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Make this Chili Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe for a warm and comforting meal all year round. It is easy to make, filling, and packed with flavor. Enjoy this filling and hearty soup any day of the week as a main or side dish.

Serve this soup with my chicken Al pastor dish, So good!

easy chicken tortilla soup
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Soups are very comforting when the weather gets colder and my kids love trying different soups. They are filling and easy to make when you only have an hour on hand to come up with dinner. This easy chicken tortilla soup has the bold flavors of chili and Mexican flavors all in one bowl. Made with shredded chicken breast, black beans, corn, and a handful of bold spices. Serve this Mexican chicken soup recipe as a main dish or a side dish along with the main course.

For a creamy version of tortilla soup check out our Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe or you can also try our super tasty Chicken Enchilada soup. You may also like this Chicken Chili Recipe

Recipe Summary

  • Comforting and filling: This chicken tortilla soup with bold chili flavors is packed with fiber and protein to make a comforting and filling meal.
  • Easy to make: all you need is 30 minutes to make this easy and healthy chicken soup.
  • Tasty: Packed with flavor. You will love it.
easy chili chicken soup

Ingredients you will need

  • Olive Oil: any other oil of choice can be used like avocado oil.
  • Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts: you may also use boneless and skinless chicken thighs.
  • Sweet Onion: or any onion you have on hand
  • Garlic Cloves minced: I do recommend using fresh garlic cloves for optimal flavor.
  • Red Chili (or to taste): this is optional if you can’t handle spice.
  • Spices: Ground Cumin, Chipotle Powder, or Chili Powder
  • Cherry Tomatoes or diced fire-roasted tomatoes: these can be purchased in cans or you can make your own at home.
  • Low Sodium Chicken Broth: you may use vegetable broth.
  • Black Beans: rinsed and drained
  • Corn: can be Fresh or frozen corn can be used
  • 2 Limes– Juiced, you may use lemons if you do not have lime.
  • Tortillas: cut into 1/4-inch strips
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Cooking Spray

How to make chicken tortilla soup

  • Heat olive oil In a large stockpot over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, chili, and seasonings, and cook until onion softens about 4 minutes.
  • Add chicken breast, canned tomatoes, broth and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer until chicken is cooked through about 20 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, heat a nonstick pan over medium heat and spray it with cooking spray.
  • Add tortilla strips in a single layer and fry until golden brown and crispy, on both sides. You might need to work in batches to not overcrowd the pan.
  • Once the chicken is cooked, remove from soup and shred it.
  • Add chicken back to the pot together with beans, corn and lime juice. Mix to combine then simmer for a couple of minutes more.
  • Serve soup hot with crispy tortilla strips on top and enjoy!
best tortilla soup recipe

Frequently asked questions

How do I thicken chicken tortilla soup?

There are a few ways to thicken your chicken tortilla soup. First and easy one would be smashing some beans and adding them back the soup to create a starchy and natural thickness. Another way would be to add flour into the soup to thicken it up. Types of flour that can be used are all-purpose or whole wheat flour, corn starch, potato flour, tapioca flour or arrowroot flour. If you are adding flour, make sure you mix it into a slurry first before adding it into the soup to prevent clumping.

Is it better to thicken soup with flour or cornstarch?

There are advantages and disadvantages of using either or. Flour may be a slightly healthier option when compared to cornstarch but may not thicken your soup to the consistency you like and create a cloudy-like soup. On the other hand, cornstarch will give you the consistency you are looking for and ideally a better option but less healthy. Either one you go with I believe the amount is relatively small and won’t make a huge impact in calories.


What kind of sandwich goes with chicken tortilla soup?

I love pairing this chicken tortilla soup with my chicken cutlet sandwich. You can pair it with any other type of chicken sandwich or a grilled cheese sandwich.

best chicken soup recipe

Recipe notes and tips

  • You may use any other protein of your choice. To save on cook time with the chicken breast, consider using rotisserie chicken.
  • Add in more veggies if you like.
  • Use fresh or frozen corn. If in a pinch and you only have canned corn you may use canned corn.
  • Be sure to drain and rinse the beans.
  • There are several other toppings you could add to the soup like fresh cilantro, sour cream, and chopped avocado.
  • Want a creamier version of this soup? Add about 1/4 cup of cream cheese.
easy chicken tortilla soup recipe

Soup recipes you may like

healthy chicken tortilla
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5 from 4 votes

Chili Chicken Tortilla Soup

By: Rena
Servings: 8
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 35 minutes
Total: 50 minutes
top view of a dutch oven that has chicken tortilla soup topped with tortilla
A warm and comforting meal that's easy to make and incredibly delicious. Packed with protein, flavorful, and ready in less than an hour.

Equipment

  • cutting board
  • spatula
  • Sharp Chef's knife
  • Dutch Oven

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
  • 1 pound Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
  • 1 Medium Sweet Onion, diced
  • 3 Garlic Cloves, minced
  • 1 Red Chili (or to taste), seeded and sliced
  • 1 teaspoon Ground Cumin
  • 1 teaspoon Chipotle Powder or Chili Powder
  • 2 Cans Cherry Tomatoes or diced fire roasted tomatoes, 14.5oz each
  • 5 Cups Low Sodium Chicken Broth
  • 14.5 ounce Can Black Beans, one can, rinsed and drained
  • 1 Cup Corn, Fresh or frozen
  • 2 Limes, Juiced
  • 3 Tortillas, cut into 1/4-inch strips
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • Cooking Spray

Optional Toppings

  • Green onions
  • Fresh chili

Instructions

  • Heat olive oil In a large stockpot over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, chili, seasonings, and cook until onion softens about 4 minutes.
  • Add chicken breast, canned tomatoes, and broth, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer until chicken is cooked through about 20 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, heat a nonstick pan over medium heat and spray it with cooking spray.
  • Add tortilla strips in a single layer and fry until golden brown and crispy, on both sides. You might need to work in batches to not overcrowd the pan.
  • Once the chicken is cooked, remove from soup and shred it.
  • Add chicken back to the pot together with beans, corn and lime juice. Mix to combine then simmer for a couple of minutes more.
  • Serve soup hot with crispy tortilla strips on top and enjoy!

Notes

  • You may use any other protein of your choice. To save on cooking time with the chicken breast, consider using rotisserie chicken.
  • Add in more veggies if you like.
  • Use fresh or frozen corn. If in a pinch and you only have canned corn you may use canned corn.
  • Be sure to drain and rinse the beans.
  • There are several other toppings you could add to the soup like fresh cilantro, sour cream, and chopped avocado.
  • Want a creamier version of this soup? Add about 1/4 cup of cream cheese.

Nutrition

Calories: 200kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 17gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 36mgSodium: 350mgPotassium: 471mgFiber: 2gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 485IUVitamin C: 10.8mgCalcium: 70mgIron: 1.9mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Soup
Cuisine: Mexican
Tried this recipe?Mention @healthyfitnessmeals or tag #healthyfitnessmeals!

About Rena Awada

Hi, I’m Rena! Welcome to my blog. I am here to help you prepare delicious, light, fresh meals that your whole family will love!

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5 from 4 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




3 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Excellent recipe and a great jumping off point for making it all your own. Very easy and tastes wonderful. I like adding Louisiana jambalaya rice and some andouille to make it heartier, with some shredded cheese and a dollop of sour cream on top. Delicious comfort food. Thank you.