Chicken Tortilla Soup

This Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe has been crafted to perfection. It’s easy to make using a slow cooker Crockpot or an Instant Pot and pressure cooker. This soul-warming dish combines tender chicken, vibrant vegetables, the best homemade spice blend, and crispy tortilla strips into a bowl of comfort. This soup offers convenience without compromising on taste.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• Convenience: This recipe offers convenience by allowing for hands-off cooking. Once you’ve added the ingredients, you can set it and forget it, freeing up time for other tasks or activities.
• Time-Saving: If you make the soup using an Instant Pot or slow cooker you can significantly reduce the cooking time compared to traditional stovetop methods.
• Tender Meat: This dish results in tender chicken as the prolonged cooking time allows the flavors to meld together while keeping the meat moist and juicy.
• Enhanced Flavor: Slow cooking or pressure cooking allows the flavors of the ingredients to develop and intensify over time, resulting in a richer and more flavorful soup.
• One-Pot Meal: Who doesn’t love a one pot meal? This method minimizes cleanup and simplifies the cooking process.
• Perfect for Batch Cooking and Meal Prep: Soup is awesome for meal prep and when made in large batches it can be stored and reheated for future meals.

What Type of Chicken to Use

Here are some options.

• Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts: This is a popular choice because it’s lean and easy to shred once cooked. Chicken breasts cook relatively quickly and are readily available at most grocery stores.
• Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs: Chicken thighs have a bit more fat and flavor compared to chicken breasts. They also tend to be more forgiving when cooked for longer periods, making them a great option for slow cooking methods like the Crockpot.
• Rotisserie Chicken: Using pre-cooked rotisserie chicken is a convenient option if you’re short on time or looking to add extra flavor to your soup. Simply shred the meat and add it to the soup during the last few minutes of cooking to heat through.
• Leftover Chicken: Leftover cooked chicken from a previous meal, such as grilled, roasted, or baked chicken, can be shredded and added to the soup. This is a great way to repurpose leftovers and reduce food waste.

How to Make Chicken Tortilla Soup

Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

1. Saute onions and garlic in the pot.
2. Add the chicken breasts, broth, Better than Bouillon, taco seasoning, and tomato paste to the pot.
3. Close and seal.
4. Pressure cook.
5. Remove the chicken and shred. Return the chicken to the pot.
6. Stir and serve.

Cook Time and How Long to Cook

If you are making the dish in a Crockpot slow cooker you will need to cook it on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours.

If you’re using a pressure cooker or Instant Pot you will cook the dish for 10 minutes.

Substitutions and Add-Ins Ideas

• Corn: Add fresh or frozen corn kernels for sweetness and texture.
• Avocado: Top each bowl with diced avocado for creaminess and a boost of healthy fats.
• Cilantro: Fresh cilantro adds a burst of freshness and flavor. Garnish each serving with chopped cilantro leaves.
• Lime: A squeeze of fresh lime juice right before serving brightens up the flavors of the soup.
• Cheese: Sprinkle shredded cheddar, Monterey Jack, or crumbled queso fresco on top for added richness.
• Sour Cream: A dollop of sour cream adds creaminess and balances out the spices.
• Hot Sauce: For an extra kick of heat, serve with your favorite hot sauce or salsa on the side.
• Tortilla Strips: Serve with extra crispy tortilla strips on top for added crunch.
• Rice or Quinoa: Add cooked rice or quinoa to make the soup more hearty and filling.
• Bell peppers
• Zucchini
• Spinach
• Broccoli

How to Store

Leftovers can be stored in the fridge tightly covered and sealed for 3-4 days.

How to Reheat

• Stovetop: Transfer the desired amount of soup to a saucepan or pot. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the soup reaches a gentle simmer. Allow it to simmer for a few minutes until heated through. Be careful not to boil the soup vigorously, as this can cause the ingredients to break down and lose texture.
• Microwave: Pour the desired amount of soup into a microwave-safe bowl. Cover the bowl loosely with a microwave-safe lid or microwave-safe plastic wrap, leaving a small vent for steam to escape. Microwave on high in 1-minute intervals, stirring between each interval, until the soup is heated through. Be cautious when handling hot soup from the microwave.
• Instant Pot: If you initially cooked the soup in an Instant Pot, you can use the “Saute” function to reheat it. Simply pour the soup back into the Instant Pot insert and select the “Saute” function. Stir occasionally until the soup reaches your desired temperature.
• Crockpot: For soup that was originally cooked in a Crockpot, you can reheat it directly in the Crockpot insert. Place the insert back into the Crockpot base and set it to the “Low” or “Warm” setting. Allow the soup to heat gradually, stirring occasionally, until it reaches the desired temperature.

Freezer Tips

You can freeze the soup tightly covered and sealed for 3-4 months. After that some quality may fade. Defrost in the fridge overnight.

More Soup Recipes

Chicken Florentine Soup
Lasagna Soup
Slow Cooker Crockpot Chicken Pot Pie
Autumn Butternut Squash Soup
Homestyle Chicken Noodle Soup
Slow Cooker Crockpot Cheeseburger Soup
Slow Cooker Crockpot Broccoli Cheese Soup
Creamy Chicken Alfredo Soup
Roasted Poblano Soup
Rotisserie Chicken Noodle Soup