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+ servings
a bowl of chicken tortilla soup with a lime wedge and spoon
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5 from 11 votes

Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup

This chicken tortilla soup recipe is incredibly flavorful with corn, beans, and tender chicken simmered in a beautifully seasoned tomato broth. It's quick and super easy to make!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Soup
Cuisine: American, Tex-Mex
Keyword: easy chicken tortilla soup recipe
Servings: 6
Author: Natasha Bull

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 medium onion chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 2 (13.5 ounce) cans fire-roasted diced tomatoes with juices
  • 1 pound uncooked chicken thighs (boneless, skinless)
  • 1 (14 ounce) can black beans drained & rinsed
  • 1 (12 ounce) can corn drained
  • 1 (4 ounce) can diced green chilies 
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • Lime juice optional, to taste
  • Toppings (optional, to taste): tortilla strips/chips, shredded cheese, cilantro, sour cream, avocado

Instructions

  • Add the oil to a large soup pot and sauté the onion over medium heat until lightly browned (about 5-7 minutes).
  • Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
  • Add in the remaining ingredients except for salt & pepper and lime juice, and increase the heat to high. Once the soup is boiling, reduce the heat and simmer, with the lid slightly open, for 20-25 minutes.
  • Take the chicken out and shred it with two forks. If you prefer a smoother soup with a thicker broth, use an immersion blender to purée the soup (I leave some of it a little chunky) before adding the chicken back in. I recommend adding a good squeeze of fresh lime juice to the soup prior to serving, but that step is optional. Season with salt & pepper as needed, then serve and top each bowl as desired.

Notes

  • This soup will work great with up to 1.5 pounds of chicken. You can use chicken breasts if you prefer, but chicken thighs have more flavor and tend not to dry out as fast. Be careful not to overcook chicken breasts.
  • Store-bought tortilla strips are convenient, but you could do homemade by cutting corn tortillas into strips and then frying them in half an inch of hot oil (350F) until they're lightly browned. 
  • This soup freezes well.

Nutrition

Calories: 229kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 43mg | Sodium: 1164mg | Potassium: 594mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 988IU | Vitamin C: 40mg | Calcium: 86mg | Iron: 3mg