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Best Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe

Best Chicken Tortilla Soup

This Chicken Tortilla Soup is rich, zesty, and comforting — made with fire-roasted tomatoes, tender chicken, and creamy Monterey jack cheese. It's perfect for weeknights, meal prep, or whenever you need a warm, satisfying hug in a bowl.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Dinner, Main Course, Soup
Cuisine Mexican-Inspired, Southwest
Servings 4 bowls
Calories 410 kcal

Equipment

  • Large Pot or Dutch Oven
  • Cutting board
  • Knife
  • Tongs
  • Ladle

Ingredients
  

Soup Base

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion chopped
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro plus more for topping
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 6 cups chicken broth low-sodium preferred
  • 1 can diced fire-roasted tomatoes 14.5 oz can
  • 2 chicken breasts boneless, skinless
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 carrots sliced

Finishing Touches

  • 1 cup Monterey jack cheese shredded
  • 1 cup tortilla chips crushed, plus more for topping
  • 1 avocado cubed, for topping
  • lime wedges for serving

Instructions
 

  • In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Sauté onion, cilantro, and garlic until fragrant, about 3 minutes.
  • Add chicken broth, fire-roasted tomatoes, and chicken breasts. Stir in cumin, chili powder, cayenne, bay leaves, and salt.
  • Bring to a simmer. Add carrots and continue simmering for 15–20 minutes until carrots are tender and chicken is cooked through.
  • Remove chicken and shred. Return shredded chicken to the pot and stir to combine.
  • Stir in half the Monterey jack cheese and crushed tortilla chips. Let them melt and slightly thicken the soup.
  • Taste and adjust salt or spice as needed. Add more broth or water if needed to adjust consistency.
  • Serve hot with additional cheese, cilantro, avocado, lime wedges, and extra tortilla chips.

Notes

Don’t skip the sauté step — it develops the soup's base flavor. You can make this in the Instant Pot or slow cooker with easy modifications. For a thicker texture, stir in more crushed tortilla chips or a cornstarch slurry.

Nutrition

Calories: 410kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 36gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 90mgSodium: 780mgPotassium: 820mgFiber: 4gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 480IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 140mgIron: 3.5mg
Keyword Chicken Tortilla Soup, Easy Tortilla Soup, Fire-Roasted Tomato Soup, Healthy Chicken Soup, Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup, One-Pot Meals
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