Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What does chicken tortilla soup contain? ›

Chicken tortilla soup is a Mexican-inspired soup that has a tomato and chicken broth base. It is spiced with chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, and has a little kick from the jalapeño. It also has hearty ingredients like beans, corn, and of course the shredded chicken.

Using too little seasoning

Reaching for something spicy without much distinct flavor, like cayenne, will result in a bland and spicy broth. Earthy spices like cumin and coriander are aromatic but not spicy. Chili powder is a blend that skews more flavorful than spicy, especially if you craft your own.

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

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.

Cold-poaching the chicken breasts, then removing them until the end of the cooking process, guarantees a perfectly tender and juicy texture. Using stock reinforces the flavor of the broth, creating a more deeply flavorful soup.

Chicken and tortilla soup goes well with corn tortillas, a simple side salad made from lettuce tomatoes and avocadoes. This soup is hearty enough to be a meal. If you are looking for a drink to match perhaps a glass of tamarind juice. Perhaps you can add a glass of California's sauvignon blanc to the experience.

Broth is made from the chicken flesh, but not bones. It may have a good chicken flavor, but will lack the mouthfeel of a stock, and remains liquid when chilled. Soup is made from either broth or stock and generally is the finished product with added meat, vegetables and noodles or rice.

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

Adding umami-rich ingredients like tomato paste or a parmesan rind to the soup will add a deep, rich savoriness and body to the soup. (Here's what umami means.)

Keep Simmering. Sometimes all your soup needs is a little more time on the stove. Allow your chicken tortilla soup to simmer uncovered for an extended period. The heat will help evaporate some of the liquid, naturally thickening the soup.

How do you make soup creamier and thicker? ›

Cornstarch, or corn flour, can be used to thicken soup through its high starch content. Cornstarch is a great thickener for soup because only a little bit is needed to significantly thicken a soup, and it will not affect the flavor profile of the soup.

Leaving the lid off will make liquid evaporate faster, potentially creating a thicker and more flavorful soup. Leaving the lid on reduces the rate of evaporation, and it's good when the soup ingredients are done cooking but the broth isn't quite rich (co-mingled) enough for your liking.

You can cook the chicken at a high-enough temperature to kill bacteria by turning up the heat on the broth, but for a much safer and tastier method, brown your chicken first. Browning or searing the chicken in a separate pan is not only far more foolproof, but adds richness and extra umami to your soup.

The chicken is ready as soon as the meat registers 165°F and easily falls off the bone, after about 1 1/2 hours, but you can continue simmering for up to 3 hours for richer flavor — just keep an eye out that the chicken doesn't start to disintegrate or turn the soup cloudy.

Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe

It's loaded with veggies and protein, plus it's naturally gluten free and dairy free!

Traditional / "Sopa Azteca"

Traditional tortilla soup is made of fried corn tortilla pieces, submerged into a broth of tomato, garlic, onion, and epazote. It is served with pieces of pasilla chiles, chicharrón, avocado, queso panela, lime, and Mexican crema.

Chicken tortilla soup is a protein-rich dish, thanks to the inclusion of chicken as the main ingredient. A serving typically provides around 15-20 grams of protein, which is essential for muscle growth and repair.

​Calories:​ One cup of tortilla soup has 281 calories. ​Total fat​:​ One cup of tortilla soup has 18.3 grams of total fat, which includes 6.6 grams of saturated fat and 0 grams of trans fat. ​​Carbohydrates​:​ One cup of tortilla soup has 18 grams of carbs, which includes 5.1 grams of fiber and 1.4 grams of sugar.