Classic Chicken Tortilla Soup (Printable version)
Vibrant Mexican-inspired soup with tender chicken, vegetables, and spices, topped with crispy tortilla strips.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken and Stock
01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 14 ounces)
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 (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes with juices
08 - 1 cup frozen or fresh corn kernels
09 - 1 can (15 ounces) 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 (optional)
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
# Directions:
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 -
- The contrast between silky broth and shattering crisp tortilla strips is pure magic
- It comes together in under an hour but tastes like it simmered all day
- Everyone gets to build their own perfect bowl with their favorite toppings
02 -
- The tortilla strips lose their crunch if stored in the soup so always add them right before serving
- Leftovers actually taste better the next day as the spices continue to develop
- A rotisserie chicken works perfectly if you want to skip the poaching step
03 -
- Double the tortilla strips recipe—they disappear faster than you expect
- Freeze leftover soup without toppings for the easiest future dinner