Learn how to make tasty chicken tortilla soup recipe for a comforting and delicious dinner all year round! This soup doesn’t taste or feel heavy; with the sour cream, lime juice, cilantro, and tortilla chips or tortilla strips it actually tastes like taco in a bowl of soup. I love that the chicken just shreds off your fork, and I can throw all the ingredients in the pot so there’s less to clean up.
In the summertime we like to make soups that aren’t so heavy but still get all the benefits of soaked veggies and bone broth. So I started making this chicken tortilla soup and it’s been a summer favorite ever since. This healthy and delicious chicken tortilla soup recipe combines all the nutrients of a rich soup with the fun flavor of crunchy chicken tacos in the summertime.
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Why we Love this Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe
Perfect soup for summertime. This soup doesn’t taste or feel heavy. With the sour cream, lime juice, fresh cilantro, and tortilla chips it actually tastes like taco in a bowl of soup!
Chicken that shreds off your fork. I love throwing in frozen chicken breasts into this recipe because after it’s cooked in the Instant Pot it just falls off the fork. Way easier than de-thawing them and throwing them on the stove or grill. I like easy!
My kitchen gets cleaned. I like to clean up most of dinner before we even start eating, and that’s why this is a perfect recipe for me. Everything goes in the Instant Pot and when it’s done I’ve already cleaned the kitchen and we’re ready to just eat. It’s a one-pot meal, kind of like my roasted chicken dinner.
I love using homemade bone broth. Any chance I get to use bone broth, I am so in. Learn how to make your own bone broth here, it’s simple and saves so much money if you buy it from the store already. Chicken broth works just as well if you don’t have bone broth.
Lastly it’s a great meal to make in a pinch. Most of these ingredients can be frozen, so if you already have them in your freezer you can whip this up in no time with no meal planning involved.
Health Benefits of Bone Broth
You may be wondering why grocery stores are stocked with bone broth now a days. The making of bone broth dates back to when our ancestors wanted to use every part of an animal for nutrition.
Bones contain high amounts of collagen and cartilage. Collagen and cartilage are both used today to help fight bone and joint issues from arthritis to even cancer.
Bone broth is also healing to your gut and digestive system. It contains electrolytes that aid in your body’s ability to assimilate and absorb nutrients.
I drink bone broth just about every day. And I do notice a difference in my hair, skin, and nails after drinking bone broth consistently. So, no matter which nutrient your’e hoping to get from a bone, you’ll get that and more by making your own bone broth from scratch.
Here is a complete list of bone broth benefits from the Medical News Today newsletter.
Chicken Tortilla Soup Ingredients
About a pound and a half of high quality chicken is enough for this chicken tortilla soup recipe. We buy frozen chicken breasts from the store, but you could also use your leftovers from roasted chicken or whatever chicken is your favorite.
2 bell peppers, chopped
1 white onion, chopped
2 quarts homemade bone broth
4 large garlic cloves, chopped
2 cups frozen corn
1 cup frozen peas
Juice from 1 lime
Olive oil for seasoning the pan (you can also use bacon fat or fat of choice)
Optional add-ins (black beans, diced tomatoes, green chiles, smoked paprika, chili powder)
Seasonings
One tablespoon salt. Note: if you’re using store bought bone broth, may want to cut this in half. Often they already contain salt.
1 Tsp pepper
2 Tsp chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
3 tbsp chopped cilantro (parsley also works)
1 tsp dried herbs (optional – we like oregano or thyme for this soup)
Toppings
Crushed tortilla chips
Sour cream
Avocado
Shredded cheddar cheese
How to Make Stovetop Chicken Tortilla Soup
Heat a large stovetop pot on medium high and drizzle with avocado oil or fat of choice.
Add the onion, and peppers and saute for about 5 minutes.
Next add the garlic, followed by the chicken, bone broth, corn, and peas and stir to combine.
Add the salt, pepper, chili powder, and herbs and combine.
Simmer on medium for 20-25 minutes, or until chicken is fully cooked and tender.
When the chicken is done, shred it apart with a fork. It should easily shred apart, this is the best part!
Next, add the lime and cilantro and stir.
For the toppings, add shredded cheese, avocado, sour cream, and crushed tortilla chips. Enjoy!
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Chicken Tortilla Soup
Healthy delicious soup with the crunch of a summery chicken taco and the flavor of a rich bone broth soup. The perfect comforting but light soup for a healthy taco dinner all year round!
Ingredients
- Olive oil for seasoning pan (you can also use bacon fat or fat of choice)
- 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breast fresh or frozen
- 2 quarts homemade bone broth
- 1 white onion, chopped
- 4 large garlic cloves, chopped
- 2 bell peppers, chopped
- 2 cups frozen corn
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 tablespoon salt (note: if you're using store-bought bone broth, add less salt)
- 1 Tsp pepper
- 2 Tsp chili powder
- 3 tbsp chopped cilantro (parsley also works)
- Juice from 1 lime
- 1 tsp dried herbs (optional - we like oregano or thyme for this soup)
Toppings
- Crushed tortilla chips
- Sour cream
- Avocado
- Shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Heat a large stovetop pot on medium high and drizzle with avocado oil or fat of choice.
- Add the onion, and peppers and saute for about 5 minutes.
- Next add the garlic, followed by the chicken, bone broth, corn, and peas and stir to combine.
- Add the salt, pepper, chili powder, and herbs and combine.
- Simmer on medium for 20-25 minutes, or until chicken is fully cooked and tender.
- When the chicken is done, shred it apart with a fork. It should easily shred apart, this is the best part!
- Next, add the lime and cilantro and stir.
- For the toppings, add shredded cheese, avocado, sour cream, and crushed tortilla chips. Enjoy!
Notes
While I kept my recipe simple, feel free to throw in other ingredients such as diced tomatoes or black beans. If you happen to use diced tomatoes cook them for 10-minutes until soft. You can also use fire roasted diced tomatoes for that extra flavor.
If you like your soup with some heat, add in more chili powder, smoked paprika, or some green chilies. The best part of this chicken tortilla soup recipe is that you can add in anything you like and it will still taste good.
Chicken broth or chicken stock works just as well for this recipe if you don't have any bone broth.
I used chicken breasts for this recipe but boneless chicken thighs will also do, they're just as easy to shred. However, you may want to trim the chicken thighs first as they tend to have more fat.
Substitute shredded cheddar for any shredded cheese of your choice.
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Hi! This looks really good! I’m curious when you put the chicken in the instant pot. I don’t see it in the directions. Thanks!
Hi Tallia, you put the chicken in at the same time as the bone broth. Sorry, I just fixed the instructions!
This looks sooooo tasty! I feel this is a great soup for summer too! Nice and fresh!
This looks really good! I love recipes where you can clean up the kitchen before dinner too! And I’ve been looking for ways to use up my bone broth during the summer. This seems like a great soup for summer because you can cool it down with avocado, sour cream, cilantro, etc. Thanks for sharing!
Yes to all! Hope you enjoy!