Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe (2024)

By Laura

Posted Jan 30, 2023, Updated Feb 14, 2024

5 from 9 votes

7 Comments

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This chicken tortilla soup recipe is easy to make in 40 minutes on the stovetop. Learn how to make chicken tortilla soup that’s even more delicious than your favorite restaurant!

Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe (2)

This chicken tortilla soup is one of our family’s favorite soup recipes (along with this taco soup). It’s healthy and easy to make in 40 minutes on the stovetop!

This chicken tortilla soup is loaded with chicken, veggies, and beans, flavorful with herbs and spices and topped with the best homemade tortilla strips.

It tastes even better than your favorite restaurant and is an irresistible soup recipe you will make on repeat.

Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe (3)

Chicken Tortilla Soup: Ingredients & Substitutions

Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe (4)
  • Chicken Breasts. I suggest thinly sliced boneless, skinless chicken breasts for the best results.
  • Onion. Use a sweet, yellow onion or red onion.
  • Minced garlic. Fresh or jarred can be used. You can replace 1 tablespoon minced garlic with 1 tsp garlic powder (add with the spices).
  • Green Bell Pepper. Any color bell pepper works well.
  • Diced tomatoes. fire roasted, with green chilies or just plain diced tomatoes all work well in this taco soup recipe.
  • Green Chiles. choose your “heat” preference, we use mild.
  • Chicken Broth. Vegetable broth can be used in place of chicken, although I prefer chicken broth.
  • Black Beans. Other beans that work well are kidney beans and great northern (white) beans.
  • Taco Seasoning. Make your own with this Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe, or use an organic seasoning to avoid unfavorable ingredients. This is a mild chicken tortilla soup, but you can easily increase the heat/spice by adding chili powder, hot sauce, spicy taco seasoning, jalapeño peppers, etc.
  • Frozen Corn. You can substitute fresh corn.
Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe (5)

How to Make Chicken Tortilla Soup

This recipe is easy to make on the stovetop. We’ll walk through it together, and don’t forget tow watch the video.

Cook olive oil, onion green pepper and garlic over medium-high heat for 3-5 minutes or until onions are translucent.

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Then, add the diced tomatoes, chiles, chicken broth, lime juice, taco seasoning, sea salt, pepper, chicken breasts, beans and corn to the pot and stir to combine.

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Next, bring the mixture to a boil. Once it’s boiling, lower the heat, cover and simmer until the chicken is easily shredded with a fork (about 25-30 minutes).

Once the chicken is fully cooked, shred it and then return it to the pot.

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Then, add the cilantro and cover and simmer for 10-30 minutes (until ready to serve).

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Make the Tortilla Strips

While the soup is cooking (preferably while the chicken is cooking before it needs to be shredded), make the tortilla strips (I have a full post dedicated to making tortilla strips here: homemade tortilla strips)

Begin by preheating the olive oil in a large skillet, then add the tortilla strips and stir to combine

Cook over medium-high heat for 2-5 minutes, stirring often, until crispy. Sprinkle warm strips with salt and set them aside to serve on top of the soup!

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Serve

Once the homemade chicken tortilla soup is ready, serve it warm with sour cream, cheese, chopped onion, sliced avocado or homemade guacamole, and homemade tortilla strips. Check out all of our favorite Mexican Recipes.

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Store/Freeze

Store leftover chicken tortilla soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.

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Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe FAQs

How do I thicken Chicken Tortilla Soup?

This soup isn’t supposed to be very thick, however, you can thicken it in a few ways:
1) At the end of the cook time, simmer with the lid slightly ajar to cook off some of the water.
2) Add some cornmeal to the soup or crushed tortilla strips.

Can I double this recipe?

Yes, you can double the ingredients and cook it in a large stockpot.

How do I make Chicken Tortilla Soup spicier?

We prefer a mild soup. Here are some suggested additions to make it spicier:
Jalapeños (dice and cook with the onions/green peppers).
Chili powder
Cayenne pepper
Hot sauce

Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe (13)

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Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe (14)

Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe (15)

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Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe

Laura

This chicken tortilla soup recipe is easy to make in 40 minutes on the stovetop. Learn how to make chicken tortilla soup that's even more delicious than your favorite restaurant!

5 from 9 votes

Course Appetizer, Main Course, Soup

Cuisine American, Mexican

Servings 10 Servings

Calories 223

Prep Time10 minutes minutes

Cook Time40 minutes minutes

Total Time50 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 onion finely diced
  • 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 green bell pepper finely diced
  • 15 ounces diced tomatoes
  • 4 ounces mild green chiles
  • 4 cups chicken broth (1 quart)
  • 1 Tablespoon lime juice
  • 1 Tablespoon taco seasoning
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 2 pounds chicken breasts sliced thin
  • 15 ounces black beans drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • ½ cup Fresh cilantro finely chopped (plus more for garnish)
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Homemade tortilla strips

  • 4 corn tortillas (6" round) cut into 1” strips (or two 8-10” flour tortillas)
  • 3 Tablespoons olive oil
  • Pinch of sea salt

Instructions

Make the Soup

  • Cook olive oil, onion green pepper and garlic for 3-5 minutes or until onions are translucent.

  • Add diced tomatoes, chiles, chicken broth, lime juice, taco seasoning, sea salt, pepper, chicken breasts, beans and corn to the pot and stir to combine.

  • Bring mixture to a boil. Once boiling, lower the heat, cover and simmer until the chicken is easily shredded with a fork (about 25-30 minutes).

  • Shred the chicken then return it to the pot.

  • Add the cilantro, cover and simmer for 10-30 minutes (until ready to serve).

  • Serve hot with sour cream, cheese, chopped onion, sliced avocado, and homemade tortilla strips.

Make the Tortilla Strips:

  • Preheat olive oil in a large skillet

  • Add tortilla strips and stir to combine

  • Cook over medium-high heat for 2-5 minutes, stirring often, until crispy.

  • Sprinkle warm strips with salt.

Video

Notes

Ingredient Substitutions

  • Chicken Breasts. I suggest thinly sliced boneless, skinless chicken breasts for the best results.
  • Onion. Use a sweet, yellow onion or red onion.
  • Minced garlic. Fresh or jarred can be used. You can replace 1 tablespoon minced garlic with 1 tsp garlic powder (add with the spices).
  • Green Bell Pepper. Any color bell pepper works well.
  • Diced tomatoes. fire roasted, with green chilies or just plain diced tomatoes all work well in this taco soup recipe.
  • Green Chiles. choose your “heat” preference, we use mild.
  • Chicken Broth. Vegetable broth can be used in place of chicken, although I prefer chicken broth.
  • Black Beans. Other beans that work well are kidney beans and great northern (white) beans.
  • Taco Seasoning. Make your own with this Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe, or use an organic seasoning to avoid unfavorable ingredients. This is a mild chicken tortilla soup, but you can easily increase the heat/spice by adding chili powder, hot sauce, spicy taco seasoning, jalapeño peppers, etc.
  • Frozen Corn. You can substitute fresh corn.

Store/Freeze

Store leftover chicken tortilla soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 223kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 206mg | Potassium: 759mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 217IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you enjoy this recipe? Have a question? Leave a comment below!

Try these recipes

Homemade Tortilla Strips

Taco Soup Recipe

Crockpot Chicken Tacos (Mexican Chicken)

Chicken Enchiladas

Best Chicken Quesadilla Recipe

Easy Guacamole Recipe (5 Minutes)

Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What does chicken tortilla soup contain? ›

Chicken tortilla soup actually is an authentic Mexican dish. The traditional soup is made with chicken broth, tomatoes, garlic, onion, chiles, and fried tortilla strips. There are also variations of the soup, like ones that include beans.

What is the secret to soup? ›

7 Tips for Successful Soup Making
  • Use a Sturdy Pot. It is worth investing in a heavy pot with a thick bottom to use for making soup. ...
  • Sauté the Aromatics. ...
  • Start with Good Broth. ...
  • Cut Vegetables to the Right Size. ...
  • Stagger the Addition of Vegetables. ...
  • Keep Liquid at a Simmer. ...
  • Season Just Before Serving.
Oct 9, 2022

How long does chicken tortilla soup stay good in the fridge? ›

Chicken tortilla soup will keep nicely in the fridge for up to 4 days. It may thicken up while refrigerated, so add a bit of water or chicken broth when reheating to thin it out as necessary.

How do you tone down chicken tortilla soup? ›

Add Some Starches

The easiest way to tone down a spicy dish is to serve a smaller portion with plenty of rice, bread, potatoes, pasta, or plain starch to counter the heat. For soups and stews, raw and starchy vegetables like potatoes or carrots work well.

What is chicken soup broth made of? ›

Chicken Broth Ingredients

Chicken pieces: You can cut up a whole chicken to make broth or use any combination of bony chicken pieces, like legs, wings, necks and/or backbones. Celery, carrots and onions: This veggie trio is known as mirepoix. It adds depth and makes up the aromatic base of broth.

What goes well with chicken tortilla soup? ›

You can enjoy tortilla soup with many things, like tacos, burritos, and quesadillas. Mexican rice, chips with guacamole, roasted corn, black beans, and Mexican cornbread are also good choices.

What is the most important ingredient in soup? ›

For clear, brothy soups, stock is your most important ingredient. If you want to make a good soup, you need to use an excellently flavored stock — otherwise, the entire pot could be tasteless.

What makes homemade soup taste better? ›

7 Easy Ways to Make Any Soup Better
  1. Brown or Sear the Meat. ...
  2. Roast the the Veggies. ...
  3. Mix up the Texture. ...
  4. Use Homemade Stock Whenever Possible. ...
  5. Put Your Cheese Rinds to Work. ...
  6. Perk up a Bland Soup With Simple Pantry Staples. ...
  7. Add Fresh Herbs or Dairy When Serving.

What not to do when making soup? ›

The 7 Biggest Mistakes You Make Cooking Soup
  1. Boiling instead of simmering. You want a small bubble or two to rise to the surface of the liquid every few seconds. ...
  2. Not using enough salt. ...
  3. Ignoring water. ...
  4. Overcooking the vegetables. ...
  5. Adding tomatoes at the beginning. ...
  6. Neglecting to garnish. ...
  7. Not trying a pressure cooker.
Nov 19, 2014

How can I thicken tortilla soup? ›

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute. For the best results, never add flour or cornstarch directly to your soup. If you do, it will clump up on top. Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool.

Can you leave chicken tortilla soup out overnight? ›

Food should not be at room temperature for more than two hours. Shallow containers or small amounts of hot food can be placed directly in the refrigerator or rapidly chilled in an ice or cold water bath before refrigerating. Cover foods to retain moisture and prevent them from picking up odors from other foods.

Can I eat 5 day old chicken soup? ›

A general rule of thumb is that soup can be stored in the refrigerator for about three days, but you should always taste your dish before deciding to reheat. A clear, vegetable-based soup with some acidity, such as tomatoes, may last longer. Chicken soup usually lasts three to five days.

How do you deepen chicken soup flavor? ›

Here are some ideas for imparting richer and more interesting flavors to soups.
  1. Good Stock - Usually you can buy good stock. ...
  2. Roasted Vegetables - Roasting vegetables intensifies their flavors and gives them depth. ...
  3. Alliums - Onions, leeks, shallots, or even garlic sweated until light golden.
Apr 5, 2022

How to make can chicken soup taste better? ›

Besides adding vegetables to your soup, another option is to play around with stirring in herbs and spices. If you love food with some zing to it, drizzling in some hot sauce can be a great way to bring on the heat and give your soup an extra edge.

What cancels out spicy taste? ›

The next time your dish tastes too spicy, try adding lemon, lime or orange juice, or any style of vinegar that suits the dish and your taste preferences. Remember, a little goes a long way, so taste as you go (it's always easier to add more than to backtrack after adding too much).

What are the ingredients in Costco chicken tortilla soup? ›

Chicken stock, diced tomatoes in juice, cooked chicken meat, cooked white chicken meat, onions, corn, carrots, roasted poblano peppers, roasted red bell peppers, roasted green chiles, tortillas (corn, water, lime), contains 2% or less of: tomato paste, water, cultured dextrose, sea salt, modified food starch, chili ...

What is sopa de tortilla made of? ›

Traditional tortilla soup is made of fried corn tortilla pieces, submerged into a broth of tomato, garlic, onion, and epazote. It is served with pieces of pasilla chiles, chicharrón, avocado, queso panela, lime, and Mexican crema.

What does a chicken wrap contain? ›

This recipe gives you the option of grilled or fried buttermilk chicken folded into a rice pilaf with a creamy ranch dressing. Each warm tortilla is filled with lettuce, chicken, rice, and tomatoes, and then rolled up snugly.

What does caldo de pollo contain? ›

Caldo de Pollo Ingredients

Chicken: Start with five pounds of chicken leg quarters. Water: The broth starts with two gallons of water. Seasonings: Season the caldo de pollo with minced garlic, salt, garlic powder, and chicken bouillon. Vegetables: You'll need carrots, potatoes, zucchini, a chayote, and an onion.

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