• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Work With Me
  • Recipe Index
  • Moments
    • Pregnancy/Baby
      • Baby Registry List
      • Thriving Postpartum: What to Expect & Postpartum Essentials for Mom
  • Shop
    • Best Kitchen Gifts
    • Baby Registry List
    • Kitchen Tools (Must Haves)
    • Pantry Staples (Baking & Cooking)
    • Food Photography Essentials
  • Instagram
JoyFoodSunshine
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • About Laura
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • Never Miss a Recipe

  • ×

    Home » Chicken Tortilla Soup

    Chicken Tortilla Soup

    Published: Jan 30, 2023 · Modified: Feb 15, 2023 by Laura · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    This chicken tortilla soup recipe is easy to make in 40 minutes on the stovetop. Learn how to make chicken tortilla soup that's even more delicious than your favorite restaurant!

    a bowl of Chicken Tortilla Soup

    This chicken tortilla soup is one of our family's favorite soup recipes (along with this taco soup). It's healthy and easy to make in 40 minutes on the stovetop!

    This chicken tortilla soup is loaded with chicken, veggies, and beans, flavorful with herbs and spices and topped with the best homemade tortilla strips.

    It tastes even better than your favorite restaurant and is an irresistible soup recipe you will make on repeat.

    a bowl of Chicken Tortilla Soup topped with cheese and herbs and tortilla strips

    Chicken Tortilla Soup: Ingredients & Substitutions

    overhead view of the ingredients in this chicken tortilla soup recipe
    • Chicken Breasts. I suggest thinly sliced boneless, skinless chicken breasts for the best results.
    • Onion. Use a sweet, yellow onion or red onion.
    • Minced garlic. Fresh or jarred can be used. You can replace 1 tablespoon minced garlic with 1 tsp garlic powder (add with the spices).
    • Green Bell Pepper. Any color bell pepper works well.
    • Diced tomatoes. fire roasted, with green chilies or just plain diced tomatoes all work well in this taco soup recipe.
    • Green Chiles. choose your "heat" preference, we use mild.
    • Chicken Broth. Vegetable broth can be used in place of chicken, although I prefer chicken broth.
    • Black Beans. Other beans that work well are kidney beans and great northern (white) beans.
    • Taco Seasoning. Make your own with this Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe, or use an organic seasoning to avoid unfavorable ingredients. This is a mild chicken tortilla soup, but you can easily increase the heat/spice by adding chili powder, hot sauce, spicy taco seasoning, jalapeño peppers, etc.
    • Frozen Corn. You can substitute fresh corn.
    a Chicken Tortilla Soup with a spoon

    How to Make Chicken Tortilla Soup

    This recipe is easy to make on the stovetop. We'll walk through it together, and don't forget tow watch the video.

    Make the soup

    Begin by making the chicken tortilla soup.

    Cook olive oil, onion green pepper and garlic over medium-high heat for 3-5 minutes or until onions are translucent.

    two photos showing How to Make Chicken Tortilla Soup - cooking the veggies and onions.

    Then, add the diced tomatoes, chiles, chicken broth, lime juice, taco seasoning, sea salt, pepper, chicken breasts, beans and corn to the pot and stir to combine.

    two photos showing How to Make Chicken Tortilla Soup - adding ingredients

    Next, bring the mixture to a boil. Once it's boiling, lower the heat, cover and simmer until the chicken is easily shredded with a fork (about 25-30 minutes).

    Once the chicken is fully cooked, shred it and then return it to the pot.

    two photos showing How to Make Chicken Tortilla Soup - shredding chicken

    Then, add the cilantro and cover and simmer for 10-30 minutes (until ready to serve).

    two photos showing How to Make Chicken Tortilla Soup - adding cilantro

    Make the tortilla strips

    While the soup is cooking (preferably while the chicken is cooking before it needs to be shredded), make the tortilla strips (I have a full post dedicated to making tortilla strips here: homemade tortilla strips)

    Begin by preheating the olive oil in a large skillet, then add the tortilla strips and stir to combine

    Cook over medium-high heat for 2-5 minutes, stirring often, until crispy. Sprinkle warm strips with salt and set them aside to serve on top of the soup!

    two photos showing How to Make Tortilla strips for soup

    Serve

    Once the homemade chicken tortilla soup is ready, serve it warm with sour cream, cheese, chopped onion, sliced avocado or homemade guacamole, and homemade tortilla strips. Check out all of our favorite Mexican Recipes.

    Chicken Tortilla Soup in a bowl with toppings

    Store/freeze

    Store leftover chicken tortilla soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

    Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.

    Chicken Tortilla Soup in a bowl with toppings and a spoon

    Recipe FAQs

    How do I thicken Chicken Tortilla Soup?

    This soup isn't supposed to be very thick, however, you can thicken it in a few ways:
    1) At the end of the cook time, simmer with the lid slightly ajar to cook off some of the water.
    2) Add some cornmeal to the soup or crushed tortilla strips.

    Can I double this recipe?

    Yes, you can double the ingredients and cook it in a large stockpot.

    How do I make Chicken Tortilla Soup spicier?

    We prefer a mild soup. Here are some suggested additions to make it spicier:
    Jalapeños (dice and cook with the onions/green peppers).
    Chili powder
    Cayenne pepper
    Hot sauce

    Chicken Tortilla Soup in a bowl with toppings and a spoon

    If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don't forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube - be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can your creations!

    Chicken Tortilla Soup

    Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe

    Laura
    This chicken tortilla soup recipe is easy to make in 40 minutes on the stovetop. Learn how to make chicken tortilla soup that's even more delicious than your favorite restaurant!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 40 mins
    Total Time 50 mins
    Course Appetizer, Main Course, Soup
    Cuisine American, Mexican
    Servings 10 Servings
    Calories 223 kcal

    Equipment

    • large pot
    • measuring spoons
    • measuring cups

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 onion finely diced
    • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
    • 1 green bell pepper finely diced
    • 15 oz diced tomatoes
    • 4 oz mild green chiles
    • 4 cups chicken broth (1 quart)
    • 1 tablespoon lime juice
    • 1 tablespoon taco seasoning homemade
    • ¼ teaspoon pepper
    • 2 pounds chicken breasts sliced thin
    • 15 oz black beans drained and rinsed
    • 1 cup frozen corn
    • ½ cup Fresh cilantro finely chopped (plus more for garnish)
    • Salt and pepper to taste

    Homemade tortilla strips

    • 4 corn tortillas (6" round) cut into 1” strips (or two 8-10” flour tortillas)
    • 3 tablespoons olive oil
    • Pinch of sea salt
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    Make the soup

    • Cook olive oil, onion green pepper and garlic for 3-5 minutes or until onions are translucent.
    • Add diced tomatoes, chiles, chicken broth, lime juice, taco seasoning, sea salt, pepper, chicken breasts, beans and corn to the pot and stir to combine.
    • Bring mixture to a boil. Once boiling, lower the heat, cover and simmer until the chicken is easily shredded with a fork (about 25-30 minutes).
    • Shred the chicken then return it to the pot.
    • Add the cilantro, cover and simmer for 10-30 minutes (until ready to serve).
    • Serve hot with sour cream, cheese, chopped onion, sliced avocado, and homemade tortilla strips.

    Make the tortilla strips:

    • Preheat olive oil in a large skillet
    • Add tortilla strips and stir to combine
    • Cook over medium-high heat for 2-5 minutes, stirring often, until crispy.
    • Sprinkle warm strips with salt.

    Video

    Notes

    Ingredient Substitutions
    • Chicken Breasts. I suggest thinly sliced boneless, skinless chicken breasts for the best results.
    • Onion. Use a sweet, yellow onion or red onion.
    • Minced garlic. Fresh or jarred can be used. You can replace 1 tablespoon minced garlic with 1 tsp garlic powder (add with the spices).
    • Green Bell Pepper. Any color bell pepper works well.
    • Diced tomatoes. fire roasted, with green chilies or just plain diced tomatoes all work well in this taco soup recipe.
    • Green Chiles. choose your "heat" preference, we use mild.
    • Chicken Broth. Vegetable broth can be used in place of chicken, although I prefer chicken broth.
    • Black Beans. Other beans that work well are kidney beans and great northern (white) beans.
    • Taco Seasoning. Make your own with this Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe, or use an organic seasoning to avoid unfavorable ingredients. This is a mild chicken tortilla soup, but you can easily increase the heat/spice by adding chili powder, hot sauce, spicy taco seasoning, jalapeño peppers, etc.
    • Frozen Corn. You can substitute fresh corn.
    Store/freeze
    Store leftover chicken tortilla soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
    Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cupCalories: 223kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 26gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 58mgSodium: 206mgPotassium: 759mgFiber: 5gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 217IUVitamin C: 22mgCalcium: 45mgIron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    « Homemade Tortilla Strips
    Moments 01.2023 »

    Did you make this recipe?

    Leave a comment and review below, then take a picture and tag @joyfoodsunshine #joyfoodsunshine on Instagram so I can see it! Sign up here to receive weekly e-mails!

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Search

    About Laura

    I’m Laura, a former chemistry teacher turned homeschooling mom of six beautiful babies! I create simple and delicious recipes that are tested and perfected to make cooking and baking joyful and fun!

    Click here to read more >>

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS Feed
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Most Popular Recipes

    • The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe Ever
    • Best Cinnamon Rolls Recipe (Better than Cinnabon)
    • Easy Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe
    • Easy Dutch Oven No Knead Bread
    • Easy Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe (5- Minutes)
    • Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps
      Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps (Better than P.F. Chang's)!

    Trending now

    • Blueberry Baked Oatmeal Recipe
    • Healthy Pineapple Carrot Cake
    • The Best Banana Cake Recipe
    • Egg Casserole (Egg Bake)
    • Baked French Toast Casserole
    • Best Carrot Cake Recipe
      Best Carrot Cake Recipe

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Joy Food Sunshine Logo
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS Feed
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Never Miss a Recipe

    0 shares