Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe

Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe

Cook Time: 25 minutes

This chicken tortilla soup is the perfect comfort food, offering both spicy Mexican flavors and hearty ingredients that will keep you full and satisfied. Its so delicious, everyone will be going back for seconds, so be ready to make it again and again!

Is Chicken Tortilla Soup Authentic Mexican Food?

Yes! Chicken tortilla soup is a traditional Mexican dish. The authentic version consists of chicken broth, tomatoes, garlic, onions, chiles, and crispy tortilla strips. There are several variations, some of which include beans or other vegetables.

How to Make Chicken Tortilla Soup

Making this chicken tortilla soup is simple and quick it only takes about 35 minutes! Heres what you need to do:

Step 1: Heat olive oil in a stockpot over medium heat. Add chopped onion and minced garlic. Saut for about 5 minutes until the onions are soft and translucent.

Step 2: Stir in the chili powder and oregano, letting the spices bloom in the oil for a minute.

Step 3: Add the crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, and water to the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil.

Step 4: Reduce the heat and let the soup simmer for 5-10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.

Step 5: Add the black beans, cooked chicken, corn, hominy, chopped green chiles, and fresh cilantro. Stir everything together and simmer for an additional 10 minutes to combine the flavors.

Step 6: Ladle the soup into individual bowls. Top each bowl with a handful of crushed tortilla chips, sliced avocado, Monterey Jack cheese, and chopped green onions.

What to Serve with Chicken Tortilla Soup

This soup is fantastic on its own, but you can also garnish it with your favorite toppings like sour cream, extra cilantro, or lime wedges. For a more filling meal, serve it with crusty bread or a light side salad.

How to Store Chicken Tortilla Soup

Once the soup has cooled, transfer it into airtight s. It will stay fresh in the fridge for up to four days. Reheat on the stove or in the microwave when you're ready to enjoy it again.

Can You Freeze Chicken Tortilla Soup?

Yes! This soup freezes really well, making it perfect for meal prep. Simply cool the soup completely, then transfer it to airtight freezer s or zip-top freezer bags. If using freezer bags, lay them flat in the freezer for easy storage. The soup will keep for up to three months. To reheat, thaw it in the fridge overnight before warming it up on the stove.

Nutrition Facts (per serving):

  • Calories: 352
  • Fat: 18g
  • Carbs: 34g
  • Protein: 19g
  • Sodium: 711mg
  • Dietary Fiber: 12g
  • Sugars: 8g
  • Vitamin C: 55mg
  • Calcium: 140mg
  • Iron: 4mg
  • Potassium: 1050mg

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed chicken broth
  • 1 cups water
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 2 large boneless chicken breast halves, cooked and cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 cup whole corn kernels, cooked
  • 1 cup white hominy
  • 1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chile peppers
  • cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • cup crushed tortilla chips (or to taste)
  • 2 medium avocados, sliced (or to taste)
  • cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese (or to taste)
  • 2 tablespoons chopped green onions (or to taste)

Directions:

Step 1: Gather all the ingredients you need to make the soup.

Step 2: Heat the olive oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic. Saut them for about 5 minutes until the onion becomes soft.

Step 3: Stir in the chili powder and oregano to add depth to the flavors. Let the spices cook for another minute.

Step 4: Pour in the crushed tomatoes, condensed chicken broth, and water. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for 5-10 minutes.

Step 5: Add the black beans, cooked chicken, corn, hominy, green chiles, and cilantro. Stir everything together and let it simmer for another 10 minutes to allow all the ingredients to meld.

Step 6: Serve the soup hot, garnished with crushed tortilla chips, avocado slices, Monterey Jack cheese, and chopped green onions.

Community Tips and Praise:

"This soup was delicious. We didnt have any leftovers it was too good! A friend even asked for the recipe after smelling it cooking," says a satisfied cook.

"My family loves this recipe! I add a bit of lime juice and some crushed tortilla chips. It freezes great too I make a big batch and freeze it for busy nights," says another fan.

"Super easy and flavorful! I made the chicken in my Instant Pot beforehand, so it came together quickly. Next time Ill use hominy for a more unique texture," shares a third cook.

Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe

FAQ about Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe

To store Chicken Tortilla Soup, allow it to cool completely before transferring it into airtight containers. It can be refrigerated for up to 4 days. When reheating, you can use a microwave or reheat it on the stove.

Yes, Chicken Tortilla Soup freezes well. After allowing it to cool completely, ladle the soup into airtight freezer containers or zip-top freezer bags. If using zip-top bags, make sure to freeze them flat. The soup will last up to 3 months in the freezer. To reheat, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and then reheat on the stove or in the microwave.

Chicken Tortilla Soup can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days if kept in an airtight container. Be sure to let it cool to room temperature before storing.

If the soup turns out too thick for your liking, simply add a little extra chicken broth or water to thin it out to your preferred consistency.

Yes, Chicken Tortilla Soup can be made ahead of time. In fact, the flavors often improve the next day. You can store it in the fridge and reheat it when ready to serve. If you plan to freeze it, follow the storage instructions above.

Chicken Tortilla Soup is delicious with a variety of toppings! Some popular options include crushed tortilla chips, diced avocado, shredded Monterey Jack cheese, sour cream, cilantro, and chopped green onions. You can also add a squeeze of lime juice or hot sauce for extra flavor.

Yes, Chicken Tortilla Soup is highly customizable. You can substitute hominy with corn, and if you don't have green chilies, you can use diced jalapeños. You can also use rotisserie chicken instead of cooking the chicken breasts or adjust the spices to your taste.

The spiciness of the Chicken Tortilla Soup depends on the amount of chili powder and green chilies or other spicy ingredients you use. If you prefer a milder soup, reduce the chili powder and omit the green chilies. For more heat, you can add extra chili powder, jalapeños, or hot sauce.

Yes, you can make Chicken Tortilla Soup in a slow cooker. Simply combine all the ingredients in the slow cooker, including uncooked chicken, and cook on low for 6-8 hours. After the chicken is cooked, shred it and stir it back into the soup. You can then add the toppings before serving.

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are commonly used in Chicken Tortilla Soup because they are easy to shred and cook quickly. You can also use rotisserie chicken for a shortcut or substitute with chicken thighs for a richer flavor.

Comments

Carolyn Wilson

05/20/2024 02:34:53 PM

My husband and I absolutely adored this soup - it truly captures the delicious flavors of restaurant-style chicken tortilla soup. I made a few tweaks to the recipe. Firstly, I sautéed diced chicken breast in a touch of olive oil along with salt, pepper, and garlic powder, then shredded the chicken. I opted for 4 cloves of garlic to enhance the flavor. Instead of using oregano, I used 2 teaspoons of cumin. I included 2 cans of chicken broth while skipping the water. Hominy is not my favorite, so I swapped it out for 2 cups of frozen white corn. Since I didn't have canned green chile peppers, I used half a can of diced jalapeños. To finish, I garnished the soup with Monterey Jack cheese, crushed tortilla chips, freshly chopped cilantro, and a dollop of sour cream. It was simply delightful! I served the soup with Mexican cornbread (cornbread mix with added diced jalapeños and 1 1/2 cups of Monterey Jack). I will definitely be making this soup again!

Virginia Wright

10/16/2024 02:20:50 AM

I have experimented with this recipe multiple times and while as written, I wouldn't rate it 5 stars, with a few modifications, it turns out absolutely fantastic! Here are the changes I made: I opted for fresh diced tomatoes (2-4 tomatoes, depending on desired flavor intensity) instead of canned, and they were perfectly ripe, which greatly enhanced the dish. I also included fresh yellow and red bell peppers, increased the amount of chili powder and cumin for a flavor boost. Substituting all water with homemade chicken broth (made from simmering the remains of a rotisserie chicken) instead of using canned broth made a world of difference. I seasoned with about 2 teaspoons of garlic salt, omitted the hominy in favor of corn, added an extra 4 oz can of green chiles, and folded in some sour cream half an hour before serving, a tip I picked up from other reviewers. I combined all the ingredients in the slow cooker and let them meld for over 5 hours for maximum flavor infusion. Once the chicken was fully cooked (around the 3-hour mark), I shredded it using a knife and fork, then added it back to the pot to absorb more flavor. To finish off the dish, I garnished it with crushed tortilla chips, cheese, sour cream, avocado, and fresh cilantro, resulting in a truly amazing meal!

Thomas Collins

01/13/2024 06:42:52 AM

Great recipe! I decided to make it for my boyfriend and myself as we transition into fall and crave comforting, warm dishes in the evenings. I mostly stuck to the original ingredients, only reducing the amount of oregano to 1/2 tsp and adding 1 tsp of cumin. At first, the soup tasted a bit bland, so I went back and seasoned it more assertively. I included more chili powder, a generous amount of salt, pepper, garlic powder, and extra oregano. This boosted the flavor profile significantly and made the soup much more enjoyable. Additionally, I opted to simmer the soup for much longer than 10 minutes. I let it simmer for a full hour to really allow the flavors to meld together beautifully. All in all, it's a good recipe. Just remember to adjust the seasonings to suit your taste preferences!

Kenneth Taylor

08/07/2023 10:37:03 AM

Amazing outcome! I enhanced the dish by including three cloves of garlic and 1.5 white onions for sautéing before mixing in the tomatoes. I also increased the amount of chili powder to 3.5 tablespoons and added 1 tablespoon of cumin. After adding all the ingredients, I adjusted the salt to my liking. I decided to add more water than the original recipe suggested as the consistency was too thick for me. Overall, this recipe is absolutely fantastic!

Victoria Diaz

09/25/2022 01:22:26 PM

This recipe is simple to make and incredibly delicious! I've prepared it multiple times for my family, friends, and clients. I prefer using Better Than Bouillon instead of traditional broth as it enhances the flavor. Everyone always enjoys this soup immensely.