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4.8 from 18 votes

Chicken Tortilla Soup

This flavorful chicken tortilla soup is made in under 30 minutes, with or without an Instant Pot. Classic tortilla soup, the way I ate it in Mexico City, is simply good chicken broth combined with roasted tomatoes, onion, garlic, chiles, and topped with fried corn tortilla strips and an assortment of garnishes to make your own special bowl. It’s food for the soul.

Cook Time
mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 487 kcal
Course: Main Course , Soup
Cuisine: Mexican , Tex-Mex

Ingredients

  • 3 to 4 New Mexico chile pods stemmed and seeded
  • 1 corn tortilla charred and torn into pieces
  • 1 (14.5-ounce) can fire roasted diced tomatoes
  • 2 (32-ounce) cartons organic chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 medium white onion diced
  • 2 cloves garlic diced
  • salt
  • 2 chicken breasts
  • 2 chicken thighs
  • 12 Yellow Corn Tortillas sliced into ¼-inch-thick strips
  • 1/3 cup canola oil for frying tortilla strips
Toppings:
  • fried corn tortilla strips
  • pork skins (chicharrones) 
  • Diced avocado
  • Crumbled queso fresco
  • crema mexicana
  • Lime wedges
  • crunchy roasted chiles
  • chopped fresh cilantro
  • diced onion

Instructions

Stove Top:
    Cup of Yum
  1. In a large bowl filled with hot water add dried chiles until the chiles have softened about 10 to 15 minutes. 
  2. Blend the softened chiles with torn tortilla pieces, fire roasted tomatoes, and 1 cup chicken broth in a blender. Blend until smooth. 
  3. Heat the olive oil in a large (at least 6-quart) pot over medium-low heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently, or until the onions are soft and translucent. Add the chopped garlic and sauté for an additional 30 seconds to 1 minute, stirring continuously, until fragrant. Remove from the heat.
  4. Lightly sprinkle salt over chicken breasts, and chicken thighs.
  5. Add the chicken, tomato mixture from blender, and remaining chicken broth to pot, and give everything a good stir. Let come to a boil; reduce heat. Let simmer until chicken is cooked through, about 30 minutes. 
  6. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken to a bowl. Using 2 forks, shred the chicken. 
  7. Add shredded chicken back to pot and season with salt if needed.
  8. Ladle soup into bowls and serve with tortillas strips, avocados, a squeeze of lime juice, and your choice of toppings. 
  1. In a large bowl filled with hot water add dried chiles until the chiles have softened about 10 to 15 minutes. 
  2. Blend the softened chiles with torn tortilla pieces, fire roasted tomatoes, and 1 cup chicken broth in a blender. Blend until smooth. 
  3. Select Sauté on the Instant Pot and warm the oil. Add the onions to the pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and translucent, about 3 minutes. Stir in garlic for 1 minute.
  4. Lightly sprinkle salt over chicken breasts, and chicken thighs.
  5. Add the chicken, tomato mixture from blender, and remaining chicken broth, and give everything a good stir. 
  6. Lock the lid in place and turn the valve to Sealing. 
  7. Press the Manual/Pressure Cook button and set the cook time for 20 minutes at high pressure.  
  8. Let the steam release naturally for about 10 minutes, then turn the valve to Venting to release any residual steam. 
  9. Carefully remove the lid and, using a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken to a bowl. Using 2 forks, shred the chicken. 
  10. Add shredded chicken back to pot and season with salt if needed.
  11. Ladle soup into bowls and serve with tortillas strips, avocados, a squeeze of lime juice, and your choice of toppings. 
  1. In a large skillet, heat the canola oil over medium-high heat and fry the tortilla strips until lightly browned around the edges, about 1 minute. Transfer the strips to paper towels to drain.

Notes

  • Tortilla soup goes great with a tall mountain of homemade tortilla strips.
  • This soup tastes better with time. This soup lasts in the fridge for up to five days in a resealable container. Just heat and serve.
  • It freezes well in these plastic containers, which come in very handy when you are not feeling well and need comforting.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1serving without toppings Calories 487kcal (24%) Carbohydrates 34g (11%) Protein 28g (56%) Fat 28g (43%) Saturated Fat 4g (20%) Cholesterol 85mg (28%) Sodium 791mg (33%) Potassium 875mg (25%) Fiber 5g (20%) Sugar 5g (10%) Vitamin A 419IU (8%) Vitamin C 51mg (57%) Calcium 93mg (9%) Iron 3mg (17%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 487

% Daily Value*

Serving 1serving without toppings
Calories 487kcal 24%
Carbohydrates 34g 11%
Protein 28g 56%
Fat 28g 43%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Cholesterol 85mg 28%
Sodium 791mg 33%
Potassium 875mg 19%
Fiber 5g 20%
Sugar 5g 10%
Vitamin A 419IU 8%
Vitamin C 51mg 57%
Calcium 93mg 9%
Iron 3mg 17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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