Chicken Tortilla Soup

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This extremely comforting soup has been a favorite in our house for many, many years.

The chicken, ancho chiles, and avocado, mixed with the crispy corn tortillas, and the deep flavors of the homemade chicken broth…come together to make the most satisfyingly delicious soup. So good!

A white bowl filled with tortilla soup topped with avocado slices, tortilla strips, and a lime wedge all sitting next to a glass of beer.

How To Make Chicken Tortilla Soup

This soup is really not difficult to prepare at all, and much of it can be made in advance.

It can also easily be adapted to your own tastes.

The most important element isn’t tortillas, although it wouldn’t be tortilla soup without them. The real key to making the best chicken tortilla soup recipe is quality chicken broth. More on that later.

 

Now, as mentioned, there are several components to this soup that can be made in advance.

The tortilla strips add such a wonderful taste and texture to the soup and can be made up to several days in advance.

EXPERT TIP: Frying up the strips is really easy. Simply get yellow or white corn tortillas and use a sharp knife or pizza cutter to cut the strips. Drop them into hot vegetable oil (350°F) until golden and crispy, about 1 to 2 minutes. Sprinkle with a little salt as soon as they come out of the oil. Alternatively, you can bake them in a 350°F oven. Simply brush a little olive oil on the strips and bake them for 10 minutes, toss them around a little, and then bake for another 5 minutes, until golden.

Yellow corn tortillas being cut into strips and then those strips after being fried in a basket.

What to Serve with Chicken Tortilla Soup

In addition to the tortilla strips, we love the addition of seared ancho chili bits to deepen the flavor.

Ancho chiles are dried poblanos and pack medium-low heat. They can be found in the Mexican section of many well-stocked supermarkets, Mexican food markets, or ordered online.

Other wonderful garnishes for the soup include avocado, Mexican fresco cheese, Mexican crema (or sour cream), and chopped cilantro.

To prepare the ancho chili, simply cut off the stem, cut the pepper open, lengthwise, and remove the seeds. Then heat a skillet and sear the pepper for about 30 seconds to a minute. Then, use a knife to cut them into small pieces.

Two hands pulling apart a dried ancho chili and then it being sautéd in a skillet, and then it being chopped.

Deepening the Flavor Profile

Now, it’s time to start building the basis of authentic tortilla soup.

Roasting the tomatoes concentrates the flavor and adds a depth of flavor that is just amazing.

EXPERT TIP: Do be careful when roasting the tomatoes. We find that 40 minutes softens the tomatoes just perfectly, but keep an eye on them. If your oven runs hot, it could burn the tomatoes. They should be extremely soft and just starting to brown on the edges. A baking sheet lined with foil makes clean up easy.

Roma tomatoes slice in half on a baking sheet lined with foil and then the same tomatoes after being roasted.

White onion and fresh garlic are key ingredients, too.

We peel the onion and then quarter it.

Heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat along with the onions pieces and whole garlic cloves and cook until starting to brown, about 10 minutes. 

Sliced onions in a large saucepan being roasted and lightly browned.

Pureé the Roasted Vegetables for Velvety Texture

Carefully transfer the roasted tomatoes and seared onions and garlic to a blender or food processor.

Pureíng the vegetables will create a smooth base for the soup that adds a depth of flavor and texture that is ideal.

EXPERT TIP: For an almost silky texture, you can strain the liquid through a fine-meshed sieve. While this does make the final soup a bit thinner and very smooth, we like a little texture in the soup, so we don’t strain the pureé, but again, it’s a matter of taste.

A blender partly filled with roasted tomatoes and onions and then the blender after the contents were pureed.

Transfer the pureéd vegetables back into the large skillet and cook over medium-high heat until reduced almost to a paste, about 10 minutes.

Now, it’s time to stir in the homemade chicken broth and cilantro and let it simmer for 30 minutes.

It’s almost soup time, folks!

A large measuring cup of chicken broth being poured into a skillet with tomato paste and chopped cilantro.

How To Cook the Chicken

You could absolutely use the meat from a rotisserie chicken from the supermarket with no problem for the soup.

But we have a trick that really is just as easy and helps to flavor the soup even more.

EXPERT TIP: Once you start to simmer the soup, simply add in 1 or 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts. The 30 minutes of simmering will cook the chicken perfectly. Just use a pair of tongs to remove the chicken after 30 minutes of simmering, and then use a couple of forks to shred the chicken. Return the chicken back to the soup and simmer for another 5 to 10 minutes.

Two forks being used to shred a cooked chicken breast on a cutting board.

When To Serve Chicken Tortilla Soup

It’s the perfect start to a Mexican-themed dinner party including:

Chili Rellenos Stuffed with Mexican Queso
Perfect Mexican Rice
Black Beans
Homemade Flour Tortillas

Or, pour yourself a big bowl of the soup for the perfect go-to lunch.

A bowl of chicken tortilla soup in a white bowl surround by a glass of beer and slice avocado.

There is something about homemade chicken tortilla soup that just makes you feel good.

Deeply flavorful and warming, it’s one of our most favorite soups of all time.

Mmmmmm….and when it’s simmering on the stove, the smell is heavenly.

A spoon holding a helping of chicken tortilla soup being held up by a hand.

Ready to make the best soup this side of the Rio Grande? Go for it!

And when you do, be sure to take a photo, post it to Instagram, and tag @howtofeedaloon and #howtofeedaloon!

A bowl of chicken tortilla soup in a white bowl surround by a glass of beer and slice avocado.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Chicken Tortilla Soup is one of the most comforting soups ever. It's not difficult to prepare, and many of the components can be made in advance. This is a soup where the base is the most important element, namely the broth. Go with homemade, if possible (link in recipe).
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer or Soup
Cuisine: Mexican / TexMex
Keyword: how to make chicken tortilla soup, tortilla soup recipe, what is tortilla soup?
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 198kcal

Equipment

  • Blender or food processor

Ingredients

  • 4 corn tortillas
  • Vegetable oil for frying about ½-inch in a heavy skillet, or use your deep fryer
  • 2 tbsp olive oil divided
  • 4 cloves garlic peeled and left whole
  • 1 medium onion skin removed and quartered
  • 2 ancho chiles stems and seeds removed
  • 4 roma tomatoes cut in half, lengthwise
  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 1 tbsp cilantro chopped, plus extra for garnish
  • Kosher salt
  • black pepper freshly ground
  • 2 chicken breasts skinless, boneless
  • 6 oz Mexican cheese crumbled, such as queso fresco, or Monterrey Jack
  • 1 large avocado ripe, peeled, pitted, and thinly sliced
  • 1 large lime cut into wedges

Instructions

Fry the Tortillas (Can be done in advance)

  • Use a knife, or pizza cutter, to cut the tortillas into ¼-inch strips.
  • In a large, heavy skillet (or deep fryer), heat the oil to medium-high heat (350°F). Add the tortillas strips and cook until golden and crisp, about 1 to 2 minutes. Use a metal slotted spoon to remove the strips and let drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Lightly salt. Set aside.

Prepare the Ancho Chilies (Can be done in advance)

  • Heat a large saucepan/skillet over medium-high heat. Make sure the chilis are opened up, with no seeds, and place them on the skillet for 1 minute, or until fragrant. Flip and sear for another 30 seconds. Remove from the heat and then when cool enough to handle, chop the chili into small pieces. Set aside.

BUILDING THE SOUP

  • Preheat oven to 400°F.
  • Place the tomatoes, cut-side up, on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Drizzle a little olive oil over the tomatoes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place in the oven and roast for 40 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, heat 1 tsp olive oil in a large skillet/saucepan over high heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook until soft and they are turning brown. It's okay if they char a little.
  • Carefully transfer the tomatoes, onions, and garlic to a blender or food processor. Pureé until smooth. Add the mixture back to the saucepan and cook on medium-high until thickened to almost a paste, about 10 minutes.
  • Add the chicken broth, cilantro, ¾ tsp salt, and ½ tsp pepper to the pan and stir to combine. Add the chicken breast and simmer the soup for 30 minutes. Remove the chicken and shred with a couple of forks. Add the chicken back to the soup and simmer for a few more minutes.
  • Taste and add more salt, if desired. Transfer soup to bowls and garnish with tortilla strips, ancho bits, cheese, avocado slices, and chopped cilantro. Serve at once!

Video

Notes

Fry the corn tortillas strips in a deep-fryer, or sturdy skillet filled with about a ½-inch layer of vegetable oil.  Alternatively, you can brush the tortilla strips with olive oil and then bake them in a 350°F oven for 10 to 15 minutes, tossing them once midway.  Lightly salt.
Any type of dried Mexican chili will work in place of the ancho.  Just check the heat-level first.  Some chili's carry quite a bit of heat.  Ancho chilis are mild. 
If you want a spicier soup, then split a fresh jalapeno pepper down the middle and remove some of the seeds.  Roast them with the tomatoes and then add them to the blender when pureíng. 
We strongly recommend making the chicken broth from scratch.  You can use the chicken for the soup!
The soup will keep in the refrigerator for up to 1 week and freezes beautifully for up to 2 months. 

Nutrition

Calories: 198kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 811mg | Potassium: 577mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 2753IU | Vitamin C: 26mg | Calcium: 180mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe? Take a Picture!Mention @HowToFeedALoon or tag #HowToFeedALoon!

POST UPDATE: This recipe was originally published in January 2015, but was updated with improved tweaks to the recipe with new tips and photography, and a fabulous new video in October 2020!

6 Comments

  • 5 stars
    Freezing rain and 25 degrees outside calls for your chicken tortilla soup! I’ve made this about 10 times now and it’s delicious every time. I’d gone decades trying to find a good bowl of tortilla soup with no luck. So glad I found yours.
    Happy camper from Texas!

    • Hi Mary!!! Chicken tortilla soup is the PERFECT remedy for freezing rainy kind of day!! We are so so happy you are loving the recipe and we can’t thank you enough for the GREAT review. That means the world to us!! Stay in touch and stay warm!!! xoxo Kris & Wesley

  • 5 stars
    Oh my gosh, this is the very best chicken tortilla soup we have ever tasted!!! My husband raved about it last night and again this morning! He fried the tortilla strips while I made the soup. We fried the remaining tortillas by cutting them into quarters to have with guacamole as an appetizer while the soup was cooking. A great meal on a cold evening in Texas. Living in Texas all our lives, we have had numerous tortilla soups and this one is the best!

    • Hi Audrey!! So sorry for the delayed reply here, but we are THRILLED you had such great success with our tortilla soup recipe! That is, without a doubt, one of our most favorite soups to make! And coming from a Texan, that even means more to us!! Thank you SO MUCH for letting us know and for the wonderful review! That means the world to us! Please stay in touch! All the best, Kris & Wesley

  • This looks wonderful. Have made a few dishes that were scrumptious. King Ranch Chicken , Queso Please stay safe. Thank you

    • Hi there!! Thank you so much! That would make quite an amazing feast, Chicken Tortilla Soup, Queso, and King Ranch Chicken Casserole!! Yum!! Thank you again and you stay safe, too. xoxoxo Kris & Wesley

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