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Home » Recipes » Lunch and Dinner

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Published: Mar 5, 2019 · Modified: Feb 13, 2024 by Tristin Rieken · 6 Comments

Chicken Tortilla Soup served with the soup base, chicken and toppings all separately to top as you’d like is perfect to serve a crowd!

Chicken Tortilla Soup served with the soup base, chicken and toppings all separately to top as you'd like is perfect to serve a crowd!
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Chicken tortilla soup recipe

Tortilla soup, or sopa de tortilla, is an authentic Mexican soup. The soup is made from charred tomatoes and tortillas blended with onion and spices like chile de arbol and epazote, a herb native to Central and South America.

With the stock, protein, starch and toppings all offered separately this DIY Chicken Tortilla Soup was made for serving a crowd! Chicken tortilla soup | easy family dinner soup recipes | dinners for kids | how to make homemade soup #ad @Swanson

Authentic chicken tortilla soup gets rich flavor and color from a heavy amount of chili powder and spices. This version relies on both high quality broth and tomato puree for a similar result in much less time.

With the stock, protein, starch and toppings all offered separately this DIY Chicken Tortilla Soup was made for serving a crowd! Chicken tortilla soup | easy family dinner soup recipes | dinners for kids | how to make homemade soup #ad @Swanson

Chicken tortilla soup is similar to Azteca soup, made without chicken, and tarasca soup, thickened with beans.  As well as taco soup, made with ground beef and served with tortilla chips on the side. And enchilada soup which is like a tomato heavy, cheesy, creamy tortilla soup.

Now typically served piled high with crunchy tortilla strips, cheese and all other sorts of tortilla soup toppings. Chicken tortilla soup is loaded with nutritious, healthy ingredients. It’s naturally gluten free and can be made to fit many different diets like dairy free, vegetarian, vegan and more. Making the popularity and range of appeal of this Mexican soup no surprise.

It’s a delicious quick and tortilla soup recipe that is also super filling and perfect to serve to one, two or a crowd!

Ingredients

  • Chicken – this recipe has you cook the chicken in the same stock pot as the soup base. But if you have rotisserie chicken or other leftover chicken like boiled or poached chicken you can skip this step.
  • Chicken broth – low sodium chicken broth adds lots of flavor in not a lot of time to this soup. Substitute any broth or simply use water if needed.
  • Tomato sauce – Mexican chicken tortilla soup recipes call for charred tomatoes but this easy recipe relies on canned tomato sauce to get it on the table even faster. Commercially available fire roasted tomato sauce would be a great substitute. Or substitute charred tomatoes. To char tomatoes simply place under a broiler, over a flame or in a hot dry skillet until lightly blackened.
  • Tortilla strips – fry corn tortilla or bake until crispy. You can also substitute purchased corn tortilla strips or chips.
  • Spices – cumin and chili powder add the spices into this tortilla soup recipe. But you can make it with more traditional dried chilies like chili de arbol and herbs like epazote if available.
  • Lime – juiced to season and brighten the soup base and also cut and served as a garnish.
  • Optional – Made with a mix of smoky mild chili powders tortilla soup is not spicy. Add jalapeno to the onions and garlic to make a spicy chicken tortilla soup. You can also add rice, hominy or corn kernels to thicken tortilla soup and make it more filling.
With the stock, protein, starch and toppings all offered separately this DIY Chicken Tortilla Soup was made for serving a crowd! Chicken tortilla soup | easy family dinner soup recipes | dinners for kids | how to make homemade soup #ad @Swanson

Tortilla soup toppings

  • Cheese – the best cheese for tortilla soup is a mild meltable Mexican cheese with great stretch like Queso Oaxaca. Queso panela, cubed queso blanco or shredded mozzarella cheese are all delicious as well. Or you can substitute shredded Monterey Jack, cheddar or queso fresco in tortilla soup. An aged Mexican cheese similar to parmesan, cotija cheese can be used in a pinch.
  • Sour cream – adds a cool creamy contrast to the soup. If you can find Mexican crema it is a great substitution for sour cream. Or simply leave it out to make dairy free tortilla soup.
  • Raw vegetables – raw onion, cilantro, shredded lettuce, shredded cabbage (red cabbage or green cabbage), avocado, radishes, diced tomatoes, scallions, jalapeno, etc.
With the stock, protein, starch and toppings all offered separately this DIY Chicken Tortilla Soup was made for serving a crowd! Chicken tortilla soup | easy family dinner soup recipes | dinners for kids | how to make homemade soup #ad @Swanson

Step by step instructions

  1. Fry corn tortilla strips in hot oil until crispy then set aside.
  2. Brown chicken in the same hot oil and set aside.
  3. Cook onion, garlic, chili powder and cumin in the same pot.
With the stock, protein, starch and toppings all offered separately this DIY Chicken Tortilla Soup was made for serving a crowd! Chicken tortilla soup | easy family dinner soup recipes | dinners for kids | how to make homemade soup #ad @Swanson
  1. Then stir in tomato puree and cook slightly before adding the chicken stock. Cooking the tomato sauce adds depth of flavor and lessens the raw tomato taste.
  2. Stir in chicken broth once tomato sauce is slightly thickened. And add chicken breasts back to the liquid along with any accumulated juices.
  3. Bring to a simmer and cook until chicken reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit, about 5-10 minutes.
  4. Remove chicken and allow to cool, then shred or slice and set aside.
  5. Season chicken tortilla soup base with lime juice season to taste with salt and pepper.  
  6. Serve tortilla soup with all ingredients separate.
With the stock, protein, starch and toppings all offered separately this DIY Chicken Tortilla Soup was made for serving a crowd! Chicken tortilla soup | easy family dinner soup recipes | dinners for kids | how to make homemade soup #ad @Swanson
  1. Then place shredded chicken in bowl, ladle broth over chicken and top with crispy tortilla strips and any other desired tortilla soup toppings.
With the stock, protein, starch and toppings all offered separately this DIY Chicken Tortilla Soup was made for serving a crowd! Chicken tortilla soup | easy family dinner soup recipes | dinners for kids | how to make homemade soup #ad @Swanson
  1. Enjoy!
With the stock, protein, starch and toppings all offered separately this DIY Chicken Tortilla Soup was made for serving a crowd! Chicken tortilla soup | easy family dinner soup recipes | dinners for kids | how to make homemade soup #ad @Swanson

Yield

This recipe yields roughly 8 servings with ½ pound of chicken and 1 cup of broth per serving. Simply cut the recipe in half to serve one or two people. Or double it to serve a crowd.

How to store

Chicken tortilla soup is good for 3 days when stored refrigerated with the soup base and toppings stored separately.

📖 Recipe

Chicken Tortilla Soup served with the soup base, chicken and toppings all separately to top as you'd like is perfect to serve a crowd!

Chicken Tortilla Soup

With the stock, protein, starch and toppings all offered separately this Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe is made for serving a crowd!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 353kcal
Author: Tristin Rieken

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts 4-6 breast pieces
  • ¼ cup canola oil divided
  • 1 medium white onion chopped
  • 4 large garlic cloves minced
  • 3 tablespoons mild chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 14 ounces tomato sauce about 1 ½ cups, or 1 can
  • 8 cups chicken stock or 64 ounces
  • 1 small lime juiced
  • 6 small corn tortillas cut into strips

Optional:

  • optional chicken tortilla soup toppings shredded lettuce, diced avocado, sliced radish, cilantro, diced tomatoes, onions, scallions, jalapeno, sour cream, cheese

Instructions

  • In a large saucepan or dutch oven over medium-high heat, add 2 tablespoon oil and heat until hot and shimmering. Add tortilla strips and fry until golden, about 4 minutes total. Remove strips to a towel lined plate to drain and set aside.
    ¼ cup canola oil, 6 small corn tortillas
  • Reduce heat to medium and add chicken breasts to remaining oil, adding additional oil if necessary after the tortillas are fried. Cook chicken without disturbing until browned on one side, about 2 minutes, then flip and continue browning on other side, approximately another 2 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
    2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • Add remaining 2 tablespoons oil, onion, garlic, chili powder and cumin to the pan over medium heat. Stir to coat onions with the flavorful spices and cook aromatics until soft, about 3 minutes. 
    1 medium white onion, 4 large garlic cloves, 3 tablespoons mild chili powder, 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • Then stir in tomato sauce and cook slightly, about 1 minute, before adding the chicken stock. Once tomato sauce is thickened slightly stir in chicken broth and add chicken breasts back to the liquid along with any accumulated juices.
    14 ounces tomato sauce, 8 cups chicken stock
  • Bring to a simmer and cook until chicken reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit, about 5-10 minutes. Remove chicken all allow to cool, then shred with two forks or cut into slices.
  • Add the juice of 1 lime to the broth and season to taste with salt and pepper.  
    1 small lime
  • Place shredded chicken in bowl and ladle over the flavorful tortilla soup broth then top with crispy tortilla strips and any other desired tortilla soup toppings.
    optional chicken tortilla soup toppings

Nutrition

Calories: 353kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 80mg | Sodium: 770mg | Potassium: 957mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1157IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 3mg
Made this recipe? Please share!Mention @freshflavorful or tag #FreshFlavorfulLife
Nutrition Facts
Chicken Tortilla Soup
Amount Per Serving
Calories 353 Calories from Fat 126
% Daily Value*
Fat 14g22%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Trans Fat 0.04g
Polyunsaturated Fat 4g
Monounsaturated Fat 7g
Cholesterol 80mg27%
Sodium 770mg33%
Potassium 957mg27%
Carbohydrates 24g8%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 7g8%
Protein 33g66%
Vitamin A 1157IU23%
Vitamin C 9mg11%
Calcium 59mg6%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Pin for Later!

With the stock, protein, starch and toppings all offered separately this DIY Chicken Tortilla Soup was made for serving a crowd! Chicken tortilla soup | easy family dinner soup recipes | dinners for kids | how to make homemade soup #ad @Swanson

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Comments

    5 from 4 votes

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Heidy L. McCallum

    March 07, 2019 at 9:41 am

    5 stars
    I LOVE Chicken Tortilla Soup and am always looking for new and improved DIY recipes using great ingredients that are fresh and tasty. Love that you used Swanson’s Chicken broth too!

    Reply
  2. Rae

    March 07, 2019 at 10:13 am

    5 stars
    Chicken tortilla soup is one of my all-time favorite soup recipes. I will try your addition of radishes next time I make a pot.

    Reply
  3. Ilona

    March 07, 2019 at 10:48 am

    Who doesn’t like chicken tortilla soup? I cook it at my home all the time. Yummy!

    Reply
  4. Karen @ Seasonal Cravings

    March 07, 2019 at 11:08 am

    5 stars
    Your photos are lovely. I enjoy using Swanson’s and often have a box in the fridge to use during the week. What a great idea to let the guests or kids add in their own toppings and additions!

    Reply
  5. Courtney

    March 07, 2019 at 11:30 am

    5 stars
    This is such a great idea! I love meals with DIY toppings! Also, your photos are gorgeous!

    Reply

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Hi, I'm Tristin Rieken, Welcome to Fresh Flavorful where I hope to inspire you with simple seasonal recipes and ideas to eat deliciously, entertain easily and adventure often.

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