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The BEST slow cooker chicken tortilla soup is filled with chunks of chicken, beans & corn. It is easy to make and full of flavor!

Filled with so many great ingredients and being so simple, we love to make this all year long along with our other favs – Enchilada Soup and White Chicken Chili.

Chicken tortilla soup served in a white bowl.


The Best & Easiest Soup!

We are always in soup mode when the cool fall weather approaches!

One of our all-time favorite chicken soup recipes is our Chicken Tortilla Soup. My grandma Luna has been making this for my mom and then her for us for decades.

Why we love it:

  • So easy – so yummy! This is one of the easiest soup recipes out there! Prep time only takes 15 minutes and the flavor is incredible.
  • Made on stove or in slow cooker. Whether you have a little more time or not, this soup can be made any way.
  • Toppings galore. With all the fixings that go on top, like tortilla strips, sour cream, tomatoes, avocado, fresh cilantro, lime wedges and more – this recipe is hard NOT to love.
Cans of corn, beans, tomatoes, and green chili on a wooden table.

Tortilla Soup Ingredients

  • Chicken Stock or Chicken Broth – Both work great!
  • Shredded Cooked Chicken – Cook the chicken breasts and shred (or cube) them – for tips on shredded chicken GO HERE. You can also buy a rotisserie chicken and shred it or even used cooked chicken thighs.
  • Diced Tomatoes – You can also use canned fire-roasted tomatoes.
  • Corn – It’s the perfect addition to this soup.
  • Black Beans – Use pinto beans or kidney beans too.
  • Diced Green Chiles – Mild or hot work, but we typically do mild.
  • Onion (optional) – Instead, you can add minced onions or onion powder. For other veggies, try chopped bell peppers.
  • Seasonings + Spices: We use minced garlic, salt, black pepper, ground cumin, chili powder.
Chicken and veggies cooking in broth in a pot on the stove.

How to Make Tortilla Soup

This chicken tortilla soup recipe is a dump-and-go favorite!

  1. COMBINE. In a slow cooker, combine all ingredients except the toppings.
  2. COOK. Cook on LOW for 8 hours or on HIGH for 3–4 hours.
  3. GARNISH. Add cheese, tortilla strips, and other favorite toppings right before serving.

Stovetop Instructions

Easily make tortilla soup on the stovetop with these simple instructions:

  1. BOIL. Simply put all the ingredients (minus the cheese and toppings) into a large pot, and cook on medium-high heat to bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes.
  2. GARNISH + SERVE. Dish into bowls. Add cheese just before serving, and top with your favorite toppings!
An Instant Pot on a counter.

Instant Pot Instructions

To make this chicken tortilla soup recipe in an Instant Pot, follow these steps:

  1. Select the sauté function on the Instant Pot and heat a small amount of oil.
  2. Add chopped onions and minced garlic to the pot and sauté until they become fragrant and softened.
  3. Next, add the shredded cooked chicken, diced tomatoes, corn, black beans, diced green chiles, chicken stock, salt, pepper, cumin, and chili powder to the pot. Stir well to combine.
  4. Close the Instant Pot lid and set the vent to sealing.
  5. Select the manual or pressure cook function and set the timer for 10 minutes on high pressure.
  6. Once the cooking time is complete, allow for a natural pressure release for about 5 minutes. Then, carefully perform a quick release for the remaining pressure.

Note: The cooking time may vary slightly depending on the specific model of your Instant Pot.

Shredded chicken in a white bowl.

Recipe Tips

  • Make it creamy. This slow cooker chicken tortilla soup is definitely more on the brothy side, but can also be made creamy. In the last 30 minutes of cooking in the crock pot, just add ⅔ cup heavy cream and ⅓ cup sour cream, and it will be nice and creamy!
  • Make Homemade Tortilla strips. Simply cut corn tortillas into strips with a pizza cutter. You can either flash fry in hot oil or bake at 425°F for 8-10 minutes turning halfway through. You can also crush tortilla chips as well.
  • Toppings. Aside from the tortilla strips, here are other topping ideas:
    • dairy: more shredded cheese, sour cream, queso fresco
    • diced avocado
    • chopped green onions
    • cilantro
    • limes

Storage

  • STORE. To store, place tortilla soup in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
  • FREEZE. To freeze, let the tortilla soup recipe cool first, then freeze in an airtight container or freezer bag, making sure you omit the toppings.
  • To reheat. Let the recipe for chicken tortilla soup thaw overnight in the fridge (if frozen) and reheat on the stove or in the microwave.
  • Serving suggestions. Serve this with: Homemade Tortillas, Mexican Cornbread, Cheese Quesadillas, Cheese Crisps.
Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe in bowl with tortilla strips and avocado on top.

For more soups:

5 from 377 votes

Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe

By: Lil’ Luna
The BEST slow cooker chicken tortilla soup is filled with chunks of chicken, beans & corn. It is easy to make and full of flavor!
Servings: 6
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 4 hours
Total: 4 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 6 cups chicken stock or chicken broth
  • 2 cups shredded cooked chicken
  • 1-2 (14.5-ounce) cans diced tomatoes drained
  • 1 (14.5-ounce) can corn drained
  • 1 (15.25-ounce) can black beans drained
  • 1 (4-ounce) can diced green chiles
  • ½ cup chopped onion optional
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • teaspoons salt
  • ¾ teaspoon pepper
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon chili powder

Toppings (Optional)

  • corn tortilla strips (store-bought or homemade), sour cream, shredded Monterey Jack cheese, chopped avocado, cilantro

Instructions 

  • In a slow cooker, combine all ingredients except the toppings.
  • Cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 3–4 hours.
  • Add cheese, tortilla strips and other favorite toppings right before serving.

Video

Notes

Stove top directions. In a large pot, combine all ingredients except the toppings over medium-low heat. Simmer for 20–30 minutes, or until soup is heated through. Ladle into bowls and add cheese, tortilla strips, and other favorite toppings.
Variations. This slow cooker chicken tortilla soup is more on the brothy side. For a different texture, during the last 30 minutes of cooking in the slow cooker, just add ⅔ cup heavy cream and ⅓ cup sour cream to make the soup nice and creamy!
CORN TORTILLA STRIPS: To make homemade corn tortilla strips, slice corn tortillas with a pizza cutter into thin strips. Heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat and flash fry strips in the oil until golden and crispy, 30–60 seconds. Or, toss strips in a bowl with 2 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil and spread in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in the oven at 425°F for 8–10 minutes, turning halfway through.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup, Calories: 95kcal, Carbohydrates: 10g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 7mg, Sodium: 927mg, Potassium: 285mg, Fiber: 0.4g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 37IU, Vitamin C: 2mg, Calcium: 16mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Course, Soup
Cuisine: Mexican
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About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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Recipe Rating




185 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Fantastic. I did use taco seasoning with my chicken to give it a little extra taste. The diced tomatoes, used 2 cans – one original and one with chiles. Followed everything else per recipe. I highly encourge the homemade tortilla strips. Delicious.

  2. 5 stars
    I was never one who liked Chicken Tortilla Soup, but, was willing to try again. This recipe is delicious and the family lives it. Thank you for the recipe I am now a Chicken Tortilla Soup lover!!!

  3. I love your Chicken Tortilla Soup!! I made it on top of the stove with a cooked chicken, hot from Kroger! Didn’t change a thing. Perfection!! Hey, thanks!!

  4. 5 stars
    Just made this again for my family. This is my go to soup. It is so easy and good to throw together. I do omit the onions and add a little bit of heavy cream. Comes out so good and there is never any left.