A few pantry ingredients transform into a delicious chicken enchilada soup that is guaranteed to spice up your supper! And there are Fritos involved, so you KNOW they will be running to get to the dinner table.
Yes, you are seeing things correctly — those ARE in fact Fritos floating on the top of this easy peasy chicken enchilada soup. Because sometimes you just have to go for the gusto in life, and sometimes that includes sprinkling Fritos on things. And sometimes that means dropping everything to drive to another state at the drop of a hat because of very wonderful but unexpected circumstances.
Let’s discuss both that AND the deliciousness that is chicken enchilada soup. With Fritos. Let’s make it!
[clickToTweet tweet=”A few pantry ingredients transform into a chicken enchilada soup that will spice up your supper!” quote=”A few pantry ingredients transform into a chicken enchilada soup that will spice up your supper!”]But first, my weekend adventure (and if you want to skip my adventure and scroll right on down to the recipe I understand. Scroll away.) The Southern husband got us tickets to see Bon Jovi in concert in Philly this weekend. He planned the whole thing out perfectly – a nice drive down the turnpike on Saturday, a swanky steakhouse dinner, then amble on over to the Wells Fargo Center to see Jon and the band, and then back to the hotel. Off I went to work on Friday with visions of our musical weekend getaway dancing in my head.
Around lunchtime I got a text from the Southern husband (who is not a big text-er, so I knew something momentous must have happened).
And it had. The tickets were not for Saturday after all. They were for Friday. As in that same day. I was ensconced in my day job office in lower Manhattan. The concert started in 8 hours in Philadelphia. So I had about six hours to get home, pack and make the usually 2 hour trip to Philly.
Now, much as I would like to say I am a Carpe Diem, seize the day, go with the flow girl, I’m just…not. I like lists, and advance notice, and to have mapped out every scenario in advance. But I raced out of the office, made it home, packed in 15 minutes and we hopped in the car. I was pretty dang proud of my flexibility. How bad could it be?
Well, it was Friday. And raining. This was our situation after creeping along in the Jeep for about an hour and a half of the usually 2 hour trip. WOULD WE MAKE IT? We were not even halfway there. We were living on a prayer. I may have prayed out loud at some points.
We arrived in Philly about two hours later, and instead of checking in to the hotel (as with Plan A), we headed straight for the venue, and here we are approximately 3 minutes before the concert started. Because I am nothing if not go-with-the-flow flexible.
In our seats, ready for Bon Jovi!
Who jumped into the crowd about 5 rows away from us.
And then he took off his leather jacket. I’ll just put that out there and let the picture speak a thousand words.
We were so deliriously happy about our drop of the hat concert success that after we checked into our hotel, we celebrated in the rooftop bar. And (in another first for me) we were there for last call. This is a flat-out miracle for someone who is usually snoozing by 9:30. I’m a changed woman!
The next morning we discovered that our hotel has my new favorite Philly restaurant. SO. GOOD.
They served my breakfast tea in one of these fascinating tea infusers – it gets filled with tea leaves and hot water and you put it on the top of your cup and all the tea drains through this strainer at the bottom. It was fascinating and so fun and good that I immediately ordered one on my phone as we were sitting there, because I am now a spur of the moment girl.
All of which has very little to do with chicken enchilada soup, except for the fact that both last-second Bon Jovi concerts and a handful of Fritos floating in your soup are definitely things that you should enjoy every once in a while.
Back at this soup, it’s a great thing to do with leftover chicken, and is one of those last minute dishes that you can whip up very quickly if you have the right stuff in the pantry. So keep an eye on the back of those boxes and cans in your pantry, because every now and again you do run across what we call in our house “a keeper.” This one is a keeper.
And just for the record, so is the Southern husband, who not only takes me to fabulous concerts, but also helps this Type A girl to loosen up and seize the day. I’m going to have some Fritos now!
PrintChicken Enchilada Soup
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
- Two 10 oz cans cream of chicken soup
- One 10 oz can enchilada sauce
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded chicken
- 1 cup Fritos
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients except Fritos in medium saucepan
- Cook over medium heat, stirring, until thoroughly heated and cheese is melted
- Ladle into soup bowls and garnish with Fritos
- If you want to get REALLY elegant, you can also top with chopped tomato, or avocado, or sour cream. But nothing really tops Fritos if we are being totally honest, right?
Edited – a lot! – from a previous Framed Cooks post
Luci's Morsels says
This soup looks delicious! I can’t wait to try this classic with the addition of Fritos!
Luci’s Morsels | fashion. food. frivolity.
Kate says
You’ll love it! Because, Fritos. :)
Anu - My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says
Oh, what a fun weekend you had, Kate. Glad you could make the concert on time. I like chicken enchilada soup and your version sounds wonderful. I am sure my family would love this. Lovely share.
Kate says
It certainly was fun – once we got there! Whew!
grace says
very cool! i would jump at the chance to see bon jovi in concert!
excellent soup, too. not a thing in this world wrong with a frito garnish. :)
Kate says
You said it! Fruit garnishes for everyone!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
Fritos in soup?! LOVE it! Chicken enchilada soup is my one of my favorites, and you are reminding me that it’s been way too long since I’ve had it. Love your version, Kate!
Kate says
Fritos make everything better! :)
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
Yay! I love that everything worked out for you guys and you had a BLAST at the concert! I’m not a fly by the seat of your pants type of chick either. I LOVE lists, organization, and like a months advance notice on everything. :) BUT, sometimes you just gotta go with the flow! And it looks like you became a master at that, Kate! This soup is the perfect way to celebrate a fabulous weekend! I mean, you used FRITOS!! GENIUS!! Seriously, I could eat bowl after bowl of this fajita deliciousness. Extra fritos please! ;) Cheers, friend! xo
Kate says
I don’t know if I am now permanently a go with the flow girl (guessing NOT!) but it was fun for the weekend! xoxo to you my friend!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
Whoa….what a rush!! Least you guys made the concert!! I bet it was awesome! Sounds like a perfect weekend! This soup sounds so fun with the Fritos on top (haven’t had in ages). A nice sandwich to go with for dunkin’ and this would be a lovely dinner :) Happy Monday to ya!
Kate says
It was a grand old time in the end – even if a little nerve-wracking! :)
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
What a FUN weekend Kate! I’m proud of your flexibility! I don’t think I could have done it!! But it sounds like you stepped up to the plate and ended up having the best time ever! I love this soup right down to the fritos (my favorite!) on top! Need to make this for Tom. He’ll love it too!
Kate says
We did have the best time! And you DO definitely have to make Tom this soup! Our wonderful husbands. :)
Martha in KS says
Gotta love a man who tries so hard to please his lady & messes up on the day. LOL. Glad you made it to the concert on time.
Kate says
You DO gotta love him! Whew!