Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe - Making Life Delicious (2024)

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Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe - Making Life Delicious (1)

My husband pestered me for several years about making some chicken tortilla soup for him. I’d never had it, so I wasn’t exactly sure what it should look like or taste like, and I wanted it to be as authentic as possible. I found a slow cooker recipe, but I was afraid that it would turn out too watery or just not taste authentic. So I tried it but made a couple small changes. My husband really liked it and said it came in a close second to a good tortilla soup he had in New Mexico. So this one is now a regular for us. You can also make it on the stove (directions below). We like it with chips, guacamole, and a couple Coronas.

Recipe Notes

If you prefer to make this on the stove, saute the garlic and onion in 2 tablespoons olive oil, then add the remaining ingredients. Simmer for at least an hour.

You can make this gluten free if you can find a hot pepper sauce that is not vinegar based. We use Rio Grande Hot Sauce, which has no vinegar, and it works great. Also found a vinegar free sauce by Badia called Louisiana Cajun Chili Pepper Hot Sauce.

[Updated: November 2011.]

📖 Recipe

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Chicken Tortilla Soup

Prep Time30 minutes mins

Cook Time6 hours hrs

Total Time6 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Servings: 6

Calories: 189kcal

Author: Andrea Meyers

Equipment

  • 6-quart slow cooker

  • 9×13 baking pan or cookie sheet

  • aluminum foil

Ingredients

  • 1 pound shredded cooked chicken ((instructions below))
  • chili powder
  • 2 ounces tomato paste
  • 15 ounces canned diced tomatoes
  • 2 anaheim chilies (diced)
  • 1 jalapeno pepper (diced)
  • 1 medium onion (diced)
  • 3-4 large tomatoes (diced)
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 10 stems minced cilantro
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 2 teaspoons pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons gluten-free hot pepper sauce
  • 32 ounces gluten-free chicken broth
  • ½ teaspoon dried chipotle pepper (optional but recommended)

Serve With

  • shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 avocado (chopped)
  • cilantro (snipped from the stem)
  • 1 lime (cut into wedges)
  • gluten-free crushed tortilla chips

US Customary - Metric

Preparation

  • CHICKEN: Roast two large chicken breasts (boneless skinless) sprinkled with chili powder to taste in a 350° F/175° C oven for about 20-30 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool for a few minutes, then shred with a fork.

  • Throw everything except the garnishes in your slow cooker and let it cook on high for 5-6 hours.

  • To serve, pile on the garnishes and give it a squeeze of lime.

Nutrition

Calories: 189kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 1300mg | Potassium: 760mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1424IU | Vitamin C: 36mg | Calcium: 71mg | Iron: 3mg

Tried this recipe?Share in the comments!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    Thanks for visiting! Let me know what you think!

  1. Angela says

    As her favorite Celiac I can testify that this recipe is delicious 🙂 The gluten free hot sauces are easy to find; I found them at my local grocery store. Be sure your chicken broth is also gluten free. She makes her own broth for this when I'm coming to visit!

    Reply

  2. Kay Williams says

    Hi I am a celiac but I also cannot have sugar. What gluten-free hot sauces do you buy
    Thanks
    Kay

    Reply

  3. Andrea says

    Hi Kay! We've found two so far that are not vinegar-based: Rio Grande Hot Sauce, and Badia brand Louisiana Cajun Chili Pepper Hot Sauce. I'm sure there are others. Hope this helps!

    Reply

  4. jessiev says

    YUM! this sounds fantastic. thanks for sharing such a great recipe!

    Reply

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  1. [...] a dish that cooks in 3-6 hours is a perfect way to use the slow cooker. I love the sound of the Chicken Tortilla Soup from Andrea Meyers (pictured) which cooks in 5-6 hours. My Kitchen Cafe used the slow cooker for [...]

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Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe - Making Life Delicious (2024)

FAQs

How do you thicken tortilla soup broth? ›

Yes, you can use flour to thicken chicken tortilla soup. To do so, create a slurry by combining equal parts flour and cold water. Whisk the slurry into the soup gradually, allowing it to simmer for a few minutes until the desired thickness is achieved.

How do you tone down chicken tortilla soup? ›

Add Some Starches

The easiest way to tone down a spicy dish is to serve a smaller portion with plenty of rice, bread, potatoes, pasta, or plain starch to counter the heat. For soups and stews, raw and starchy vegetables like potatoes or carrots work well.

What is a fun fact about tortilla soup? ›

Although the exact origin of tortilla soup is unknown, it is known that it comes from the Mexico City area in Mexico. Traditional tortilla soup is made with chicken broth combined with roasted tomatoes, onion, garlic, chiles and tortillas, cut into strips and fried.

Who did the cooking in tortilla soup? ›

Though the actor did do some of the cooking, credit local cook Paul Rosenbluh in an uncredited role as Elizondo's “stunt hands” for most of it.

Is it better to thicken soup with flour or cornstarch? ›

It's important to note that cornstarch has twice the thickening power of flour. If you need to substitute cornstarch to thicken liquid in a recipe that calls for ¼ cup (four tablespoons) flour, you only need two tablespoons cornstarch.

How do you make broth more creamy? ›

Stir in Coconut Milk

You can easily add coconut milk to your broth to get that craveable creamy texture. Stir it in at the very end and let it simmer for a short period of time. How much should you use? I suggest adding it to taste so it does not overwhelm the flavor of the soup.

How do you make chicken soup less bland? ›

Here's how to fix it:
  1. Add a teaspoon of chicken bouillon paste.
  2. Add a pinch each of salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
  3. Throw in a bay leaf and let simmer for 10-15 minutes.
  4. Taste, adjust seasonings, and consider a squeeze of lemon just before serving for extra zing.
Jun 25, 2022

How to make chicken soup a little thicker? ›

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool. Add a few tablespoons of flour or cornstarch to the bowl and whisk until it's blended smooth. Next, bring the soup to a simmer and add the mixture back to the pot. Pro tip: Don't dump in the entire mixture at once.

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.

Why is tortilla soup called tortilla soup? ›

Contrary to Pozole, Tortilla Soup is not a celebratory but an everyday soup. According to some archeologists, the soup dates back to the prehispanic days. The story goes that it was first invented in the state of Tlaxcala, which in the Náhuatl means the place of tortilla abundance.

What happens to Gomez in tortilla soup? ›

Gomez tastes something at the restaurant and passes out and ends up in the hospital. He returns to the workplace, but it was too soon and he dies suddenly. This makes the family very sad. Leticia and Orlando eventually end up together, and in fact, they are already married.

What is the Mexican version of Eat Drink Man Woman? ›

Tortilla Soup is a 2001 American comedy-drama film directed by María Ripoll. The screenplay by Tom Musca, Ramón Menéndez and Vera Blasi is based on the film Eat Drink Man Woman, which was written by Hui-Ling Wang, Ang Lee, and James Schamus.

Who is Jeff in tortilla soup? ›

Ken Marino: Jeff

Add a photo or add a quote.

What is the easiest way to thicken broth? ›

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool. Add a few tablespoons of flour or cornstarch to the bowl and whisk until it's blended smooth. Next, bring the soup to a simmer and add the mixture back to the pot. Pro tip: Don't dump in the entire mixture at once.

How to thicken soup after it's cooked? ›

6 ways to thicken soup:
  1. Blend all or part of it. If you've made a broth with chunks of vegetable in it, such as minestrone soup, then pour the soup through a sieve. ...
  2. Add cream or yogurt. ...
  3. Add flour or cornflour. ...
  4. Use a butter and flour paste. ...
  5. Blend in bread. ...
  6. Add lentils or rice. ...
  7. 5 of the best soup recipes to try next:

How do you thicken soup with masa harina? ›

Masa harina is an especially effective thickener, so start with a small amount — say, 1 tablespoon each water and masa harina per 3 cups of chili. It can take a few moments for masa harina to work its magic, so let the chili simmer, stirring often, for about five minutes, and then check its consistency.

How to thicken up taco soup? ›

If you're looking to upgrade your taco soup into a rich, creamy meal, you could turn to tried-and-true thickeners like cream cheese, heavy cream, flour, or corn starch.

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