Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe (2024)

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This is truly the best chicken tortilla soup! This classic Mexican soup with chicken and tomatoes is topped with crispy fried tortillas, avocado, Jack cheese, cilantro, and lime.

Elise Bauer

Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.

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Updated September 29, 2023

20 Ratings

Tortilla soup encompasses all the things I love best in Mexican cooking.

Do you like salsa? Avocado? Cilantro? Fresh hot tortilla chips? Tortilla soup is like a soup version of my favorite enchilada, with chicken, and tortilla chips. And avocado.

Don't Skip Frying the Tortillas

The essential step that distinguishes tortilla soup from other Mexican soups is that you fry strips of corn tortillas in oil first, and then use the tortilla cooking oil to build the soup.

Tortillas chips aren't merely a garnish for this soup. By using the tortilla frying oil as a base for the soup you infuse the whole soup with the warm flavor of toasted corn tortillas!

Best Tortillas for Chicken Tortilla Soup

The best tortillas to use for tortilla soup are stale yellow corn tortillas. Yellow corn tortillas are sturdier than white corn tortillas and have a richer flavor when cooked. Homemade is best, of course, but store-bought tortillas will also work for this recipe.

The tortillas should be a little stale, or dry; they'll fry up more easily that way. My guess is that tortilla soup was first invented as a way to use leftover tortillas.

Since I don't usually have dry tortillas sitting around, I put my fresh-from-the-fridge corn tortillas in a 200°F oven for 10 to 15 minutes. That's just enough heat to dry them sufficiently so they fry easily.

More Mexican Soups to Try

Mexican Chicken Lime Soup
Mexican Meatball Soup
Chicken Pozole
Posole Rojo
Pork and Poblano Stew

Time-Saving Short-Cut for Chicken Tortilla Soup

If you don't have leftover chicken already in the fridge for this recipe, pick up a rotisserie chicken on your way home from work. (Save the bones to make homemade chicken stock.)

You can also quickly poach a few chicken breasts or thighs for this recipe.

How to Store Chicken Tortilla Soup

Store the fried tortilla chips separately in an airtight container at room temperature. The soup itself can be kept refrigerated for up to five days, or frozen for up to three months.

More Great Mexican Soups & Stews

Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup
Pozole Rojo
Albondigas Soup
Mexican Chicken and Rice Soup
Chicken Pozole
Mexican Chicken and Lime Soup

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time20 mins

Total Time30 mins

Servings4 servings

This recipe is easily doubled.

This recipe is adapted from one we found years ago on the website of Muir Glen, makers of organic canned tomatoes. Muir Glen makes a particularly good "fire-roasted" canned tomato, which is well suited to Mexican dishes.

Ingredients

6 (6-inch) corn tortillas, preferably a little old and dried out
1/4 cup corn oil, peanut oil, or extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium Anaheim, poblano or jalapeño chili, seeded, veins removed, chopped (Depending on the hotness and flavor desired. You can also mix chilies—1 Anaheim and a 1/2 jalapeño.)
4 cups chicken broth or homemadechicken stock
1 (14.5-ounce) can crushed tomatoes (preferably fire-roasted)
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt (kosher or sea salt)
1 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken
1 ripe avocado
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese (or mild cheddar)
Chopped fresh cilantro
1 lime, cut into wedges

Method

Fry the tortilla strips:
If you are starting with somewhat old, dried-out tortillas, great. If not and you are starting with relatively fresh tortillas, put them on a baking sheet and put them in the oven at 200°F for 10 to 15 minutes to dry them out a bit. It is best to start with tortillas that don't have a lot of moisture in them.
Cut the tortillas in half, and then cut the halves into 1/4-inch wide strips.
Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a 3-quart pot. Working in three batches, fry the tortilla strips in the oil, until lightly browned and crisp. Remove the tortilla strips from the pan and let drain on a paper-towel-lined plate.
Sauté the vegetables:
Add the chopped onions to the pan, cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the chopped chile and cook for 2-3 minutes more, until the onions and chiles have softened. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds more.
Simmer the soup:
Add the broth, tomatoes, and salt. Increase the heat to high, heat until the soup begins to boil, then reduce the heat to a low simmer, cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Add the shredded chicken and cook until heated through.
Serve with tortilla strips and garnishes:
To serve, pit, peel, and cut the avocado into 1-inch pieces. Divide half of the tortilla strips among 4 individual serving bowls; ladle in soup. Top with avocado and cheese; garnish with remaining tortilla strips and cilantro. Serve with lime wedges.

Chicken Soups
Comfort Food
Shredded Chicken
Mexican
Cinco De Mayo

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
561	Calories
38g	Fat
38g	Carbs
24g	Protein

Show Full Nutrition Label

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories	561
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 38g	49%
Saturated Fat 8g	39%
Cholesterol 56mg	19%
Sodium 1348mg	59%
Total Carbohydrate 38g	14%
Dietary Fiber 13g	46%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 24g
Vitamin C 48mg	240%
Calcium 222mg	17%
Iron 3mg	16%
Potassium 1054mg	22%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

FAQs

What does Chicken Tortilla Soup contain? ›

Chicken tortilla soup is a Mexican-inspired soup that has a tomato and chicken broth base. It is spiced with chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, and has a little kick from the jalapeño. It also has hearty ingredients like beans, corn, and of course the shredded chicken.

Learn More ›

What is in Chick-fil-A tortilla soup? ›

The Chicken Tortilla Soup is a hearty, seasonal Chick-fil-A^® favorite that features shredded chicken breast and beans in a creamy base with a blend of vegetables and spices, served with Seasoned Tortilla Strips.

Tell Me More ›

What goes well with Chicken Tortilla Soup? ›

What do you eat tortilla soup with? You can enjoy tortilla soup with many things, like tacos, burritos, and quesadillas. Mexican rice, chips with guacamole, roasted corn, black beans, and Mexican cornbread are also good choices.

Is chicken tortilla soup good to eat when sick? ›

Chicken tortilla soup is low in calories but high in flavor. The amino acid cysteine, contained in the chicken in this powerful soup, loosens secretions, thinning out mucus and promoting coughing, which is needed to clear your nose and throat.

Find Out More ›

Does chicken tortilla soup have a lot of sodium? ›

On average, one cup of Chicken Tortilla Soup contains approximately 500-800 milligrams of sodium. It's essential to be mindful of sodium intake, especially for individuals with specific dietary restrictions or health conditions.

Discover More Details ›

Can I add milk to soup to make it creamy? ›

Milk or Half-and-Half: This is the other magical ingredient that turns your homemade chicken noodle soup into the creamiest soup ever. Use 1 cup of whole milk or 1 cup of half-and-half.