppings: slice the avocado, portion out the sour cream, shred the cheese if needed, and set aside the tortilla strips.
- Stir the heavy cream and shredded chicken into the soup, reducing the heat to low and never allowing the mixture to boil, which would cause the cream to separate. Let it warm through for 3-5 minutes until the chicken is heated through and the soup reaches a creamy consistency.
- Taste and season generously with salt and pepper. Ladle the soup into bowls and top with tortilla strips, avocado, sour cream, and shredded cheese. Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
Always add heavy cream at the end over low heat to prevent curdling. Drain and rinse black beans thoroughly to remove excess starch and prevent a muddy-looking soup. Add rotisserie chicken in the last few minutes of cooking to keep it tender. If cream appears curdled when adding, reduce heat to lowest setting and stir constantly while slowly drizzling in the cream. Prepare soup base (all ingredients except cream and chicken) up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerate, then reheat, add cream and chicken, and serve with fresh toppings. Freezes beautifully for up to 3 months without cream added.
