Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup

This Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe makes the perfect weeknight meal that can easily be made right in your instant pot, slow cooker or on the stove! Loaded with tender shredded chicken, veggies, beans and all the toppings for a delicious, flavor-packed meal!

Calling all fellow soup lovers! It’s officially soup season and this is one of the easiest soups you could make. Can you believe this is the first recipe I ever posted on my website over 15 years ago?! This Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe is still a favorite family staple in our home because it is packed with so much bold flavor and is easy to throw together for a quick weeknight dinner. You probably already have all the ingredients right in your pantry! Tender chicken, black beans, veggies and all the best toppings for a delicious cozy dinner the whole family will love.

Why You’ll Love This

• Quick and Easy – this soup can easily be ready in just 30 minutes if making on the stove top or throw all the ingredients into your crock pot, set it and forget it!
• Healthy – this flavorful chicken tortilla soup is high in protein and fiber, while still being light and comforting.
• Customizable – you can easily adjust the spice level in this soup, add in extra veggies or use rotisserie chicken for a shortcut.
• Great for meal prep – the best part about this soup is that the flavors taste even better the next day, making it great for leftovers! I like to make a big batch of this soup on the weekends to enjoy throughout the week.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• chicken – you’ll need boneless skinless chicken breasts for this recipe, but you could also use chicken thighs or even shredded rotisserie chicken for even more flavor. Leftover chicken or turkey works great too!
• onion + garlic – chopped onion and garlic cloves really punch up the flavor in this soup.
• chicken broth – I used a low sodium chicken broth, but you could also use chicken stock or vegetable broth.
• tomatoes – I used a large 28 ounce can of crushed tomatoes, but diced tomatoes, fire-roasted tomatoes or even canned tomato sauce would work too. A can of rotel tomatoes would add extra flavor as well.
• green chiles – adds a kick of spice and extra flavor.
• enchilada sauce – this really enhances the flavor of this soup and you can choose the spice level you want between mild, medium and hot.
• black beans + corn – a whole can of black beans adds extra protein and texture to this flavorful soup and feel free to use fresh corn or frozen corn.
• lime juice – tastes amazing with all these bold flavors!
• spices – a delicious combination of chili powder (or chipotle powder), cumin, kosher salt, black pepper and a bay leaf. You could even add a little cayenne pepper for additional spice.

How to Make Chicken Tortilla Soup (3 Ways)

Because I know all of you use a variety of different methods when making soups, I’m sharing how to make this homemade chicken tortilla soup in the crock pot, your Instant Pot and on the stovetop!

Stovetop Chicken Tortilla Soup

1. Sauté onion and garlic. In a large soup pot or dutch oven, drizzle a little olive oil over medium-high heat and sauté onion for 3 to 4 minutes. Add in the garlic and sauté for an additional minute.
2. Build the soup. Add in the rest of the ingredients, except the cilantro and lime juice, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and let the soup simmer for about 30 minutes, until chicken is tender and cooked through.
3. Shred the chicken. Once the chicken is cooked, remove from the pot and shred using two forks. Add the shredded chicken back into the pot along with the cilantro and lime juice.
4. Serve and enjoy! Ladle the soup into bowls and serve with your favorite toppings like crunchy tortilla strips, avocado and extra cilantro or green onions on top of the soup.

Crock Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

1. Add the ingredients. Add the chicken to a 6-quart slow cooker along with the onion, garlic, tomatoes, chicken broth, enchilada sauce, green chiles, black beans, corn and seasonings. Reserve the lime juice for later.
2. Cook. Cover and cook on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours or LOW for 6 to 8 hours, until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
3. Shred the chicken. Remove the chicken from the slow cooker, shred it with two forks, then return it to the soup.
4. Finish and serve. Stir in the fresh lime juice, taste and season with additional salt and pepper as needed. Serve warm with your favorite toppings.

Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

1. Sauté the aromatics. Set the Instant Pot to sauté and heat the olive oil. Add the onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, then add the garlic and cook for another minute.
2. Add the ingredients. Add the chicken, tomatoes, chicken broth, enchilada sauce, green chiles, black beans, corn and seasonings. Reserve the lime juice for later.
3. Pressure cook. Secure the lid, set the valve to sealing and cook on high pressure for 7 minutes. Allow the pressure to naturally release for about 12 minutes, then carefully release any remaining pressure.
4. Shred and finish. Remove the chicken, shred it with two forks and return it to the pot. Stir in the fresh lime juice, season to taste and serve with your favorite toppings.

Optional Toppings

• Slices of avocado.
• Fresh cilantro leaves, parsley or green onions
• Crispy tortilla strips or crushed tortilla chips
• Shredded cheese such as Monterey jack cheese, cheddar cheese or even shredded Mexican cheese
• Dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt
• Sliced jalapeño peppers
• Extra lime wedges to squeeze over top

Variations

• Make it creamy – to make creamy chicken tortilla soup, feel free to add in some heavy cream, coconut cream, cream cheese or mix in a dollop of sour cream before serving.
• Adjust the spice – you can easily adjust the spice level of this soup by using mild, medium or hot enchilada sauce. You could also add in chopped jalapeno, chopped poblano pepper or even a dash of hot sauce for more heat.
• Switch up protein – you can use rotisserie chicken for a simple short cut when making this soup, or feel free to use turkey, ground beef, shrimp or even chickpeas for a hearty vegetarian option.
• Add more veggies – boost the nutrition and flavor with extra vegetables such as zucchini, yellow squash, bell peppers, sweet potatoes, carrots, celery, spinach or kale.

What to Serve with Chicken Tortilla Soup

Chicken tortilla soup is hearty enough to enjoy on its own, but it also makes a delicious addition to a Mexican-inspired dinner. Pair it with my Healthy Chicken Enchiladas for a cozy, satisfying meal or serve it alongside these Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas when feeding a crowd. You could also keep things simple with tortilla chips, fresh guacamole, sliced avocado or a side salad.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Healthy Soup Recipes

• Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
• Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Soup 
• Detox Immune-Boosting Chicken Soup
• Sausage and Spinach Tortellini Soup
• One Pot Spicy Sausage and Kale Soup

More Mexican Recipes

• Healthy Chicken Enchiladas
• Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
• Mexican Stuffed Bell Peppers
• Baked Chicken Fajita Roll-Ups
• Healthy Breakfast Enchiladas
• Enchilada Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Hope you all enjoy this Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup! If you love this as much as we do, please leave me ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ below and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram using the hashtag #eatyourselfskinny! I love seeing all your delicious recreations!