Classic Chicken Tortilla Soup (Printable)

Vibrant Mexican soup with tender chicken, tomatoes, spices, and crispy tortilla strips

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken and Stock

01 - 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
02 - 6 cups chicken broth preferably low sodium

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 medium yellow onion diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic minced
05 - 1 medium red bell pepper diced
06 - 1 medium jalapeño seeded and diced
07 - 1 can diced tomatoes with juices
08 - 1 cup frozen or fresh corn kernels
09 - 1 can black beans drained and rinsed
10 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste

→ Spices and Seasonings

11 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
12 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
13 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
14 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
15 - 1/2 teaspoon salt plus more to taste
16 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Tortilla Strips

17 - 4 corn tortillas sliced into thin strips
18 - 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

→ Garnishes

19 - 1 avocado diced
20 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro chopped
21 - 1 lime cut into wedges
22 - 1/2 cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
23 - Sour cream

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Toss tortilla strips with vegetable oil and spread on a baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes until golden and crisp, tossing halfway through. Set aside.
02 - In a large pot, bring chicken broth to a boil. Add chicken breasts, reduce heat, and simmer gently for 15 minutes or until cooked through. Remove chicken, shred with two forks, and set aside.
03 - In the same pot, add onion, garlic, bell pepper, and jalapeño. Sauté over medium heat for 5 minutes until softened.
04 - Stir in cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
05 - Add diced tomatoes with juices, tomato paste, corn, black beans, and shredded chicken back to the pot. Simmer for 10-15 minutes to blend flavors.
06 - Check seasoning and adjust salt or spice as desired.
07 - Ladle soup into bowls. Top with crispy tortilla strips and optional garnishes such as avocado, cilantro, lime, cheese, and sour cream.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one pot so you spend less time washing dishes and more time eating
  • The homemade tortilla strips are infinitely better than anything store bought and take almost no effort
  • It is one of those rare soups that actually tastes better the next day for leftovers
02 -
  • The tortilla strips will get soggy if you add them too early so always serve them on top right before eating
  • Rotisserie chicken works perfectly here if you want to skip the poaching step and save even more time
  • Pinto beans make a great substitute for black beans if that is what your family prefers
03 -
  • If you want extra richness stir in a small can of diced green chilies along with the tomatoes
  • A splash of lime juice in the pot during the last few minutes of cooking brightens the entire soup

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