Make this Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup in the Crock Pot, on the stovetop, or in the Instant Pot for a simple and flavorful meal that suits your busy life! Customize the healthy soup with all of your favorite toppings and enjoy a homemade Mexican-inspired feast.
Crock Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup
Nothing beats the convenience of stirring ingredients together in the slow cooker and walking away for a few hours. Coming home to a simmering pot of Mexican Chicken Tortilla Soup is a great way to end the day! Best of all, this recipe is very flexible. Adjust the seasoning, tweak the ingredients, or omit the chicken altogether (and add extra beans instead). It's satisfying, it's hearty, and it's incredibly easy!
What is Chicken Tortilla Soup?
An authentic Chicken Tortilla Soup is a traditional Mexican soup made with a tomato or chicken base, which often includes ingredients such as corn, beans, and cheese. It gets its name from the crispy tortilla chips or tortilla strips that are either stirred into the soup or used as a garnish on top. There are creamy versions, spicy versions, and cheesy versions, and most include zesty taco seasoning, cumin, jalapeño, and other classic Mexican spices.
Which Chicken to Use for Soup?
You will need a total of about 3-4 cups of cooked, shredded chicken for this recipe. That's about the amount of meat from one store-bought rotisserie chicken, which is a nice shortcut for quick meal prep.
If you'd prefer to start with raw chicken breasts or chicken thighs, you will need about 1½-2 lbs. of raw meat. Add the raw chicken directly to the slow cooker, or if you're using the stovetop or Instant Pot method, you'll need to dice and brown the chicken before making the soup. Those instructions are included below.
How to Make Chicken Tortilla Soup
This Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe works well in the slow cooker, in a pressure cooker (like the Instant Pot) or on the stovetop. Pick the method that's most convenient for you!
Ingredients for Hearty Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Chicken broth
- Chicken
- Frozen corn
- Diced tomatoes
- Black beans
- Diced green chilies
- Salsa
- Onion
- Garlic powder and cumin
- Taco seasoning
- Tortilla chips
Step 1: Combine Ingredients
Place all of the ingredients (except the tortilla chips) in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW for 3-4 hours or on HIGH for 1½-2 hours. If you're starting with raw chicken breasts rather than cooked chicken, you'll need to increase the cooking time to 4-6 hours on LOW or 2-3 hours on HIGH.
Step 2: Serve
Place a handful of tortilla chips in the bottom of each serving bowl, then ladle the soup over top.
How to serve Chicken Tortilla Soup
Set up a toppings bar and let your family garnish their individual bowls of soup, then offer a couple of easy Mexican-inspired sides to round out the meal.
Toppings for Mexican Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe
- Grated cheese
- Sliced green onion or minced red onion
- Sour cream
- Diced avocado
- Fresh cilantro
- Tortilla strips or additional crushed tortilla chips
Sides to Serve with the Soup
- Quesadillas (like a Mexican version of grilled cheese and tomato soup)
- Easy Guacamole with tortilla chips for dipping
- Spanish rice
- A simple green salad dressed in a cool Buttermilk Dressing
- Refried beans or Ranch-Style Beans
- Chips and Homemade 5-Minute Salsa or 3-Ingredient Queso Dip
- Healthy and Easy Corn Salad
- Quick and Easy Pico de Gallo
- Black Bean and Corn Salad
- Texas Caviar with tortilla chips for dipping
Storage
Make the soup in advance, allow it to cool completely, and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To Freeze
Allow the soup to cool completely, package in airtight containers or Ziploc freezer bags, and freeze for up to 3 months.
To Reheat
Thaw frozen soup in the refrigerator overnight. Place the soup in a saucepan or pot and reheat on low, just until warmed through.
Tips for the Best Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Make it Spicy: This particular recipe is pretty mild, since I’m serving my soup to young kids. If you want it spicier, add an extra tablespoon of taco seasoning, use spicy salsa, add diced jalapeño, or season with hot sauce at the end.
- Use the meat from a store-bought rotisserie chicken for quicker prep.
- Add a squeeze of fresh lime juice at the very end for a bright, acidic touch.
- Use crushed tortilla chips or strips of flour tortillas to thicken the soup when you ladle it into the individual bowls.
More Soup Recipes
Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup
Ingredients
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 3-4 cups cooked, shredded chicken (the meat from about 1 rotisserie chicken) (or sub with 1 ½ - 2 lbs. uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs)
- 2 cups frozen corn
- 1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (4.5 oz) can diced green chilies
- 1 cup salsa
- 1 cup diced onion
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- Optional garnish for serving: shredded cheddar cheese, sliced green onions, lime, cilantro, sliced avocado, sour cream
- Bag of tortilla chips
Instructions
SLOW COOKER INSTRUCTIONS:
- Combine chicken broth, chicken, corn, diced tomatoes, black beans, green chilies, salsa, onion, garlic powder, cumin, and taco seasoning in slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 3-4 hours or on high for 1 ½ - 2 hours.
- Crumble a handful of tortilla chips and place in bottom of individual bowls. Ladle soup over chips and garnish with desired toppings.
Note: If using raw chicken breasts, you will need to increase the cooking time to 4-6 hours on LOW or 2-3 hours on HIGH. At the end of cooking, shred or chop the chicken breasts, return to the pot, and serve.
INSTANT POT INSTRUCTIONS:
- If using uncooked chicken breasts, start by cutting the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
- Turn instant pot on sauté setting and add 2 tablespoons olive oil. Once heated, add the chicken and cook, stirring often, for 3 minutes.
- Note: If you’re starting with cooked chicken, you can skip the first step and just add the chicken to the Instant Pot with the rest of the ingredients.
- Turn off instant pot.
- Add the chicken broth, corn, diced tomatoes, black beans, green chilies, salsa, onion, garlic powder, cumin, and taco seasoning to the pot with the chicken. Stir well.
- Seal the Instant Pot lid and turn the valve to sealing. Pressure cook on high pressure for 6 minutes.
- Allow the Instant Pot to naturally release for 2 minutes (by leaving it off after it finishes cooking). Then, carefully do a quick pressure release by using a towel or potholder to carefully turn the valve to venting to release the steam and pressure.
- Crumble a handful of tortilla chips and place in bottom of individual bowls. Ladle soup over chips and garnish with desired toppings.
STOVETOP INSTRUCTIONS:
- If using uncooked chicken, start by heating 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add diced chicken and cook, stirring regularly, just until chicken is browned (it doesn’t need to be cooked through).
- Note: If you’re starting with diced, cooked chicken, you can skip the first step and just add the chicken to the pot with the rest of the ingredients.
- Add the chicken broth, corn, diced tomatoes, black beans, green chilies, salsa, onion, garlic powder, cumin, and taco seasoning to the pot with the chicken. Stir well.
- Bring to a boil. Once boiling, cover the pot and reduce heat to a low simmer.
- Let soup simmer for about 20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
- Crumble a handful of tortilla chips and place in bottom of individual bowls. Ladle soup over chips and garnish with desired toppings.
Notes
- Make it Spicy: This particular recipe is pretty mild, since I’m serving my soup to young kids. If you want it spicier, add an extra tablespoon of taco seasoning, use spicy salsa, add diced jalapeño, or season with hot sauce at the end.
- Use the meat from a store-bought rotisserie chicken for quicker prep.
- Add a squeeze of fresh lime juice at the very end for a bright, acidic touch.
- Use crushed tortilla chips or strips of flour tortillas to thicken the soup when you ladle it into the individual bowls.
This looks so delicious, and I love that it is done in a slow cooker...makes it so much better. Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Hi, Jodee! It's definitely a favorite in this house (especially with me, since it's so easy!). I hope that you get to try it!
Love tortilla soup. Will definitely give this a shot. Thanks.
Awesome! Thanks, Jason!
The WORST tortilla soup IMAGINABLE!!! BITTER & AWFUL. STOP! DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME ON THIS.
Wow this soup has so many delicious flavours and textures...great recipe!
Thank you!!!
. This is absolutely fantastic. I subbed refried beans for the whole beans. We have kids who "don't like beans", but would happily exist of refried bean burritos. Go figure!
Isn't it great? I'm so glad that you enjoyed it as much as we do! The refried beans are a nice idea!
This is the easiet way to cook chicken tortilla soup, I guess. Next time, I will experiment this way to compare how different between my style and yours xo - Natalie
Sounds great! 🙂
Delicious! My husband and I love it. Definitely a fall and winter favorite from now on. I added cilantro and avocado. Yummmmm
Wonderful! So glad that you enjoyed it!
It was very tasty and easy. I used shredded rotisserie chicken to make it even easier. We could have used more broth, maybe a cup more. I'll up the amount next time.
Perfect! Thanks, Francine!
Made this yesterday. The family raved about how good it is. Some of the comments were "you can make this twice a month" and there wasn't enough leftovers. Thank you "Seasoned Mom" - you have a new follower.
That's awesome, Bobbi! Thanks so much for letting me know!
My boyfriend and I loved this recipe! So easy and so delicious!! I used uncooked chicken and cooked on high for 3 hours in the slow cooker. Came out perfect! Will definitely be making again 🙂
Awesome!Thanks for letting me know, Melissa! 🙂
Trying this today. Added some peppers for the flavor and the color. Smells delicious! Easy to make I was able to get the pot going while two kids under four tried to tear down the house around me. Now that is a recipe I can use.
Perfect! Those are the best kind of recipes! Enjoy the soup. 🙂
This is the second soup recipe I’ve tried from you in the last week. The first one was leftover turkey and wild rice soup which was very tasty. This recipe is even easier. I originally started with a healthy chicken tortilla soup recipe but it didn’t include corn or many things I look for in this type of soup. Yours looked better and it’s currektjy in the slow cooker. I did sub fifer roasted corn and fire roasted chopped tomatoes with green chilles. I hope it turns out good.
Thanks for the recipe
Thanks so much, Alex! You can't beat soup at this time of year. I hope that you enjoyed it!
My boyfriend loves chicken tortilla soup and has had it from just about everywhere. This recipe is now his #1 favorite! Everybody else loved the recipe as well even those who aren't crazy about chicken tortilla soup. Thanks 🙂
Also, I tried to give this recipe a 5 star review but the site wasn't allowing me to submit it for some reason
Thank you, Danielle!!!
I have been wanting to try a chicken tortilla soup recipe for quite some time now. I stumbled across this one and thought it sounded delicious. So, I tried it and I don’t need any other recipe! I loved it! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!
Yay! That's the best! So glad that it was a hit!
This was awesome!! My entire family loved it and they are very picky. I would love more recipes.
That's wonderful, Mary! Thanks for letting me know! I hope that you get to try some of the other recipes on my blog, too!
Sooo yummy... easy to make even in pot on stove... used Costco rotisserie chicken , a bit more vegetable broth, and fire roasted diced tomatos w/green chilis and some salsa tomatoes and for me the spice levels weee perfect. Great recipe... I two would give it 5 stars if the site would let me! Looking forward to leftovers of it tomorrow night too!
Great! I'm so glad that you enjoyed it on the stovetop, Diana! Thanks for your suggestions!
I was thinking about ways to use the leftover turkey from Thanksgiving and my daughter suggested I make a tortilla soup instead of the usual turkey noodle. This recipe was so easy to throw together in the crockpot and since members of the family were late getting home from work, the crockpot kept it warm until we were all ready to sit down together. It’s great because most all the ingredients were things I typically keep on hand. Everyone raved about it!
Perfect! Thanks for letting me know, Kay! The slow cooker is so convenient, isn't it?! 🙂
I'm going to make this tonight. Had a couple f questions: I don't have a can of green chilis - how many fresh ones should I sub in? Will it make it to spicy? Also, don't have taco seasoning - any suggestions for sub? Thank you!
I'd sub in maybe 1 or 2. It's a small can, so it shouldn't take much. I don't know if it will make it too spicy. Definitely remove the seeds from the chilis, which will help to keep it mild.
If you don't have taco seasoning, I would suggest making your own homemade taco seasoning. You may also need to add some more salt, since the packaged taco seasoning is pretty salty. Here's a recipe for homemade taco seasoning, but you can look around on Google and see if you find something that you prefer. There are so many different versions of taco seasoning! Here you go: https://www.foodrenegade.com/homemade-taco-seasoning/
Boom chacka a lacka..... i had cooked chicken yesterday to make a batch of chicken broth..... So when i found your recipe i knew it would be what's for supper... i can't wait!
Wonderful! Thanks, Cathy! I bet it was delicious with that homemade broth!
I made and it was DELICIOUS!! Even my picky eater enjoyed it. I live in the UK and can not get taco sauce or green chilies. I made using mild salsa in place of both. This recipe is a keeper. Thanks!
Wonderful! Thanks, Gena!
can I use enchilada sauce? My husband forgot to get the taco sauce
Yes! That will work fine -- it will just be spicier than the taco sauce. 🙂
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Great recipe. I added a 1/2 package of cream cheese and some Mexican blend shredded cheese to make a creamier version. Since I don't like black beans, I substituted kidney beans. Love the recipe. Flavor is spot on.
Awesome! Thanks, Kristi!
This is sooooooo good and a breeze to make. I’ve made it once and I’m currently making it right now. Using cooked rotesserie chicken makes this even faster to prepare. Yummy! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Kishi!
This soup was delicious. I only used half the chicken and it was perfect. I like more broth in the soup. I used the Instapot and it worked out very well. I used sour cream and grated cheese for toppings. You can adjust the hotness with buying either the mild or the medium taco sauce.
Thanks, Catherine!!
I’ve made this recipe many times and my husband and I LOVE it. I just did the instant pot variation with uncooked chicken and it was also delicious! Wonderful recipe!
Thanks, Jamie!!
This tortilla soup is so tasty. This meal is probably my family's favorite. I get a request to make it every week and I can't say no. It is very easy to make. The soup is very hearty and has a great a taste.
Thanks so much, Kathleen! 🙂
Me and my family love this I even made it for my step mom and dad they loved it too. Now I always make it
That's great, Crystal! Thank you! 🙂
First of all...I am NOT a good cook, it just doesn’t come naturally! But I made this for the first time and it was ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS! Thank you for the amazing and easy to follow recipe! I was soo surprised how much it can feed, wow! Such a great meal on this fall night! I served it with all the additional options that you suggested and Tostito Scoops chips on the the side and avocados and it was a huge hit with my family! I will definitely be making this again!! Your recipe is awesome!!
Yay! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment, Amber! I'm so glad to hear that your family enjoyed it!
This soup is tasty! Got lots of compliments on it when I made it for a get together. So easy using Rotisserie chicken & slow cooker.
Yay! I'm so glad to hear that! Thanks, Jenna!
Excellent soup, has definitely become a favorite in this home!
Thank you!
One of the yummiest soup recipes I have ever found on internet!
Thank you!
Just discovered this recipe on pinterest and made it for dinner earlier this week. Absolutely love it!!!! Instead of chips, I actually used tortilla strips that my Kroger sells by the croutons. Soooo yummy!!!
Thanks, Denise! i'm so glad that you love it. Those tortilla strips are perfect (so good, too)!
I love this recipe!! I made it a bunch of times last winter and it was delicious every time. I added corn tortillas to the slow cooker if I had them.
I’m wondering if this recipe work in the instant pot. Any suggestions/tips for converting the recipe? Thanks!!
Hi, Richard! I'm so glad that you enjoy it! There are instructions for the Instant Pot in the recipe box as well. 🙂
I haven’t made this yet but it sounds hearty and spicy and delicious. I will try soon!
OMG! This recipe is fantastic. I fixed to the T, except didn’t add cilantro or jalapeno (personal preference), also used rotisserie chicken. Definitely will be making again! Fix it, it does not disappoint!
Thanks, Rimmy! So glad that you liked it! 🙂
Made for a work soup contest and everyone loved it and asked for the recipe. It was super easy.
Yay! Glad that it was a hit with the co-workers, Roger. Thanks for your note!
5 stars for easy! I did delete 1 can of chicken broth and added 1 can of cream of chicken soup. I also added 1 Tbls. cumin 1 Tbls. Chili powder some garlic and a few shots of hot sauce tooo! Served with tortilla strips sourcream and chedder!
Sounds perfect! Thanks, Gabriel!
Made it today! It is fantastic! Thank you for sharing! Wish you all the best!
That's wonderful, Melissa! Thanks for letting me know. 🙂
An easy and healthy Chicken Tortilla Soup
Thanks, James! So glad that you liked it!
So DELICIOUS! This is easy to make soup. Perfect for beginner chefs. And it was so yummy. I made it exactly as written.
Yay! Thanks, Elizabeth. 🙂
Taught my g-daughter this recipe to teach her how to read a recipe and cook it. Came out delicious.
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Thank you!