Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe (Better Than Restaurant)
It’s a super day for a bowl of soup, don’t you think!
Warm, comforting, and loaded with bold flavor, this chicken tortilla soup is a must-make.
It’s the kind of cozy bowl that tastes like it simmered all day, but comes together with ease.
Tender chicken, rich broth, and just the right kick of spice in every spoonful.
Each bite is packed with beans, corn, and fresh toppings for the perfect balance.
Those crispy tortilla strips on top add that irresistible crunch.
It’s hearty enough for dinner, yet simple enough for any night of the week.
Serve it up with your favorite toppings and make it your own.
One pot, big flavor, and guaranteed to have everyone going back for seconds.
This is the soup you’ll come back to all season long.
I love soup all year long… no matter the weather, but as soon as we get a cool night… soups on!
Now tortilla soup is full of great flavor and is super popular with all the authentic Mexican food here in So Cal.
I just love each and every single item that goes into this soup, from the fresh cilantro to the black beans, the corn, and the Cotija cheese.
Add on some sliced avocado too!
other great chicken soup recipes to try:
- Creamy Chicken Stew
- Thai Chicken Curry
- Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
- Green Chicken Chili
- One-Pot Chicken Soup
To me, the toppings are just as important as the ingredients that are cooked. I love the fresh lime flavor, the crunchy tortilla strips, and fresh cilantro really top off this soup deliciously!
What kind of tortilla chips to use
I used 4 fresh corn tortillas and cut them into strips then tossed them in a bowl with a teaspoon or two of oil then air-fried them at 370° for about 5 minutes until they were crispy but not burnt.
Any tortilla chips will work, havign that crunchy topping really takes this soup to the next level of yumminess. You can top the soup with tortilla chips broken into smaller pieces or bake or fry fresh tortilla strips.
A quick easy way to prep chicken is to use the Instant Pot!
What type of chicken to use
I typically cook chicken for the week to make mealtime easier and quicker. I put 3+ lbs with a cup of chicken stock in my pressure cooker (instant pot) and cook for 25 minutes.
If you are cooking the chicken from raw, saute the chicken with onion and add a cup of chicken stock, and cook on medium-low until the chicken reaches 165° or higher and is tender and can be shredded easily.
Alternatively, you can use chicken breast, cut it into small pieces before adding it.
Chicken thighs are very popular in Mexican cooking and stay juicy so I do use thighs in the soup as well as chicken breasts.
I have a picky eater, and I’m happy to report that the picky eater LIKES THIS Chicken Tortilla Soup, it’s a real accomplishment to find something they will eat. They don’t typically like vegetables or soup. SO give this a try if you have a picky eater and see if you get rave reviews also.
The next favorite soup for the picky eater is
This one-pot spaghetti soup is a real family favorite, it’s comfort food in every scoop!
Soup recipes to try:
How to make,,, Croutons, wontons, and TORTILLA CHIPS!
Chicken Tortilla Soup
Ingredients
- 2 lbs cooked boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1 jalapeno diced
- 2 teaspoons oil
- 6 cups chicken broth or water and chicken bouillon
- 1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes or 8 oz plain tomato sauce or 2 tablespoons tomato paste if you want it smooth without chunks of tomato
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1 can black beans
- 1 cup frozen corn
- add salt and pepper to taste
toppings
- fresh cilantro
- green onions
- fresh lime
- tortilla strips air-fried or tortilla chips
- cotija cheese
Instructions
- In a 6qt pot saute the onion and jalapeno with 2 teaspoons of oil.
- Add in the chicken broth, diced tomatoes (along with juice in the can)
- If you are using raw chicken, cut it into small pieces and add the chicken now (If using cooked chicken like I did add it at the end.
- Add the chili powder, oregano, and cumin.
- Once the soup comes to a boil over medium heat, add the corn and black beans, and cooked chicken.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Ladle the soup into bowls and top with cilantro, diced green onions, lime juice, and tortilla chips and cheese.
Been looking for a good French onion soup recipe. Do you have one you use?
I have made french onion soup a few times but never photographed and posted it.
HERE are a couple good looking recipes (I add beef to mine, I typically pressure cook beef about once a month and save some for recipes like this)
https://addapinch.com/french-onion-soup/
and
https://www.spendwithpennies.com/slow-cooker-french-onion-soup/
We’re in Texas, and this is a great recipe! I had red bell pepper in the fridge, so I also added that, plus a bay leaf. To the toppings, I added fresh avocado chunks as well.
Comments from my husband (the Texan) included: “I’m just thinking about my second bowl,” “I want to swim in it!” and “Keep this recipe and make it again.”
😀 5 stars
I’m so happy to hear you like the recipe, my family loves it I have no idea what took me so long to post it 🙂