Delishs Chicken Tortilla Soup
When the experts at Delish call a recipe one of their best, we pay attention. The food sites Instant Pot chicken tortilla soup recipe makes use of one of the most popular kitchen appliances in recent years.
The combination of the spices and the magic of the pressure cooker makes this dish taste like its been simmering all day, but it only takes 50 minutes to prepare and cook. So, this would be a great last-minute meal, even without using pre-cooked chicken.
How To Make The Easiest Tortilla Soup Ever
Weve shared a lot of super easy soup recipes over the years, but this one is a contender for our easiest, fasted soup recipe ever. Grab a few cans from the pantry and get a stock pot simmering. Youll be slurping a big bowl of tortilla soup in no time! Our super fast, five-ingredient chicken tortilla soup recipe is as easy as:
More About This Recipe
- Iconic dishes often vary in their ingredients and preparation methods from region to region, as local cooks put creative spins on the basic recipe. The same is true of chicken tortilla soup. Travel up and down the west coast of North America, and youll find hundreds of variations of chicken tortilla soup recipe. In Mexico City, its a simple offering of chicken broth with roasted tomatoes, onion, garlic, chiles and strips of fried tortillas. In many parts of California, chicken tortilla soup can be made with a tomato base thats thickened with ground tortillas. Beans are sometimes included, but fried tortilla strips are almost always added as a garnish. This slow-cooker tortilla soup is just the beginning. Check out Betty’s best soup recipes.
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How To Make Homemade Fried Tortilla Strips:
You can always use store bought tortilla strips, but since corn tortillas are called for in this soup, its just as easy to fry up your own.
More Soup Recipes:
Frying Tortilla Strips For Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe
Frying tortilla strips could not be easier. You literally heat up some oil, and while the oil heats, thinly slice up some flour or corn tortillas. A couple minutes of cooking in the hot oil, remove them with a slotted spoon, and drain on paper towels. Salt lightly. Try not to eat them all while you make the soup. for more tips on frying tortilla strips.
Need one more shortcut? Skip the frying of the tortillas, grab a bag of tortilla chips, lightly crush a few handfuls, and use those instead.
Chicken Tortilla Soup: This divine soup is scented with chili, cumin and coriander, and topped with all kinds of deliciousness, like avocado and tortilla crisps.
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How To Make Chilis Chicken Enchilada Soup:
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SAUTÉ. Begin by sautéing your garlic in a large pot and adding your chicken broth.
ADD INGREDIENTS. In a separate bowl, whisk together masa harina and water until well blended. From there, you add the masa mixture to the pot followed by the remaining water, enchilada sauce, Velveeta cheese and seasonings.
BOIL & SIMMER. Bring this to a boil, add the chopped chicken, and simmer for thirty minutes.
SERVE. Top this delicious soup with your favorite toppings, like tomatoes, cilantro, cheese and tortilla strips, and youre set! I found the colored tortilla strips at my local HEB, but you should be able to find them at most grocery stores. I also think cilantro or green onions would be a great addition on top oh yeah, and maybe sour cream too!!
Masa harina substitute? Masa harina is basically dried corn dough. If you are wanting the same flavor, you can put dried corn tortillas in a food processor until it turns into a fine powder. Or, you can use cornmeal which will give you the same texture but not the same flavor.
How To Cook On The Stovetop
Add in the tomatoes, beans, chicken breasts, broth and water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 20 to 22 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through. During the last few minutes, add the corn.
Remove the chicken and place in a bowl and shred with two forks. Return to the pot and give everything a good stir.
Serve and enjoy!
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Pure 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 dont strain the pureé, but again, its a matter of taste.
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, its time to stir in the homemade chicken broth and cilantro and let it simmer for 30 minutes.
Its almost soup time, folks!
More Ways To Make Tortilla Soup
- If you are looking to make it in a crockpot then check out my Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe.
- Another delicious variation to try is my Grilled Chicken Tortilla Soup which includes grilled chicken breast, grilled corn and fire roasted tomatoes for a delicious lightly charred background flavor, so good!
- Love a creamy soup? Try my Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup.
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Storing And Freezing Instructions
- How to store: Store chicken tortilla soup still in the pot or transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- How to freeze: Once cooled, transfer any leftover chicken tortilla soup to an airtight container or portion them out into freezer bags and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to serve, allow the soup to thaw overnight in the refrigerator or for a few hours at room temperature on the kitchen counter.
- How to reheat: Reheat on the stove over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes until warmed through. Serve it loaded up with your favourite toppings.
How To Serve Chicken Tortilla Soup
Traditionally, this soup is served hot as an appetizer, side dish, or main course with tortilla strips or tortilla chips that are crushed between the hands and sprinkled in the bowl. The most satisfying way to serve the soup is with a dollop of sour cream, a few pinches of shredded cheddar or Mexican cheese, a pinch of diced jalapenos, green onions, and a sprinkle of cilantro in bowl. Give it a little stir and taste away!
I HATE cilantro! Can I leave it out of the soup? Yes, but absolutely mix a little into a seperate bowl to try. I used to hate cilantro, but the herb lends just the enough flair without going overboard. Plus, it totally makes the soup. Trust me. It is not an overwhelming cilantro flavor, but certainly is missed when made without this herb.
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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.
Best Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe
The BEST Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe youll ever try! A classic Mexican soup with an exceptional corn taste in a mild taco flavored broth with all the classic taco fixings and fried corn tortilla chips. Better than any authentic Mexican restaurant, my Tortilla Soup will steal the show on Taco Tuesdays! Featuring a secret ingredient that makes this the most outrageously delicious Mexican soup recipe ever!
Delicious Mexican Tortilla Soup made from scratch in a hearty south of the border chicken broth thickened naturally with masa harina. A classic Mexican winter soup dish featuring ingredients like tomatoes, pinto beans, corn, onions, garlic, cilantro, tortilla chips, cheddar cheese, jalapenos, sour cream, lime, and green onions. Seasoned to perfection, the soups flavor becomes more concentrated with corn flour the same ingredient that corn tortillas and chips are made from!
One of the BEST additions to my Chicken Tortilla Soup is the use of mesa harina and I promise, the savory flavor cannot be beaten! Corn mesa is a type of corn flour that is used to make corn tortillas, a staple served with many meals in Mexico. Mixing corn mesa and water together to make a slurry and stirring it into the stockpot of soup naturally thickens the broth while ingraining an incredible corn flavor.
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Staying Home Is Weird But This Soup Is Delicious
Can you be bored and overwhelmed at the same time? Turns out, YES. Yes you can. Thats why were reaching for recipes that require almost-no prep work and offer quick comfort, like this five-ingredient chicken tortilla soup! Built mostly from pantry ingredients, its easy, ultra-fast and satisfying. Because honestly, you need some down time right now!
How To Make Your Own Tortilla Strips:
Heat about a tablespoon of vegetable oil in a skillet on medium high heat. Once the oil is hot, add a corn or flour tortilla and fry for about 30 seconds and then flip it over, using tongs, and fry the other side until it is nice and crispy. Then, remove from the skillet and place on a cutting board. While it is still warm, you will cut it into strips using a regular knife or pizza cutter.
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How To Make Tortilla Soup
Its easy! Chicken tortilla soup takes just 30 minutes to cook. Prep your veggies first to save extra time. Make the tortilla strips while the soup is simmering .
You can also make the tortilla strips a few days in advance. They only need to pan fry for a minute or so on each side. Once theyre crisp, salt them and save them for later.
For the Chicken Tortilla Soup:
This recipe is crazy easy!
How To Make Chicken Tortilla Soup
Sauté the onion and jalapeño in an oiled Dutch oven, then add the diced garlic and continue cooking until fragrant. Add the chicken broth, tomatoes and juice, black beans, chicken, corn, lime juice, spices and bring to a boil.
Let the mixture boil for 5 minutes, then stir in fresh cilantro and boil another minute.
Ladle the homemade chicken tortilla soup into bowls and top with homemade tortilla strips , cubed avocado, shredded cheese, and/or sour cream.
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Chicken Tortilla Soup Ingredients
CHICKEN: Cut chicken breasts into small pieces and simmer them in the chicken broth. Adding chicken adds a great source of protein, however, the soup recipe can be made without chicken as I have had it both ways dozens of times.
VEGETABLES: Canned vegetables include diced tomatoes with green chilies and pinto beans. Fresh vegetable ingredients like corn, zucchini, and cilantro.
BROTH: Using a good flavor chicken broth makes all the difference. To make it vegetarian, vegetable stock may be used in place of chicken.
SEASONING: Use a taco seasoning you like. A homemade version can also be used in this recipe. Carne asada seasoning may also be used.
CORN MESA: The secret ingredient that takes an otherwise ordinary recipe into a spectacular corn flavor soup. Corn mesa flour is typically sold in the international aisle and comes in a package that is similar to flour. Corn mesa is ground corn that is used to make tortillas. I use it to thicken the tortilla soup and flavor it with a classic corn taste.
TORTILLA CHIPS: I like to use thin corn tortilla chips. A low salt variety or gourmet restaurant style is my favorite. Once the soup is dished up and toppings are added, crunch a few handfuls of tortilla chips into the bowl and stir it all together.
TOPPINGS: Classic Tortilla Soup toppings include cheddar cheese, sour cream, cilantro, diced jalapenos, and green onions. Honestly, all these toppings add deep flavor to each bite. Dont skip out on any of them.
Whats In This Chicken Tortilla Soup
The ingredient list in any tortilla soup is usually very simple but the flavor, we assure you, is not. We like to run the aromatic veggies through the food processor, so the bits are nice and small to start things out. Red onion, a hefty amount of garlic, and then a jalapeño, but you could sub any kind of pepper you like. A chipotle would be great here, dried guajillo or ancho chili for a more authentically Mexican take, or a green bell pepper if you are on the Midwestern level spice chart.
You could add other veg if you like, its yours to play around with! Also, how are you about big tomato chunks in your soup? We are a little about them, so we used a can of crushed tomatoes. Delicious tomato flavor with none of the surprise smush-cubes, you know?
But the real bonus of using a can of crushed tomatoes is the ever so slight, almost elegant thickening it brings to this soup. Kicks things up just one notch on the luxe chart and for that, we are big, big fans. If you are looking for an even thicker soup, some recipes will thicken with blended dried tortillas or cornmeal.
Beyond that all you need is:
- Chicken thighs
- Veggie broth
- All the toppings in the world!
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Ingredients In Chicken Tortilla Soup
To make this delicious and hearty chicken tortilla soup, you will need the folling ingredients:
- olive oil
- chicken breasts – you will need 2 boneless and skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch strips. You can also make this soup using ¾ to 1 cup leftover roast chicken or store-bought rotisserie chicken. Shred the chicken using a fork and add it in along with the onions, garlic, jalapeño and carrot .
- onion
- corn
- seasonings – salt, paprika, ground cumin, and crushed red pepper .
For the toppings, you need tortilla chips, and all or a portion of the following toppings: fresh cilantro, lime, sour cream, avocado, and cheddar cheese .
You will also need a medium stockpot .
What Is Tortilla Soup Anyway
Spiced, but not necessarily spicy, tortilla soup is simple, flavorful Mexican chicken soup traditionally flavored with tomatoes, garlic, onions, and chilies. While our version may not qualify as the most authentic tortilla soup recipe ever, we know for sure its the most weeknight friendly. Our recipe combines major flavor and minimal effort thanks to these 3 superstar ingredients that deserve a place on your grocery list every time:
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Expert Tips And Tricks
- Make it from scratch. Mixing up homemade taco seasoning gives the best flavor.
- Shred then soak. Return the shredded chicken to the soup at least 30 minutes before serving so it can absorb the juices.
- Spice it up. Choose a medium or hot salsa, and add a little extra cayenne pepper to the taco seasoning.
- Tons of toppings. Get creative and try avocado, jalapeños, cilantro, sour cream, and more.
- Prep in advance. This soup improves with time, refrigerate or freeze for an easy make-ahead meal.
Storage & Reheating Suggestions
If you have soup left over, store it in the fridge for up to four days, or in the freezer for up to six months.
Reheat in a saucepan on the stove over medium heat until heated through, or in the microwave in one minute increments, stirring occasionally. If the soup is frozen, thaw it overnight in the fridge for best results.
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Crock Pot Tortilla Soup
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This easy Crock PotTortilla Soup is the perfect set it and forget it version of our favorite Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe.
It makes for an easy weeknight dinner made right in the slow cooker. Most of the ingredients are ones you likely already have in the pantry and fridge!
The best slow cooker soup recipes are made with a big variety of flavors and colors just like this one.
A base of chicken broth is paired with tender chicken breasts, tomatoes, and a little bit of heat from jalapenos!
Once cooked, top this easy crockpot soup recipe with crispy tortilla strips for a delicious weeknight meal!
