Chicken Tortellini Soup (A 30-Minute One-Pot Meal!)
A hearty and ‘protein-packed’ creamy soup featuring chicken and cheese tortellini with a Southwestern flair. The recipe uses a unique, healthy method to create a creamy base by blending cottage cheese until smooth. The soup starts with a flavor base of sautéed bell peppers and onions, seasoned with chili powder and cumin. This is simmered with chicken broth, fire-roasted tomatoes, corn, and cooked chicken. Refrigerated cheese tortellini and the blended cottage cheese are stirred in at the end to create a rich and satisfying one-pot meal.
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon avocado oil
- 2 medium bell peppers, diced
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 Tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 12 ounces frozen corn
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced fire-roasted tomatoes, undrained
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups diced cooked chicken breast
- 1 1/2 cups cottage cheese
- 18 ounces refrigerated cheese tortellini
- Lime juice and shredded cheese, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the peppers, onions, and garlic, and sauté until the onions begin to soften.
- Sprinkle the chili powder, cumin, cayenne, and salt over the vegetables. Stir well and sauté for another 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
- Add the frozen corn, the undrained fire-roasted tomatoes, the chicken broth, and the cooked chicken to the pot. Stir and allow the soup to come to a low boil.
- Let the soup cook for 5 minutes.
- While the soup is cooking, place the cottage cheese in a blender and blend until completely smooth and creamy.
- Temper the cottage cheese by whisking 1/4 to 1/3 cup of the hot broth from the soup into it.
- Slowly pour the tempered cottage cheese mixture back into the soup, stirring constantly until it is fully incorporated.
- Add the refrigerated tortellini to the soup and allow it to cook for 5 minutes, or according to package directions, until tender.
- Serve warm with a squeeze of fresh lime juice and a sprinkle of shredded cheese, if desired.
Notes
- This recipe uses blended cottage cheese as a high-protein secret ingredient to create a creamy soup base without relying solely on heavy cream.
- Tempering the blended cottage cheese with a small amount of hot broth before adding it to the pot is a crucial step to prevent it from curdling.
- Using pre-cooked chicken and refrigerated tortellini are key shortcuts that make this a quick and easy weeknight meal.
Find it online: https://www.eatswithsoul.com/creamy-chicken-tortellini-soup/