Best Chicken Tortilla Soup (Printable)

Comforting bowl of tender chicken, fire-roasted tomatoes, sweet corn, and zesty lime, finished with crispy tortilla strips.

# What You'll Need:

→ Poultry

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 14 oz)

→ 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 oz) 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

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Toss tortilla strips with 1 tablespoon 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 soup pot, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, red bell pepper, and jalapeño if using. Sauté for 4-5 minutes until softened.
03 - Add minced 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 until chicken is cooked through.
06 - Remove chicken breasts from pot. Shred with two forks and return to pot.
07 - Add lime juice and chopped cilantro. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
08 - Discard bay leaf. Ladle soup into bowls and top with tortilla strips and desired toppings.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The crunch of home baked tortilla strips feels like a gourmet touch that took almost zero effort.
  • It captures that restaurant quality depth of flavor using just basic pantry staples you likely already have.
02 -
  • Always remove the bay leaf before serving because biting into one is a very unpleasant surprise.
  • Squeezing the lime juice in after killing the heat preserves the bright acidity better than boiling it.
03 -
  • Rub the dried oregano between your palms as you drop it in to release the essential oils.
  • Use a rotisserie chicken if you are in a rush to cut the simmering time down to ten minutes.
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