Best Chicken Tortilla Soup (Printable)

Flavorful Mexican soup with tender chicken, fire-roasted tomatoes, corn, lime, and crispy tortilla strips.

# What You'll Need:

→ Poultry

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 14 oz)

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 cup frozen or canned corn, drained
06 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped
07 - 1 lime, juiced
08 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Canned Goods

09 - 1 can (14 oz) fire-roasted diced tomatoes
10 - 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth

→ Seasonings

11 - 1 bay leaf
12 - 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
13 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
14 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
15 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
16 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ Tortilla Strips

17 - 4 corn tortillas, cut into thin strips
18 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Toss tortilla strips with 1 tablespoon olive oil and spread on a baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes, turning once, until golden and crisp. Set aside.
02 - In a large pot, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, red bell pepper, and jalapeño. Sauté for 4-5 minutes until softened.
03 - Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in chili powder, oregano, cumin, smoked paprika, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook for 30 seconds.
04 - Add chicken breasts, fire-roasted tomatoes with juice, corn, bay leaf, and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes until chicken is cooked through.
05 - Remove chicken breasts from pot and shred using two forks. Return shredded chicken to the pot.
06 - Add lime juice and chopped cilantro. Discard bay leaf. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Ladle soup into bowls and top with tortilla strips and desired toppings.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour, making it perfect for nights when you want something that tastes like you've been cooking all day.
  • The tortilla strips add the kind of textural surprise that keeps you coming back for another spoonful.
  • Lime juice at the end wakes everything up in a way that feels like a small kitchen miracle every single time.
02 -
  • Don't skip baking your own tortilla strips; they stay crispy and actually taste like tortillas instead of becoming soggy after five minutes.
  • The bay leaf seems like a small thing, but removing it matters because it can become sharp and unpleasant if left in too long.
03 -
  • Save your tortilla strips in an airtight container and reheat them briefly in the oven before serving if you're making soup ahead of time.
  • Rotisserie chicken from the grocery store cuts your hands-on time in half and tastes just as good in this particular recipe.
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