Best Chicken Tortilla Soup (Print-Friendly)

Flavorful Mexican soup with tender chicken, fire-roasted tomatoes, corn, lime, and 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

→ 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 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

# Cooking Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Toss tortilla strips with 1 tablespoon olive oil and spread on a baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, turning once, until golden and crisp. Set aside.
02 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, red bell pepper, and jalapeño if using. Sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until softened.
03 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add chili powder, oregano, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook for 30 seconds to bloom the spices.
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 the pot and shred them using two forks. Return shredded chicken to the pot.
07 - Stir in lime juice and chopped cilantro. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Discard bay leaf.
08 - Ladle soup into bowls and top with crispy tortilla strips and desired garnishes.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour but tastes like you simmered it all day.
  • The crispy tortilla strips stay crunchy even after hitting the hot broth, which is honestly the best textural surprise.
  • One pot means minimal cleanup, and the lime juice at the end makes everything taste impossibly fresh.
02 -
  • If you overcook the chicken, it becomes stringy and tough; 20 minutes is usually perfect, but check by cutting into the thickest part to make sure it's opaque all the way through.
  • Adding the lime juice at the very end—not during cooking—makes an incredible difference; the heat would cook off some of the brightness, so save it for the final moment.
03 -
  • For a spicier version, leave the seeds in the jalapeño or add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the spice mix; heat builds differently for everyone, so add gradually and taste as you go.
  • If you're in a real rush, rotisserie chicken works beautifully here—just shred it and reduce the simmering time to about 10 minutes since the meat is already cooked through.
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