Oh, chicken tortilla soup! How you warm my soul. If you know me, you know that Tex-Mex is pretty much my jam. I love to cook it. I love to eat it. Luckily, the Hubs and Scooter Britches see eye-to-eye with me on this one. We could probably eat Tex-Mex four-five nights a week. Today, I am sharing my super easy 7 can chicken tortilla soup. Using precooked chicken, this is a quick 30 minute chicken tortilla soup recipe which can also be modified for the slow cooker.
Note this post has been updated since the original publishing.
Over the years, I have tweaked and played around with different recipes for chicken tortilla soup.
Many Versions of Southwest Chicken Tortilla Soup
There are so many copycat chicken tortilla soup recipes out there. There is copycat Chick fil A chicken tortilla soup, Panera chicken tortilla soup recipe copycats, copycat On the Border chicken tortilla soup. You get the picture. Truth be told – I’ve never tried a version I didn’t like. But when it came to making my own tortilla soup recipe, it took several tries to get it right.
Once, after taking one version of my chicken tortilla soup to a work potluck, one of my coworkers made a negative comment about my soup, obviously unaware that I was the one who had made it. She went to scoop some out and commented that all the veggies and chicken were at the bottom and it was almost all broth. I was pretty irked. Who was she to critique my soup?
As much as I hate to admit it, she was right. There was a very poor broth-veggie ratio. So I tinkered around and around some more.
I finally came up with this one as my go-to recipe. It uses my Knorr Caldo de Tomate that I have raved about so many times.
What Type of Chicken for 7 Can Chicken Tortilla Soup?
Chicken tortilla soup is a great way to use leftover chicken breast. Whether it has been baked, grilled, sauteed, slow cooked, roasted…it doesn’t matter. Simply chop it up or shred it and it will be great in this quick tortilla soup. I prefer white chicken in my soup.
If you follow my other recipes, one thing you might have learned about me is that I do NOT like to mess around with raw meat when I get home from work. I slow cook or grill chicken on the weekends and keep the diced or shredded cooked chicken in meal-size servings in the freezer for easy meals during the week. We stay well stocked with precooked meats this way.
But IF I do need to cook my chicken at the start of this recipe process, I simply chop up raw chicken and toss it into a sautee pan or pot with the onions and green bell peppers. In the photo I have here, I was out of bell peppers so I only have onion and seasonings in the pan with the chopped chicken.
Making 30 Minute Chicken Tortilla Soup on the Stove Top
The thing about this 30 minute chicken tortilla soup is that in order to truly keep the prep time to 30 minutes, you should have some chicken that is already cooked. As I just mentioned, you can use whatever precooked chicken you have on hand. You can make pulled chicken tortilla soup, chopped chicken tortilla soup, etc.
I start off by sauteeing about onion and green bell pepper with seasonings in a bit of olive oil. While that is going, I prep my chicken tortilla soup dutch oven style (or in a large stock pot) on the stove. I simply load in the ingredients as listed in the recipe card below. Thirty-ish minutes later, dinner is ready.
Notice not all the cans needed for the recipe are pictured in this photograph.
Making 7 Can Chicken Tortilla Soup in a Slow Cooker
This recipe can also be made in a slow cooker. It doesn’t get much easier. Simply, add the chicken, the canned items, the spices and veggies, and the tomato broth. Cook on low for 4 hours or on high for 2 hours.
Garnish Ideas
When my 7 can chicken tortilla soup is ready, I garnish the soup with cilantro, shredded cheese, and tortilla chips. Avocado makes a great garnish, as well. A handful of crushed tortilla chips or tortilla strips that you can find in the salad toppings section of the supermarket make a nice garnish. The tortilla strips are prettier than the crushed jagged chips, but most of the time my family is eating this soup for a fast weeknight dinner so we aren’t as focused on presentation.
If you feel so inclined, you can always make your own baked tortilla strips.
This particular photo includes chopped chicken with tortillas chips on the side for presentation. Definitely add more crushed chips before eating!
What to Serve with Chicken Tortilla Soup
As far as what to serve with chicken tortilla soup, many people like to serve chicken tortilla soup with rice. My family prefers a simple pile of tortilla chips. We have tried all types of tortilla chips – big triangular white tortilla chips, yellow corn tortilla chips, or the small round tortilla chips for chicken tortilla soup. Most people prefer to crush up their tortilla chips and just toss them into the soup just before eating. (Do not add them in too soon or they will become soggy.)
This particular photo includes shredded chicken and crushed tortilla chips. As I mentioned, I use whatever chicken I have – whether chopped or shredded, it turns out great!
When it comes to what goes with chicken tortilla soup, you can choose from lots of southwest options. However, for me serving soup is about keeping things simple. The is already a hearty chicken tortilla soup – loaded with beans and corn so I don’t feel separate side dishes are truly necessary.
To Make a Dairy Free Chicken Tortilla Soup
The only dairy items in my 7 can chicken tortilla soup recipe is the sour cream and shredded cheese used for garnish at the end. To make this recipe a dairy free chicken tortilla soup, simply omit the cheese and sour cream. You can still garnish with avocado and cilantro to give the soup a bit more wow factor for presentation and flavor.
Perfectly spicy chicken tortilla stew!
More Dinner Ideas to Explore
We have so many great soups and chili recipes here at Planted in Arkansas. Give them all a try!
SAUSAGE SPINACH TORTELLINI SOUP
EASY STOVE TOP CHILI WITH TOMATO SAUCE
CHICKEN SOUP WITH AMISH NOODLES
BLACK EYE PEA SOUP WITH TORTELLINI AND SAUSAGE
10+ SIMPLE SOUPS FOR SOUP AND SANDWICH NIGHT
SMOKED PORK GREEN CHILI SLOW COOKER RECIPE
OLD FASHIONED HAM AND BEAN SOUP
SLOW COOKER THREE BEAN CHILI WITH BEEF
21 BEST SOUPS FOR A SOUPER BOWL PARTY
7 Can Chicken Tortilla Soup (30 Minute Chicken Tortilla Soup)
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp Olive oil
- 1/2 cup Onion diced
- 1/2 cup Green bell pepper diced
- 2 Chicken breasts *cooked; shredded or chopped
- 2 tsp Chili powder chipotle or regular chili powder
- 2 tsp Cumin roasted or regular cumin
- 15 oz Whole kernel corn drained
- 16 oz Kidney beans (light red) drained
- 16 oz Kidney beans (dark red) drained
- 16 oz Pinto beans drained
- 4.5 oz Green chiles diced or chopped
- 12 oz Tomato paste
- 10 oz Rotel with lime and chiles or fire-roasted; not drained
- 6 cups Tomato broth made from Knorr Caldo de Tomate
- 1 cup Cheddar cheese shredded
- Tortilla chips or tortilla strips
Instructions
- In a large dutch oven or stock pot, sautee onions and bell peppers in olive oil for 3 minutes or until somewhat translucent.
- To the same pot, add the shredded or chopped pre-cooked chicken and the spices. Stir together and cook for a minute or two.
- Add all canned ingredients and water.
- Add 6 teaspoons Knorr Caldo de Tomate to the water at the top of the pot. Set pot to medium high heat to boil.
- Once soup reaches boiling point, turn down heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes.
- Garnish with crushed tortilla chips or tortilla strips, sour cream, cilantro, and shredded cheese.
Notes
Nutrition
Patti
Hi Amy,
My family loves all things with a Mexican flavor so this is a great recipe for us. Thanks for sharing at the Tips & Tricks Linky party. I hope to see you there next week!
Patti
The Gifted Gabber
Hi Patti! Thanks so much for stopping by. I think you would love this recipe!
Morgan King
Looks amazing! I’ve been looking for a good chicken tortilla soup recipe!
The Gifted Gabber
Thanks so much, Morgan. It is quite good. Don’t think you will be disappointed!
Lauryn Hock
OH MY this looks so delicious!
xo, Lauryn
http://www.lauryncakes.com
The Gifted Gabber
Thanks so much, Lauryn!
Rachel McCrary
Looks YUMMY! 🙂 Can’t wait to try it!
The Gifted Gabber
Rachel, it REALLY is a keeper! 🙂