The Best Chicken Tortilla Soup

The best Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe with tender chicken, peppers, tomatoes, and bold Mexican-inspired flavor. Topped with crispy tortilla strips, avocado, cheese, and fresh lime, this easy homemade soup is perfect for a cozy family dinner.

📝 Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, (chopped)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons garlic (minced)
• 2 poblano pepper, (ribs removed, seeded and chopped)
• 1 jalapeno pepper, (ribs removed, seeded and chopped)
• 3 teaspoons salt
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons ground coriander
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 12 cups Caldo de Pollo or chicken stock
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, (cut into 1/2 cubes)
• 1/2 cup cilantro, (chopped)
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 12 stale corn tortillas, (sliced Into 1/4 Inch-thick strips)
• 2 avocados, (sliced)
• 2 cups jack cheese, (shredded)

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Prep. Preheat oven to 425°F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. 2Saute. In a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat, add the oil. Once shimmering add the onion (1), garlic (1 1/2 tablespoons), and peppers (2 poblanos & 1 jalapeno), and cook for 5-7 minutes, or just until they are soft. Sprinkle the salt (3 teaspoons), cumin (1 tablespoon), and coriander (2 teaspoons) over the onion mixture and continue to cook, stirring often so spices don't burn, for 1-2 minutes or until the spices become fragrant. Add the tomato paste (2 tablespoons) and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute.
3. 3Simmer. Add chicken stock (12 cups) to the pot and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes. Add chicken (4) and continue to simmer for 10-12 minutes. Add cilantro (1/2 cup) and lime juice (1 tablespoon) and stir.
4. 4Tortilla chips. Meanwhile, spread tortilla strips (12 tortillas, sliced) out in a single layer on your prepared baking sheets. Spray tortillas evenly with nonstick cooking spray. Bake in preheated oven for about 4-6 minutes or until they are just starting to slightly brown and are crispy. Sprinkle hot strips with salt and pepper.
5. 5Serve + enjoy! Ladle soup into individual bowls and top each bowl with avocado, cheese, and tortilla strips as desired.