Chicken Tortilla Soup is the kind of recipe that warms you up from the inside out. It’s a cozy, brothy soup packed with shredded chicken, tomatoes, beans, and bold southwest spices, all topped with crispy tortilla strips and your favorite toppings.
This is a great one-pot meal that’s easy to throw together on a weeknight. It’s flavorful, filling, and perfect for using up leftover chicken or a rotisserie. The toppings are what take it to the next level, so don’t skip the extras like avocado, lime, sour cream, or shredded cheese.
Helpful Tips
- Use rotisserie chicken for a shortcut: It saves time and adds a boost of flavor.
- Add the tortilla strips right before serving: That way they stay crispy and don’t get soggy in the soup.
- Make it your own: Add corn, swap in black beans, or spice it up with jalapeños depending on your taste.
You Might Also Like
- 15 Cozy & Comforting Fall Soups and Stews
- Cozy Chicken & Dumpling Soup for Two
- Chicken Tortellini Soup
Chicken Tortilla Soup
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion diced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 12 ounces salsa your favorite brand
- 2 cans black beans drained and rinsed
- 1 can corn
- 1 small red bell pepper chopped
- 5 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- For topping: Tortilla chips diced avocado, shredded cheese, green onion
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 3–4 minutes, until soft. Stir in garlic, cumin, chili powder, paprika, and salt; cook for 1 minute more.
- Add the tomatoes, black beans, corn, red pepper, and chicken broth. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes.
- Stir in the shredded chicken and simmer for another 5 minutes, until heated through.
- Turn off the heat and add lime juice and cilantro if using.
- Ladle into bowls and top with tortilla strips, avocado, cheese, sour cream, and lime wedges.
Nutrition
Laura is a home cook, with 25 years experience behind the stove, who spends an extraordinary amount of time in the kitchen cooking. She loves making new recipes and finding wonderful new things to eat, both at home or abroad. She spends a lot of time researching, crafting, and perfecting her recipes.