Chicken Tortilla Soup (Printable Version)

Comforting Mexican-style soup with tender chicken, fire-roasted tomatoes, corn, and lime topped with crispy tortilla strips.

# What You'll Need:

→ Poultry

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 14 ounces)

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 cup frozen or canned corn, drained
06 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped (optional)
07 - 1 lime, juiced
08 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped (plus extra for garnish)

→ Canned Goods

09 - 1 can (14.5 ounces) fire-roasted diced tomatoes
10 - 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth

→ Seasonings

11 - 1 bay leaf
12 - 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
13 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
14 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
15 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
16 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ Tortilla Strips

17 - 4 corn tortillas, cut into thin strips
18 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

→ Optional Toppings

19 - Sliced avocado
20 - Shredded cheese
21 - Sour cream
22 - Extra lime wedges

# Steps to Follow:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Toss tortilla strips with olive oil and spread on a baking sheet. Bake for 10–12 minutes, turning once, until golden and crisp. Set aside.
02 - In a large pot, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, red bell pepper, and jalapeño (if using). Sauté for 4–5 minutes until softened.
03 - Add garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Stir in chili powder, oregano, cumin, smoked paprika, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook for 30 seconds.
05 - Add chicken breasts, fire-roasted tomatoes (with juice), corn, bay leaf, and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.
06 - Remove chicken breasts, shred them with two forks, and return to the pot.
07 - Add lime juice and chopped cilantro. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Discard bay leaf.
08 - Ladle soup into bowls, top with tortilla strips and desired toppings.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • Fire-roasted tomatoes bring that authentic depth you usually only find in restaurants
  • The homemade tortilla strips transform it from soup into something you actually crave
  • One pot, minimal chopping, and your whole house smells incredible
02 -
  • The tortilla strips will lose their crunch if they sit in the soup too long, so add them right before eating
  • Fire-roasted tomatoes are absolutely worth the extra effort to find—regular diced tomatoes miss that smoky depth
  • Letting the soup sit for 10 minutes off the heat actually improves the flavor, if you can wait that long
03 -
  • Use a vegetable peeler to create thin ribbons of avocado instead of cubes—they float beautifully on top
  • A squeeze of fresh lime right before serving wakes up all the other flavors
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