Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup
Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup is a flavorful, and healthy meal without being too filling, and it comes together in under 30 minutes.
What is Chicken Tortilla Soup?
Typically, a chicken or broth based soup with chunks of cooked chicken, corn, beans, tomatoes, garlic and Mexican seasonings. Its simmered in a large pot to let all of the flavors come together and then topped with pieces of fried tortilla or tortilla strips prior to serving, hence its name.
Its one of my favorite things to order in a Mexican restaurant for lunch because Tortilla Soup is hearty and satisfying but not too heavy.
I created this “Easy” Chicken Tortilla soup recipe using mostly canned beans and vegetables, eliminating the time it takes to chop everything. I sometimes make the chicken ahead of time or buy rotisserie chicken to save even more time.
This recipe takes less than 30 minutes to make even if you are making the chicken at the same time, so its a great option for a quick dinner on a busy weeknight, or to meal prep lunches for the week.
Is Chicken Tortilla Soup healthy?
Yes. This recipe is under 300 calories a serving and is packed with protein form the chicken and beans.
What ingredients do you need to make Tortilla Soup?
- cooked and shredded chicken breast (see my easy method here)
- chicken broth ( I like this one)
- canned black beans
- canned corn
- can of diced tomatoes and green chilies (I like this one)
- cream of chicken soup (make my homemade version here)
- salt
- chili powder
- cumin
- garlic powder
- tortilla strips (I like the tri-colored version like these for some color)
How do you Make Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup?
This recipe couldn’t be simpler! You mostly just open cans and dump them into a large pot.
Start by preparing the shredded chicken. Either use my easy method here of How to Make Shredded Chicken or you can buy a rotisserie chicken at the store, remove the skin, and shred the chicken meat. You will want approx 1lb of shredded chicken.
In a large pot, combine the chicken and 4 cups of chicken broth.
Open a can of black beans, drain and rinse them. Add them to the pot.
Add a can of corn (drained).
Next, open a can of diced tomatoes with green chilies (do not drain) and add that to the pot as well.
To thicken the soup a bit, add a can of cream of chicken soup. I’m not a huge fan of store bought cream of chicken soup, so I make my own in just a few minutes using this recipe.
Add 1T of salt (if you are using store bought cream of chicken soup, only use 1/2T of salt since it has more salt in it than my homemade version).
Add 1/2 t chili powder (There is quite a bit of heat from the liquid from of the diced tomatoes and green chilies, but feel free to add more chili powder if you’d like to dial up the heat even more).
Stir in 1/2 t cumin and 1 t garlic powder.
Give everything a good stir and simmer together for approx 15 minutes over medium heat to let the flavors combine.
Ladle into bowls and top each bowl with 1-2 T of tortilla strips.
What other toppings can you add to Chicken Tortilla Soup?
Serve with these fun toppings as well. I like mine with a little shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream.
- shredded cheese
- sour cream
- diced avocado
- jalapenos
- chopped cilantro
- chopped tomatoes
How do you thicken Chicken Tortilla Soup?
You shouldn’t need to thicken this recipe at all since we added the cream of chicken soup. That will add a hint or creaminess to the broth.
The tortilla strips will also soften into the hot soup which will thicken it a bit further.
Can you Freeze Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup?
Yes! This soup freezes and reheats very well.
Follow my easy method of freezing soups here. When you are ready to eat it, simply reheat in the microwave or in a pot on t he stove over medium heat
Chicken Tortilla Soup will last in the freezer for up to 6 months.
This recipe also makes a fantastic lunch meal prep. Simply make a big pot of this soup at the beginning of the week, divide into individual portions, and reheat for lunches.
Chicken tortilla soup will last in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
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Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup
Equipment
- 1 large pot
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken cooked and shredded
- 4 c chicken broth
- 1 can black beans
- 1 can corn
- 1 can diced tomatoes and green chilies
- 1 can cream of chicken soup (make my homemade version here)
- 1 T salt
- 1/2 t chili powder
- 1/2 t cumin
- 1 t garlic powder
Instructions
- Start by preparing the shredded chicken. Either use my easy method here of How to Make Shredded Chicken or you can buy a rotisserie chicken at the store, remove the skin, and shred the chicken meat. You will want approx 1lb of shredded chicken.
- In a large pot, combine the chicken and 4 cups of chicken broth.
- Open a can of black beans, drain and rinse them. Add them to the pot.
- Add a can of corn (drained).
- Open a can of diced tomatoes with green chilies (do not drain) and add that to the pot.
- To thicken the soup a bit, add a can of cream of chicken soup. I'm not a huge fan of store bought cream of chicken soup, so I make my own in just a few minutes using this recipe.
- Add 1T of salt (only use 1/2T if you used store bought cream of chicken soup since it has more salt in it than my homemeade version),
- Add 1/2 t chili powder (There is quite a bit of heat from the liquid from of the diced tomatoes and green chilies, but feel free to add more chili powder if you'd like to dial up the heat even more)
- Add 1/2 t cumin and 1 t garlic powder.
- Simmer together over medium for approx 15 minutes to let the flavors combine.
- Ladle into bowls and top each bowl with 1-2 T of tortilla strips.
Notes
- shredded cheese
- sour cream
- diced avocado
- jalapenos
- chopped cilantro
- chopped tomatoes
