Thick and Hearty Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe To Boost Your Day (2024)

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Sneak Preview: This Thick ChickenTortilla Soup recipe is a tomato and chicken stock-based tortilla soup with finely chopped corn tortillas added to the broth for a thicker, more flavorful soup.

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Tortilla soup comes in so many forms. Unless you’re a repeat customer, you never know what kind you’ll get when ordering at a restaurant. It could be tomato-based, broth-based, thick, thin, with or without avocados, with or without vegetables such as zucchini or corn, etc. So what do you prefer?

I personally have cycled through various stages with tortilla soup. This is my newest favorite–a tomato-based version of a thick and hearty tortilla soup.

Only the most traditional vegetables are called for. But that doesn’t stop me from adding the occasional vegetable, such as zucchini, yellow squash, or corn.

Happy Cooks Speak Up

“Yup. made it again for dinner tonight (I’ve made it at least 5 times since finding this recipe). I LOVE it!
Thanks again… 🙂” —KENDRA

What Makes This Soup Thick and Hearty?

By virtue of its name, all tortilla soups contain corn tortillas. However, in this one, part of the tortillas are chopped and sautéed with the onions. They don’t get crispy.

Instead, they are cooked in the broth and become a thickening agent in the soup, making it hearty and filling with the best flavor imaginable. Of course, you still need the requisite crispy fried tortilla strips to flavor and garnish.

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Ingredients and Substitutions

  • OIL: Use a mild vegetable oil like avocado, canola, or corn oil.
  • TORTILLAS: In this recipe, the tortillas cook until they disintegrate. This causes the broth to thicken while adding flavor.
  • GARLIC: Fresh garlic is the best, then jarred minced garlic in a glass jar. I would only use powdered garlic in an emergency.
  • ONION: Chopped fresh or frozen yellow or white onions go best in this recipe.
  • CUMIN: Powdered cumin gives the broth a distinctly Tex-Mex flavor. It’s important to the wonderful flavor of the broth.
  • CHILI POWDER: This is another seasoning that adds flavor. So be sure it’s fresh.
  • TOMATOES: While some would say you should always buy whole tomatoes and crush them yourself, diced tomatoes are too convenient to pass over.
  • BAY LEAVES: I hope you have these in your spice cupboard. They add flavor to many stocks, roast meat, and marinara. Don’t forget to remove them before serving.
  • CHICKEN STOCK: If at all possible, make this using the chicken bones left from the chicken you will use in the soup.
  • SALT: If you must use canned chicken stock, go easy on the salt.
  • CAYENNE: You won’t need much cayenne or red pepper, but it will wake up this soup. So, don’t leave it out.
  • CHICKEN: Shredded chicken from any baked chicken recipe or a rotisserie chicken is good. Pull the skin off.

How To Make Thick Chicken Tortilla Soup

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FAQs About Thick Chicken Tortilla Soup

What makes this tortilla soup thick?

Finely chopped corn tortillas, white or yellow, are added to the broth and cooked until they mostly disintegrate.

Can I make this soup ahead of time?

Make the recipe to step 3 and remove the soup from the heat before you add the chicken. Store in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Prepare the condiments immediately before serving.

Does it matter what kind of chicken I use?

I prefer rotisserie chicken. Whatever you use should be cooked before adding it to the soup. Use boneless skinless chicken breasts if you prefer all-white meat, or thighs, legs, and wings for dark meat. Or combine them. Suit yourself.

Do I really need a whole chicken?

The amount of chicken doesn’t really matter. If you have leftover cooked chicken, use what you have. If you are vegetarian, leave it out.

Parting Thoughts: I know that preferences regarding tortilla soup range all over the board. However, I encourage you to try this soup. It’s hardy and filling without being heavy. I hope you’ll try it.

If you’re a Tex-Mex lover and need to scratch the itch, I recommend my Texas Tamale Pie or this Baked Chile Relleno Casserole with Ground Beef.

If you’re a soup lover, I have many fabulous soup recipes on this website. A couple of my favorites are Ham Stew with Beef and Bacon: Popular with Meat Lovers, and Easy Mini Meatball Soup with Zucchini and Eggplant.

Help at Your Fingertips: For questions or suggestions, email Paula at saladinajar.com. If you need help, I’m happy to troubleshoot via email (faster than leaving a comment). Attach pictures and as many details as possible for the best advice.

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Yield: 6 servings

Thick Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe

This Thick and Hearty Tortilla Soup is a tomato and stock-based tortilla soup with finely chopped tortillas added while cooking for a thicker, more flavorful soup.

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Prep time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook time: 35 minutes minutes

Total time: 50 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons (40 g) vegetable oil
  • 6 corn tortillas chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 (110 g) medium onion chopped
  • 2 tablespoons ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 28-oz can (794 g) diced tomatoes
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 6 cups (1440 g) chicken stock I boil the bones of the rotisserie-baked chicken to make stock.
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ¼-½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 whole rotisserie-baked chicken, meat removed, no skin shredded or cubed

Garnishes

  • 2 cups (226 g) Monterey Jack cheese shredded
  • 2-3 avocados cubed
  • ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 6 corn tortillas sliced and fried crisp (actually, we need more than this because we like to eat them plain)

Instructions

  • Heat 3 tablespoons (40 g) vegetable oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add 6 corn tortillas, finely chopped, 3 cloves garlic, and 1 (110 g) medium onion. Saute 2-3 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons ground cumin and 1 tablespoon chili powder. Saute for an additional minute to bring out the flavor of the spices (and make the house smell good).

  • Add 1 28-oz can (794 g) diced tomatoes, 3 bay leaves, 6 cups (1440 g) chicken stock, and 1 teaspoon salt, and ¼-½ teaspoon cayenne pepper. Return to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Add salt if necessary depending on the saltiness of the stock. Meanwhile, make the fried tortilla strips.

Making Fried Tortilla Strips

  • While the soup simmers, fry tortillas strips for a garnish. Preheat 1/2-3/4 cups of vegetable oil in a small skillet to 375˚F. Cut 6 corn tortillas into strips. When the oil is hot enough to bubble when tortillas hit the oil, put in enough strips to cover the bottom. Strips are done when they start to turn a golden brown color. Remove strips from the oil with a slotted spoon and repeat the process with the remaining strips.

  • Remove bay leaves and stir in 1 whole rotisserie-baked chicken, meat removed, no skin. Reheat briefly.

  • Garnish soup with shredded 2 cups (226 g) Monterey Jack cheese, 2-3 avocados, chopped, 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro and fried tortilla strips. Sour cream is optional.

Equipment

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 529kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.05g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 1011mg | Potassium: 801mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 855IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 369mg | Iron: 3mg

All images and text ©️ Paula Rhodes for Salad in a Jar.com

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Adapted from Stop and Smell the Rosemary, published by the Junior League of Houston.

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Thick and Hearty Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe To Boost Your Day (2024)

FAQs

How can I thicken up tortilla soup? ›

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute. For the best results, never add flour or cornstarch directly to your soup. If you do, it will clump up on top. Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool.

How to add extra flavor to chicken soup? ›

Fresh Herbs:Add fresh herbs like parsley, dill, or cilantro just before serving for a burst of fresh flavor. Citrus Zest:Grate the zest of a lemon or lime into the soup just before serving to add brightness. Ginger and Turmeric:Add grated ginger and a touch of ground turmeric for warmth and depth of flavor.

How do you tone down chicken tortilla soup? ›

Add Some Starches

The easiest way to tone down a spicy dish is to serve a smaller portion with plenty of rice, bread, potatoes, pasta, or plain starch to counter the heat. For soups and stews, raw and starchy vegetables like potatoes or carrots work well.

What nutrients do you get from chicken tortilla soup? ›

  • Vitamins. Vitamin C. 0% 0 mg. — Riboflavin. — Niacin. — Pantothenic Acid. — — — — — — ...
  • Minerals. Calcium. 3% 39.2 mg. 15% 2.7 mg. — Phosphorus. — Potassium. — 20% 461 mg. — Copper. — ...
  • Proteins and Amino Acids. Protein. 20% 10 g. — — — — — — — — — — — — ...
  • Carbohydrates and Sugars. Carbohydrates. 7% 20 g. 21% 5.88 g. 2.99 g. — — — — — — — —

Is it better to thicken soup with flour or cornstarch? ›

The most classic and surefire way to thicken a broth-based soup is with a cornstarch slurry. Whisk together equal parts cornstarch (or arrowroot) and water or broth, then whisk it into the pot of soup. A good ratio to get to a pleasant thickness without your soup tasting goopy or heavy is one tablespoon.

How do you thicken tortilla soup with cornstarch? ›

Start by using 1 tablespoon of cornstarch at a time, mixed with 2 tablespoons of water. More cornstarch slurry can be added, but be sure not to add too much. Only mix in a small amount of slurry at a time to ensure that your soup will thicken properly. Using corn starch is a fast, effective way to thicken soup.

How do you add depth to chicken soup? ›

"If your broth is lacking in savory richness, try adding roasted onion, tomato paste, mushrooms, seaweed, soy sauce, or miso. These ingredients add umami flavor and depth to broth," she says. The choice of ingredient depends on the recipe, though.

How to jazz up chicken soup? ›

Change up the usual chicken noodle soup completely by adding frozen corn, tortilla chips and avocados to make Mexican chicken noodle soup. You can even add a can of stewed tomatoes to really enhance the flavor.

What to do if my chicken soup is bland? ›

Try adding some acidity. A splash of lemon juice or a tablespoon of white wine vinegar can brighten the flavors of the soup.

How do you brighten chicken soup? ›

use a bit of lemon juice in mine to brighten up the. flavor, and it adds such a welcome element.

How do you tone down spice in tortilla soup? ›

Basically, there are two ways to reduce how spicy any soup is:
  1. Make more soup and dilute the spices.
  2. Add more starch and/or dairy to the existing soup.
Nov 8, 2018

What is in Chick-fil-A tortilla soup? ›

The Chicken Tortilla Soup is a hearty, seasonal Chick-fil-A® favorite that features shredded chicken breast and beans in a creamy base with a blend of vegetables and spices, served with Seasoned Tortilla Strips.

What is the significance of tortilla soup? ›

Tortilla soup is an everyday heartwarming soup that has been cooked in Mexico since prehispanic times. It uses some of the most basic, yet important, ingredients in Mexican cuisine - tortillas, tomatoes, and chillis. Contrary to Pozole, Tortilla Soup is not a celebratory but an everyday soup.

Why is chicken soup immune boosting? ›

Research shows that chicken soup carries immunity-boosting benefits thanks to a mild anti-inflammatory effect found in the broth. The protein in chicken also helps bolster your immunities.

How can I thicken soup without ruining it? ›

Whisk in a bit of flour or starch.

Both flours and starches help thicken sauces effectively. However, if you add them directly into your soup, they will clump. Instead, whisk a small amount of soup into the starch or flour until it dissolves, then add the resulting mixture into the soup.

How do you thicken soup with masa harina? ›

To make your slurry, combine equal-parts masa harina and room-temperature water in a small bowl, stir until dissolved, and then pour the mixture into your pot of chili and stir over low heat.

How do you thicken taco soup without cornstarch? ›

Thickening your soup without using flour or cornstarch is easier than you might think. By incorporating ingredients such as vegetable purees, mashed potatoes, beans or legumes, coconut milk, or a roux substitute, you can achieve the desired consistency while adding extra flavor and nutrition.

Can you thicken soup without cornstarch? ›

There are any number of starches besides corn starch: Arrowroot, potato, rice flour, tapioca, seaweed, pureed beans etc. Simply reducing the liquid portion of a soup will serve to thicken it.

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