Tortilla Soup Recipe

This Mexican Tortilla Soup Rivals the Restaurants!

This Chicken Tortilla Soup is the soup of my dreams. Itโ€™s almost dump and run for the ideal easy weeknight dinner or fabulous for crowds.ย  ย It is loaded with juicy, tender shredded chicken, hearty black beans, sweet corn, fire roasted tomatoes, tangy green chiles, kickinโ€™ poblanos, creamy enchilada sauce and aromatic onions and garlic, seasoned to perfection and all topped with crispy, salty homemade BAKED Tortilla Strips!ย  This Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe is warm and comforting, hearty, savory, filling, and healthy, requires minimal effort (seriously one of the easiest soups you will ever make) and is destined to become a new family favorite!

WATCH: Delicious Tortilla Soup

top view of easy chicken tortilla soup in a whit bowl with homemade tortilla strips


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You will love this Chicken Tortilla Soup

Is it possible to have another favorite soup?!ย  I already am in love with my other Mexican inspired Soups fromย Mexican Chicken Corn Chowder,ย Chicken Fajita and Rice Soup ,ย Cheesy Taco Soup,ย White Chicken Chili andย Salsa Verde Chicken Tortilla Soup but this Chicken Tortilla Soup has been on my bucket list for some time and I was just waiting to get it perfect to share with you โ€“ enter perfection. I amย soooooooย in love with this Chicken Tortilla Soup and canโ€™t wait for you to love it too!

Itโ€™s so good you will never need to make a special trip to your favorite Mexican restaurant again to satisfy your Tortilla Soup cravings because you can make your own pot for the same price as one bowl โ€“ย  in 30 minutes.

This Chicken Tortilla Soup comes together incredibly quickly and the majority of โ€œmakingโ€ this soup is simply dumping in cans and spices and results in a fresh and flavorful soup with a punch of flavor.ย ย  You will also love that this Chicken Tortilla Soup is a meal-in-one made with common pantry staples so you can make this soup any night of the week!

top view of authentic chicken tortilla soup in a white soup pot with a ladle scooping the soup
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Tortilla Soup Recipe Ingredients

Letโ€™s take a closer look at what you need to make this recipe (measurements in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post):

  • Chicken:ย  ย This recipe uses 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts that simmer with the soup.ย  Feel free to swap out for chicken thighs if you prefer.ย  You can also sbustitute approximately 3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken.ย  You will want to added this already cooked chicken to the Chicken Tortilla Soup at the end of cooking with the cilantro and heat through.
  • Onion:ย  You can substitute the onion with 1 teaspoon onion powder.
  • Garlic Cloves:ย  You can substitute the garlic with 1 ยฝ teaspoons onion powder.
  • Poblano Pepper:ย  These peppers boast a very mild heat, nothing like a jalapeno, so donโ€™t be afraid of them!ย  You can substitute with chopped green bell pepper if you prefer then add more hot sauce to taste.
  • Seasonings:ย This Chicken Tortilla Soup has a medium kick to it which I think will be perfect for most people. If you are very sensitive to spice or want to make this very kid friendly then substitute the poblano with a green bell pepper and decrease the chili powder to 1 teaspoon.
  • Cannedย Mild Diced Green Chilies:ย  Make sure you purchase mild green chiles โ€“ I have accidentally used the hot chilies before and they are HOT!ย  Mild green chiles, however are more tangy than hot so you donโ€™t have to worry about them making your soup spicy.ย 
  • Fire-Roasted Diced Tomatoes:ย ย Fire roasted tomatoes boast a wonderful smoky flavor and are sweeter and less acidicy than regular diced tomatoes.ย  Most grocery stores carry them but if you canโ€™t find them, then substitute regular diced tomatoes.ย ย 
  • Canned Sweet Corn:ย  I use canned corn for this Chicken Tortilla Soup for convenience but feel free to use corn fresh off the cob if you prefer.ย  You can also use frozen corn but add it toward the end of cooking, just so it has time to warm through, otherwise it can disintegrate.ย ย 
  • Mild Enchilada Sauce:ย  Feel free to use your favorite homemade enchilada sauce if you prefer.ย  I suggest using mild enchilada sauce because you can always add more heat but it is hard to take away!
  • ย Chicken Broth:ย  Take care your chicken broth is low sodium otherwise omit the chicken bouillon and add salt to taste.ย 
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    Mexican Tortilla Soup Seasonings

    We are going to create our own custom โ€œTacoโ€ seasoning with:

    • chili powder
    • ground cumin
    • smoked paprika
    • dried oregno
    • salt
    • pepper

    I also addย chicken bouillonย  to enhance the overall flavor, but this is optional.ย  If you skip the chicken bouillon, you are definitely going to want to add additional salt to taste.ย 

    Up close of ladeful of easy Chicken Tortilla Soup in a white dutch oven with a spoonful of soup loaded with chicken, beans, corn, and tomatoes

    How to Make Tortilla Soup

    This Chicken Tortilla Soup is SO EASY itโ€™s going to blow your mind!ย  Because easy can be delicious when you use the right techniques and spices!

    • First, we melt olive oil over medium high heat in a large Dutch oven/soup pot. Add onions and sautรฉ for 3 minutes. Add bell pepper and poblano peppers and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly then add our garlic and sautรฉ 30 seconds.
    • If you arenโ€™t familiar with poblano peppers, I like to think of them as mild jalapenos.ย  They are not nearly as spicy as jalapenos, but still have a little kick. They are thick like green bell peppers so they stand up beautifully in soups.ย  If you are sensitive to heat at all then feel free to substitute with a green bell pepper.
    Showing How to Make Chicken Tortilla Soup by sauteinig onions, garlic, red bell peppers, poblano peppers and onions
    • Now all thatโ€™s left to do is add our Chicken Tortilla Soup ingredients consisting of chicken breasts (uncooked) mild diced green chiles, fire roasted tomatoes, black beans, sweet corn, enchilada sauce and chicken broth along with our plethora of fiestalicious spices to create the most jaw dropping soup with some seriously explosive flavor and wonderfully hearty texture.
    Showing How to Make Mexican Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe by adding chicken, fire diced tomatoes, black beans, corn, enchilada sauce, chicken broth, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, dried oregano, salt and pepper to white Dutch oven
    • We simmer our Chicken Tortilla Soup for 20-25 minutes in order to develop the flavors and for the chicken to cook in the bubbly broth โ€“ and bonus โ€“ no chopping or handling raw chicken!
    Showing How to Make authentic Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe by stirring chicken broth and chicken in white Dutch oven

    Cooking chicken this way in which it is covered and gently simmered until cooked through is known as poaching.ย  I LOVE this fool proof method for cooking chicken as the moist heat gently cooks the chicken and prevents it from overcooking too quickly so you get succulent, tender chicken every time โ€“ as long as you donโ€™t overcook your chicken which is pretty hard to do. That being said, I recommend checking your chicken right at 20 minutes or even earlier if you have extra thin chicken breasts.ย  You will know they are ready when they easily shred with a fork.

    Shredding chicken on a cutting board for Chicken Tortilla Soup
    • After the chicken is cooked, shred it and add back to your Chicken Tortilla Soup along with a splash of lime juice and freshly chopped cilantro โ€“ and viola โ€“ gourmet tasting Chicken Tortilla Soup in 30 minutes!
    Showing How to Make Chicken Tortilla Soup by adding shredded chicken, cilantro and lime juice to Dutch oven
    • But of course, we are not quite done. One of the best parts of Chicken Tortilla Soup or any Mexican soup is all the toppings!ย  Donโ€™t underestimate the power of cheeeeese, sour cream, avocados and of course your easy, homemade tortilla strips!
    Showing how to make Slow Cooker chicken Tortilla Soup by adding broth and enchilada sauce to soup and cooking for 6 hours

    How to Make Crock Pot Chicken Taco Soup

    This easy Chicken Tortilla Soup can easily be adapted to your slow cooker, much like my Salsa Verde Chicken Tortilla Soup.ย  The crockpot is fabulous if you are going to be away and canโ€™t babysit the stove.

    To make Crock Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup, we are going to use all of the same ingredients with the exception of the olive oil.ย  We will eliminate the olive oil and instead use cooking spray.

    1. Spray slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray and add chicken.
    2. Add all remaining Chicken Tortilla Soup ingredients except cilantro, lime juice and tortilla strips and give the top ingredients a stir to combine.
    3. Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours or until chicken is tender enough to shred.
    4. Remove chicken to a cutting board, shred chicken and return chicken to slow cooker along with cilantro and lime juice and cook on LOW for 10 minutes so the chicken can soak up more flavor.
    5. Stir in additional chicken broth for a less chunky soup if desired and season with salt/pepper/hot sauce to taste.
    6. Top individual servings with desired garnishes.

    The Best Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe Tips and Variations

    How to Make Homemade Tortilla Strips for Tortilla Soup

    Making your own homemade tortilla strips is so crazy easy and delivers chip quality results -AND you can never guess these tortilla strips are BAKED not fried.ย  Not only is this healthier but it is way simpler.ย  We make our tortilla strips while our chicken is simmering so it requires no extra time!

    1. Cut tortillas into ยฝ inch strips. I have found the easiest way to do this is to stack all the tortillas together then use a pizza cutter to cut them all at once. It literally takes 1-2 minutes to cut them all.
    Showing How to Make Tortilla Strips for Chicken Tortilla Soup by cutting corn tortillas on a cutting board with a pizza cutter
    1. Next, light spray a large baking sheet/jelly roll pan with cooking spray. Add your tortilla strips and toss with 1 tablespoon vegetable oil.ย  Arrange strips in a single layer and lightly season with freshly cracked salt.
    Showing How to Make Tortilla Strips for Chicken Tortilla Soup by tossing tortilla strips with vegetable oil and lining on a baking sheet
    1. Bake at 425 degrees F for 12-16 minutes or until light golden brown.
    Showing How to Make Tortilla Strips for Chicken Tortilla Soup by baking on baking sheet until golden
    1. Try not to eat them all before your Chicken Tortilla Soup is done cooking
    Showing how to make Crock Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup by putting chicken then tomatoes, green chiles, red bell peppers, poblano peppers, corn and black beans in the bottom of the crockpot
    easy Chicken Tortilla Soup in a white dutch oven with a spoonful of soup loaded with chicken, beans, corn, and tomatoes

    What to Serve with Chicken Tortilla Soup

    Topping your Chicken Tortilla Soup with your favorite garnishes is half of the fun and the most important part for added texture and flavor.ย  You can create a toppings bar and let everyone pile on their favorites of:

    • Cheese:ย ย a must in my book!ย  use freshly grated cheese for superior taste and melting ability.
    • Sour cream:ย ย adds a wonderful creaminess to the Chicken Tortilla Soup and is my favorite topping!ย  Its refreshing tanginess also cuts through and compliments the robust, rich flavors.ย  You can also use fat free sour cream or Greek yogurt.ย ย 
    • Cilantro:ย  chopped cilantro adds a fresh, zesty flair.ย 
    • Lime Juice:ย  you can use bottled juice or fresh lime juice, but whatever you do โ€“ donโ€™t skip!ย  The lime juice awakens the flavors of the entire soup!
    • ย Tortilla Strips:ย  tortilla Strips are the tortilla in Chicken TORTILLAย  Soup!ย  You can use store bought or homemade (recipe below) or crushed tortilla chips work great too.
    • Avocado:ย  chopped or sliced avocados add a wonderful creaminess.ย  I prefer chopped so I can get a bite of avocado in every spoonful.ย ย 
    • Pico de gallo:ย ย a spoonful ofย  pico de gallo insโ€™t necessary but adds a depth of freshness I love.
    How to freeze Chicken tortilla soup by letting to cool to before freezing
    a white bowl of Mexican Chicken Tortilla Soup loaded homemade tortilla strips, avocados, sour dream

    1. Cool. Cool Chicken Tortilla Soup completely before freezing.
    2. Package soup in a freezer safe container.ย  You can use sandwich size plastic bags for individual soup portions, quart size bags or freezer bags.ย  To easy fill these bags, place them in a container that you can wrap the top around the edge of โ€“ for example, place a sandwich size bag in a mug then cuff the edges around the mug.ย  This keeps the bag open and prevents it from collapsing when you are pouring in your Chicken Tortilla Soup. ย ย Final packaging tip, make sure to let out any excess air before you seal.
    3. Label. Make sure to label your bags so it doesnโ€™tโ€™ become a freezer mystery.ย  You also want to label so you can be sure to use your soup within 3 months.
    4. Freeze. Once cooled and labeled you are ready to freeze your Chicken Tortilla Soup. Once the bag is solid you can lay it flat in a single layer so itโ€™s stackable to save space.
    5. Defrost/Reheat. The easiest way to thaw your soup is in your refrigerator overnight then reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.

    If you forget to thaw your soup beforehand or are hit with a need-Chicken Tortilla Soup-now craving then you can defrost the soup in the microwave.ย  Transfer frozen soup into a microwave-safe container, partially cover and microwave for 2-3 increments, until theย soupย has become slushy, stirring in between so it thaws evenly.

    Now get ready for the barrage of compliments for the best Chicken Tortilla Soup!ย  At home.ย  In 30 minutes.

      Up close of a spoonful of best chicken tortilla soup loaded with avocados, tortilla strips, black beans and corn

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      How to freeze Chicken tortilla soup by letting to cool to before freezing

      The Best Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe

      Chicken Tortilla Soup that is restaurant deliciousย (or better!), accidentally healthy, easy to double/triple for a crowd, freezer friendly and tastes like itโ€™s been simmering for hours but on your table in 30 Minutes!ย This Chicken Tortilla Soup is almost dump and run for the ideal easy weeknight dinner or fabulous for crowds.ย Itโ€™s warm and comforting, hearty, savory, filling, and healthy, requires minimal effort (seriously one of the easiest soups you will ever make) and is destined to become a new family favorite!
      Servings: 8 -10 servings
      Total Time: 30 minutes
      Prep Time: 5 minutes
      Cook Time: 25 minutes

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      Ingredients

      Soup

      • 2 tablespoons olive oil
      • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts pounded to an even thickness
      • 1 medium onion, chopped
      • 1 poblano pepper, chopped*
      • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
      • 4 garlic cloves, minced
      • 2 tsp EACH chili pwdr, ground cumin, chicken bouillon pwdr*
      • 1/2 tsp EACH smoked paprika, dried oregano, salt
      • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
      • 1 4 oz. can mild diced green chilies
      • 2 15 oz. cans fire-roasted tomatoes (not drained)
      • 1 15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
      • 1 15 oz. can sweet corn, rinsed and drained
      • 1 10 oz. can mild enchilada sauce
      • 6 cups low sodium chicken broth

      ADD LATER

      Homemade Tortilla Strips

      Garnish

      • fresh cilantro
      • sour cream
      • avocado
      • lime
      • hot sauce

      Instructions

      Stovetop

      • Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (for tortilla strips).
      • Melt olive oil over medium high heat in a large Dutch oven/soup pot. Add onions and sautรฉ for 3 minutes. Add bell pepper and poblano peppers and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add garlic and sautรฉ 30 seconds.
      • Add all remaining Chicken Tortilla Soup Ingredients (except ADD LATER). Cover soup and bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer over medium-low (or low if your stove runs hot). Simmer 20-25 minutes OR just until chicken is tender enough to shred. Remove chicken and let rest 5 minutes then shred.
      • Add chicken back to pot along with lime juice and cilantro. Taste and season with additional salt/lime juice/cayenne to taste. Stir in additional chicken broth if you would like a less chunky soup.
      • Top individual servings with desired amount of tortilla strips and garnishes.

      Tortilla Strips

      • Cut tortillas into 1/2-inch strips. (I stack them all together and use my pizza cutter.)
      • Light spray a large baking sheet/jelly roll pan with cooking spray. Add tortilla strips and toss with 1 tablespoon vegetable oil. Arrange strips in a single layer and lightly season with freshly cracked salt. Bake at 425 degrees F for 12-16 minutes or until light golden brown.

      Slow Cooker

      • Spray slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
      • Add chicken, followed by all remaining soup ingredients except cilantro, lime juice and tortilla strips. Give the top ingredients a stir to combine
      • Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours or until chicken is tender enough to shred.
      • Remove chicken to a cutting board, shred chicken and return chicken to slow cooker along with cilantro and lime juice and cook on LOW for 10 minutes so the chicken can soak up more flavor.
      • Stir in additional chicken broth for a less chunky soup if desired and season with salt/pepper/hot sauce to taste.
      • Top individual servings with desired garnishes.

      Video

      Notes

      Donโ€™t miss the โ€œhow to makeโ€ recipe video at the top of the post!
      *This soup has a medium kick to it which I think will be perfect for most people. If you are very sensitive to spice or want to make this very kid friendly then substitute the poblano with a green bell pepper and decrease the chili powder to 1 teaspoon.

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      60 Comments

      1. Cal Abriola says

        Hi Jen: I just wanted to say thank you for your recipes. What I really love is the substitutes and different ways you can cook it. You go the extra mile in describing everything and I know that is a lot of . Plus it keeps folks from asking the dumb questions. Ha. Thank you again for all your hard work to make this a wonderful site.

        • Jen says

          Thank you so much for taking the time to make my day Cal! I work hard for readers to have a great experience, so your comment is so rewarding! xo

      2. Allyson says

        I was honestly surprised at how delicious this soup was. The flavors are rich and wonderful. I doubled the recipe and did everything as stated except for omitting the Chili and Chicken Bouillon powder when I realized I didnโ€™t have any on hand. It didnโ€™t seem to matter. The flavors and spiciness were perfect. Just a little heat but not too much! Thank you for a new โ€œgotoโ€ recipe. I love soups in the Fall and will be trying more of your soups in the coming weeks.

        • Jen says

          Thank you so much for your glowing review Allyson! Iโ€™m so pleased you loved this recipe and Iโ€™m excited for you to try more of my soups as well!

      3. Katherine says

        Hey Jen! Another fantastic easy/healthy recipe PACKED with flavor! Iโ€™ve been following your blog for years and the salsa verde honey chicken is my #1 go to as well as many others. Whenever I need a new recipe I immediately go to you and look forward to your emails. My fiance loves chicken tortilla and weโ€™re looking for a good easy healthy recipe and this was packed with flavor. I explained to him the secret art of the bouillon cube. Iโ€™m so grateful for all of your recipes because I know whenever I try one itโ€™ll be a hit!

        • Jen says

          Oh my goodness Katherine, thank you so much for making my day! Iโ€™m honored you have made and loved so many of my recipes โ€“ it sounds like we are foodie kindred spirits!

      4. Noami says

        I would like to try chicken tortilla soup recipe thank you

        • Jen says

          If you click the โ€œjump to recipeโ€ button at the top of the page, you can skip directly to the recipe.

      5. Lisa Henson says

        This is the best tortilla soup I have made! The soup is simply packed with delicious flavors that my entire family loves! I made your recipe last week for the first time and everyone wants it again this week!

        • Jen says

          Thank you so much, Lisa! I am thrilled that itโ€™s a repeat and that it was such a hit! I hope you have a wonderful week and find more recipes to enjoy!

          • Terry Z says

            Best chicken tortilla soup ever. Made it yesterday- husband & I love it. Easy & can make tweaks for personal preference. This is on my recipe rotation forever now! thank you!!

            • Jen says

              Yay Terry! Iโ€™m so happy to hear how much you loved this dish and that itโ€™s made your meal rotation! Thank you so much!

      6. Virginia says

        I made Tortilla Soup for the first time. It is delicous and better the next day! A couple of adaptions, I didnโ€™t have a poblano, so I used a jalapeno chile in the soup. I added a chopped zucchini and rather then baking corn tortillas, I served the soup with store bought tortilla chips. Very good combination of spices! #carlsbadcravngs

        • Jen says

          Thank you so much! Iโ€™m so glad you enjoyed it!

      7. Denise says

        I make this Tortilla Soup all the time. I add carrots, celery and extra fresh garlic. We garnish it with lime siete chips, cheese, cilantro and avocado. Itโ€™s so delicious.
        Thank you!

        • Jen says

          Yay! Thatโ€™s so awesome to hear Denise! Thank you so much for taking the time to share your review of this dish! Iโ€™m so glad that itโ€™s in your rotation!

      8. Mandy says

        This soup was a hit! Everyone in my family loved it. It was easy, fresh, and delicious! I made the crockpot version. I will definitely make it again!

        • Jen says

          Hi Mandy! Iโ€™m so glad that it was a hit and a repeat recipe! Thank you for taking the time to leave your sweet comment!

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