The best Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe is made with shredded chicken, black beans, corn, and diced tomatoes. It’s healthy, easy to throw together, and uses basic pantry ingredients.

Want more soup recipes? Try my Potato Leek Soup, Creamy Tortellini Soup, Chicken and Dumplings, or Pozole Verde!

A bowl of homemade Chicken Tortilla Soup topped with shredded cheese, cilantro, crumbled tortilla chips, and sliced avocado.

Why we love this Chicken Tortilla Soup:

  • Quick – Ready to enjoy in just 30 minutes! The perfect cozy weeknight meal!
  • Stove, Slow Cooker or Instant Pot – Make it quick on the stove or instant pot, or let it simmer four hours in the slow cooker.
  • Crowd-Pleasing – Everyone loves a hot bowl of Chicken Tortilla Soup, and everyone has fun adding their own toppings! Try serving it in a homemade bread bowl!

How to Make Chicken Tortilla Soup:

Sauté Veggies: Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the bell pepper, onion, and garlic, and sauté for 3-5 minutes until the onion starts to soften.

Chopped green bell pepper, onion, and garlic being sautéed in a large pot.

Add Broth and Seasonings: Add chicken broth and diced tomatoes chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, black beans and season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring soup to a simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes.

Vegetables, diced tomatoes, chicken broth, and seasonings simmering in a large pot to make a Chicken Tortilla Soup broth.

Cook Chicken: Cut chicken into a few pieces and add to the pot. Cook for 7-10 more minutes, until the chicken is cooked through.

Chicken simmering in a soup broth to make homemade Chicken Tortilla Soup.

Shred Chicken: Remove chicken and shred with forks. Return to the pot along with the corn and lime juice.

Two images showing a plate of shredded chicken, then that chicken added to a pot of soup broth with frozen corn for Chicken Tortilla Soup.

Serve this easy chicken tortilla soup topped with fresh cilantro, shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado.

A bowl of Chicken Tortilla Soup with crumbled tortilla chips, cilantro, cheese, and sliced avocado.

Slow Cooker and Instant Pot Instructions:

Slow Cooker:

  • After sautéing the vegetables in step 1, add them to the slow cooker along with the chicken broth, diced tomatoes, chilies, spices, chicken breasts and black beans.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or HIGH for 2-3 hours.
  • Remove chicken and shred with forks. Return to the soup along with corn and lime juice. Serve with desired toppings.

Instant Pot Instructions:

  • Heat the Instant Pot to Sauté and add oil. Sauté the vegetables and garlic. Turn the pot off.
  • Add chicken broth, diced tomatoes, chilies, spices, chicken breasts and black beans. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Secure the lid and cook on high pressure for 7 minutes. Allow the pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes before using quick release for the remaining pressure.
  • Remove chicken and shred with forks. Return to the soup along with corn and lime juice. Serve with desired toppings.

Recipe Variations:

This recipe is really forgiving, so substitute things you have on hand, rather than going to the store for a missing ingredient.

  • Beans: you can use any kind but pinto beans and garbanzo beans would be great substitutes for black beans in this recipe.
  • Bell peppers: use any color, or add other vegetables like chopped zucchini, or even sweet potatoes.
  • Diced Tomatoes: Use 2 cups of fresh chopped tomatoes in place of the 14.5 ounce can of diced tomatoes.
  • Chicken broth: substitute vegetable broth.
  • Corn: fresh or frozen corn will work.
  • Vegetarian: Replace the chicken broth with vegetable broth, leave out the chicken and add extra vegetables instead, like more bell peppers, chopped zucchini and sweet potatoes.
  • To Thicken the Soup: I enjoy chicken tortilla soup with a thin broth base, but many people enjoy it as a creamy chicken tortilla soup with a thicker texture. Add a few chopped up corn tortillas, or a spoonful of corn flour to thicken the soup and give it great flavor.

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Recipe

A bowl of homemade Chicken Tortilla Soup with crumbled tortilla soup, cheese, and sliced avocado.
Prep 10 minutes
Cook 20 minutes
Total 30 minutes
Save Recipe

Ingredients
 
 

Topping Ideas:

  • fresh cilantro, shredded cheese, sour cream, avocados, limes, tortilla chips

Instructions
 

  • Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the bell pepper, onion, and garlic, and saute for 3-5 minutes until the onion starts to soften.
  • Add chicken broth and diced tomatoes, green chilies, chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, black beans, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring soup to a simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes.
  • Cut chicken into a few pieces and add to the pot. Cook for 7-10 more minutes, until the chicken is cooked through. (Or sub cooked rotisserie chicken, adding it in the next step).
  • Remove chicken and shred with forks. Return to the pot along with the corn and lime juice.
  • Serve with desired toppings, like fresh cilantro, shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado.

Notes

To Use Cooked Rotisserie Chicken: Add it at near the eed, when you add the corn.
Slow Cooker Instructions: After sautéing the vegetables in step 1, add them to the slow cooker along with the chicken broth, diced tomatoes, chilies, spices, chicken breasts and black beans.  Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or HIGH for 2-3 hours. Remove chicken and shred with forks. Return to the soup along with corn and lime juice.  Serve with desired toppings.
Instant Pot Instructions: Heat Instant Pot to Sauté and add oil. Sauté the vegetables and garlic. Turn the pot off. Add chicken broth, diced tomatoes, chilies, spices, chicken breasts and black beans. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Secure the lid and cook on high pressure for 7 minutes. Allow the pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes before using quick release for the remaining pressure. Remove chicken and shred with forks. Return to the soup along with corn and lime juice. Serve with desired toppings.
Variations:
  • Beans: you can use any kind but pinto beans and garbanzo beans would be great substitutes for black beans in this recipe.
  • Bell peppers: use any color, or add another vegetable instead, like chopped zucchini, or even sweet potatoes.
  • Diced Tomatoes: Use 2 cups of fresh chopped tomatoes in place of the 14.5 ounce can of diced tomatoes.
  • Chicken broth: substitute vegetable broth.
  • Corn: fresh or frozen corn will work.
  • Vegetarian: Replace the chicken broth with vegetable broth, leave out the chicken and add extra vegetables instead, like more bell peppers, chopped zucchini and sweet potatoes.
To Thicken the Soup: I enjoy chicken tortilla soup with a thin broth base, but many people enjoy it with a thicker texture. Add a few chopped up corn tortillas, or a spoonful of corn flour to thicken the soup and give it great flavor.
 

Macros Recipe Adaptation

Extra toppings: cilantro, shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, and avocado are not included in the macros.

Per Serving Amount

699.8 grams

Macros

Calories: 318kcal, Protein: 32g, Carbs: 34g, Fat: 6g (serves 5) | MFP: Chicken Tortilla Soup (TBFS Macros)

Nutrition

Calories: 318kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 32gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 64mgSodium: 442mgPotassium: 908mgFiber: 8gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1539IUVitamin C: 49mgCalcium: 108mgIron: 5mg

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I originally shared this recipe January 2015. Updated September 2019 and February 2023.

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About The Author

Lauren Allen

Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos.

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    We really enjoyed this recipe! Made it exactly as the recipe reads and the flavors were delicious. Thank you!

  2. 5 stars
    Where are the tortillas? I don’t see them listed in the ingredient list. Chopped up corn tortillas are mentioned as a variation to thicken the soup but where are the tortillas? Or am I missing something.

    1. They are a recipe variation for those that like a thicker soup so they aren’t listed in the ingredients.

  3. 5 stars
    This is delicious!! My 9 year old and 4 year old said it was very nice. This is the second recipe that I have made from this website. I’m so glad that I found it! Thank you 🙂

  4. 5 stars
    My entire family loved this soup, even the picky ones. We had it for cinco de mayo. I made it according to the recipe, but used chicken thighs in place of breasts because I had them on hand.

  5. 5 stars
    I doubled the garlic and onion, increased all the other seasonings by @ 1/4 teaspoon and added a teaspoon of dry cilantro to the pot. As written, I can see that kids would enjoy it because the flavor is far more subtle.

  6. 5 stars
    This soup is full of flavor and very filling. I would recommend trying it. Easy to make and totally worth it. My husband liked it so much he ate all the leftovers the next day.

  7. I made this tonight and it was delicious. I don’t like chicken so I added shredded chicken to individual bowls before I added the soup. I also used fire roasted tomatoes which added a little smoke flavor. I will make this again.

  8. 5 stars
    After eating really unhealthy the past few days, this tasted like a health potion! It’s seasoned well and I love the tomato taste in the background. My partner said he would have preferred it with a spicy kick, which would be tasty, but I love the seasonings as is.

  9. 5 stars
    An excellent chicken tortilla soup recipe. It was an all around hit with my family! I’ll keep this recipe in my recipe file!
    I used smoked paprika instead of plain and added a cup of plain oatmilk with 3 tablespoons flour to thicken it just a bit. The spices were just right. I served it with avocado chunks, cilantro, lime wedges and crunchy thin pita strips.

  10. 5 stars
    This was a very good soup. I am allergic to chicken, so I substituted the chicken for turkey and used vegi broth. This was simple and easy to make.

  11. The flavor of this soup was delicious. My husband loved it! I do have a question though. I like it a little thicker. How can I thicken it without losing the flavor?

    1. You could add some corn tortillas, or corn meal. Or you could add a cornstarch slurry (a little cornstarch mixed with water).

  12. 5 stars
    This was great! I went for the crockpot version and made it with bone broth I made in my instant pot- yum!! Topped with sour cream guacamole and crushed tortilla chips. Even better the second day! We love all your recipes- thank you!!

  13. Just put this into the IP for supper tonight; will repeat to have on-hand for late Christmas Day when tummies just want a little somethin’! Did you know there’s a typo where it says “1 cups frozen corn”? Hope your Christmas Day is full of warm memories!

  14. 5 stars
    Got an instapot 2 weeks ago and it is so amazing !! Made the Chicken Enchilada Soup tonight and it was AWESOME!! Can’t wait till tomorrow so I can have more. Also going to Instapot some ribs tomorrow. Thank you for this fantastic recipe Lauren and thanks for your recipes as well. French onion soup is next on my list.

  15. 5 stars
    This has been one of my staple meals for the last two years. Kids, now 10 and 12, love it. I always double the recipe and freeze some in single batches for lunches. I top it with avocados and put a big bowl of tortilla chips on the table.

  16. 5 stars
    Whoa, This looks amazing! Combining amazing things…
    I believe my wife will be making this over the weekend. I am definitely pulling for that. Thanks!

  17. 5 stars
    Made this yesterday for my family of 6 plus my parents. I doubled the recipe and topped with avocado & tortilla chips and this was a huge hit with everyone! Even my 3 year old said it was good and ate about half his bowl- which is HUGE considering most of the time he refuses to eat more than a bite of his dinner. My 9 year old ate 3 bowls! 🙂 thanks!

    1. YAY! Sounds like a total win and I couldn’t be happier to hear it! Thanks so much for commenting and following TBFS!

  18. Looks wonderful and colorful! A slow cooker in the winter is definitely the best for making your house smell wonderful. Any dish that uses cilantro, too, is great by me.

  19. I Just wanted to let you know that I stumbled onto your site through a friends. I have now made 8 of your recipes. All have turned out perfectly and quickly become family favorites. Your recipes are easy to follow and for someone who used to dread cooking. I have gained a lot of confidence. Thank you for your efforts. Please keep them coming.

    1. Heather, thank you so much for you nice comment! Cooking really isn’t hard huh?! I’m glad you’re gaining confidence–I”m all about yummy, easy meals here. I only hope you keep trying and liking more of them! 🙂 Thanks again, Lauren

  20. This sounds amazing! I love anything I can make in a crock pot! Plus side..I have been eating a lot of soup lately.

  21. This soups sounds quite delicious! We would love for you to come over and share with us at the Souper Bowl Linky. It’s one week only and you can share up to 7 recipes!