Quick Chicken Tortilla Soup

This recipe makes a quick—and tasty—weeknight chicken tortilla soup thanks to canned black beans, cooked chicken, and store-bought tortilla chips.

What is tortilla soup? 

Let’s talk about this soup! Chicken tortilla soup, known as sopa Azteca con pollo, is thought to originate from central Mexico. But its exact origins are unknown. Like many dishes, the preparation varies by region. Most recipes begin with a homemade chicken broth and include some type of chili peppers, onions, garlic, and various spices.

If you’re interested in reading about the history of this soup and trying an authentic recipe, I highly recommend this piece from the San Diego Union Tribune from food writer Anita L. Arambula.

As you’ll see, my shortcut recipe is not a traditional Mexican chicken tortilla soup. It’s based on the American-style variations I’ve eaten over the years. 

What you need to make this soup. 

For the full list of ingredients and amounts, please see recipe below

• Cooked Chicken. This soup is a great way to use leftover chicken. Shred or cube  it before adding to the soup. If you don’t have leftover chicken, cook three chicken breasts in the air fryer. 
• Vegetables. Green bell peppers, onions, and garlic adds a nice flavor to the broth. If you prefer your soup with lots of veggies, you can add celery, carrots, and corn.  
• Canned Black Beans. I prefer no-salt added black beans. This lets me control the salt level of the soup. 
• Canned tomatoes and green chilies. Ro-tel is my go-brand for canned tomatoes and green chilies. Use mild, traditional, or hot depending on your taste. 
• Tomato paste. This adds a nice deep tomato flavor to the broth. 
• Chili Powder. A tablespoon of chili powder makes the soup flavorful but not spicy. If you like a spicy soup, add a little chipotle or cayenne powder. 
• Salt. Add a half teaspoon of salt at the beginning of cooking, then add more to taste once the soup finishes cooking. If you’re using chicken broth or beans that contain salt, reduce the salt to 1/4 teaspoon. 
• Chicken Broth. Low or salt-free chicken broth is the base for this soup. Or you can use water and your favorite chicken bouillon base. 
• Tortillas. Finally, what would chicken tortilla soup be without tortillas? Most recipes call for frying strips of corn tortillas. I skip this. Instead, I use my favorite store-bought tortilla chips. 

How to Make Chicken Tortilla Soup.

This soup takes about 45 minutes to cook. All the hands-on cooking is at the start. Then you just need to stir it occasionally as it simmers.

1. Cook the vegetables. Start this soup by cooking the green peppers and onions until they start to soften. Then add the garlic and seasoning. Cook for about a minute. 
2. Add the tomato paste. Drop the tomato paste onto the hot vegetables and stir until the paste coats all the vegetables. This step briefly cooks the paste, enhancing its flavor. 
3. Cook the soup. Add the rest of the ingredients and bring the soup to a boil. Then reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 30 minutes. 
4. Add the chicken. Stir the chicken into the soup during the last 10 minutes of cooking. This keeps it overcooking and drying out. 
5. Season to taste. After the soup cooks, give it a taste. Adjust the seasonings as needed. If it needs more salt, pepper, or chili powder, add it now.

Topping Ideas.

• Soup Cream.
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• Pickled or Fresh Jalapeno Peppers
• Lime Juice. Squeeze fresh lime juice onto the soup right before enjoying.
• Cilantro
• Red Onions
• Guacamole or Chopped Avocado

Storage Tips

Refrigerate any leftovers within two hours of making the soup. If you have a lot of leftover soup, it’s best to cool it fully before refrigerating.  

To do this, stir the soup every five minutes or so until it’s cool. To speed up the cooling process, place the leftover container of soup into a shallow dish filled with ice and water. Take care not to get any ice or water into the soup.  

Note: Recipe was originally published January 2020. It was updated with new photos and tips in February 2023.