Chicken Tortilla Soup is simple, delicious, and ready in 20 minutes. It has black beans, chicken, crispy corn, cheese, and crunchy tortilla strips—perfect for a quick weeknight meal!
Try some of our other favorite soups with similar flavor profiles like this Salsa Verde Chicken Soup, Crockpot White Chicken Chili, or Chicken Taco Chili.
Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup
Believe it or not, this soup is ready in just 20 minutes without compromising flavor. It’s not just a quick fix; it’s a rich, flavor-packed meal you’d be proud to share. Even as someone who often spends hours cooking, there are times we crave a speedy yet wholesome dish, like during flu season, which inspired this soup. It’s a cheesier twist on my site’s popular Chicken Chili and Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup, using rotisserie chicken and altered spices, delivering a homemade feel in a fraction of the time.
Ingredients
- Olive Oil: Used to sauté the onion and garlic, providing a base flavor.
- Diced Yellow Onion & Minced Garlic: These add aromatic depth to the soup.
- Red Enchilada Sauce & Fire-Roasted Diced Tomatoes: These contribute a spicy, tangy base to the soup, enhancing its character.
- Chili Beans, Black Beans & Corn: Add texture and heartiness to the soup, making it more filling.
- Chicken Stock: This is the liquid base of the soup that brings all the flavors together.
- Paprika, Ground Cumin, & Chili Powder: These seasonings give the soup its signature Mexican flavor profile.
- Cream Cheese: Adds creaminess to the soup and balances the spicy ingredients.
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese: Gives the soup a cheesy flavor and makes it richer.
- Rotisserie Chicken: Adds protein and makes the soup hearty.
Shortcuts
Still skeptical about 20-minutes? Let’s break it down!
- Pre-chopped Produce: Use store-bought pre-diced onions or frozen diced onions along with jarred minced garlic to eliminate chopping.
- Rotisserie Chicken: Opt for pre-shredded rotisserie chicken or prep and shred chicken in advance for quick addition.
- Chicken Stock: Use quality chicken stock, like Swanson’s®, to enhance flavor and reduce added seasonings. Chicken broth is an alternative but might require extra salt. Read more about chicken stock vs. chicken broth here.
How To Make Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Sauté: In heated olive oil, sauté diced onion. As it cooks, open cans and rinse black beans. Then, sauté garlic briefly.
- Add Ingredients: Pour in enchilada sauce, beans, corn, diced tomatoes, and chicken stock directly from their cans.
- Heat: Bring the soup to a boil, adding seasonings as it heats. Meanwhile, melt cream cheese and grate the other cheese.
- Finish: Whisk the melted cream cheese into the boiling soup. Remove from heat, stir in the grated cheese until melted, add rotisserie chicken, and serve!
What To Serve With Chicken Tortilla Soup
Chicken Tortilla Soup pairs well with a variety of sides and accompaniments. Here are some suggestions:
- Tortilla Chips: These can be crumbled on top or served on the side for added crunch.
- Avocado Slices or Guacamole: Adds creaminess and a refreshing contrast to the warm soup.
- Sour Cream: Provides a creamy tanginess that complements the spiciness of the soup.
- Lime Wedges: A squeeze of lime enhances the soup’s flavors.
- Fresh Cilantro: Can be sprinkled on top for a burst of fresh flavor.
- Black Bean Quesadillas or Bean Tostadas: Perfect for dipping into the soup.
- Italian Salad: A light salad with a tangy vinaigrette balances the richness of the soup.
- Spanish or Mexican Rice Recipe: Served on the side or even added to the soup for added heartiness.
- Cornbread or Drop Biscuits: A warm side to dip into the soup.
- Pinto Beans: Can be served on the side for additional protein and flavor.
Quick Tip
To make your own baked tortilla strips: Slice 2-3 stacked tortillas into 1/2-inch strips. Place on a parchment-lined sheet, toss with oil, salt, and pepper. Bake until golden, turning once, about 7-10 minutes.
Chicken Tortilla Soup FAQs
As the soup cools, it thickens a lot. For a chili-like consistency, use just 2 cups of chicken stock.
Chicken Tortilla Soup can be frozen for up to 3 months. Cool, then transfer to airtight containers or freezer bags. Thaw in the fridge and reheat on the stove before serving.
Add all ingredients except cream cheese and cheddar to the Crockpot. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. Stir in cream cheese 30 minutes before serving, then add cheddar until melted. Check seasoning and ensure chicken is cooked through. Serve hot.
More Quick and Easy Soup Recipes
- Easy Zuppa Toscana ready in 20 minutes!
- Chicken Parmesan Soup ready in 20 minutes!
- Easy Tomato Soup with canned tomatoes
- Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Soup made in the slow cooker
- Potato Corn Chowder with fresh pesto
Chicken Tortilla Soup
Equipment
- 5.5 quart pot (cast iron will heat quicker)
- Whisk
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3/4 cup diced yellow onion, optional — See Note 1
- 1 teaspoon minced (jarred) garlic
- 1 can (10 oz.) red enchilada sauce (we use mild Old El Paso)
- 1 can (14.5 oz.) fire-roasted diced tomatoes with green chiles added in, undrained
- 1 can (16 oz.) chili beans in mild sauce
- 1 can (15.25 oz.) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1-1/2 cups frozen corn (or 1 can drained corn)
- 3 and 1/4 cups chicken stock (or broth) Note 2
- 3/4 teaspoon each: paprika, ground cumin
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
- Fine sea salt and pepper
- 4 ounces full-fat cream cheese, softened
- 1 package (8 oz.) sharp Cheddar cheese, freshly grated — Note 3
- 2 cups pre-shredded rotisserie chicken Note 4
- Toppings of choice: tortilla strips, sour cream, avocado, fresh lime, pico de gallo, and fresh cilantro Note 5
Instructions
- ONION AND GARLIC: In a large pot over medium-high heat, add olive oil. Sauté onion for 3-4 minutes. While sautéing, prepare cans and rinse black beans. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- EVERYTHING ELSE IN: Turn the heat to high. Add the enchilada sauce, undrained tomatoes, chili beans, rinsed black beans, corn, and chicken stock. As it heats to a boil, mix in the cumin, paprika, chili powder, salt (about 1 teaspoon), and pepper (about 1/4 teaspoon). Stir well.
- CHEESES AND CHICKEN:Warm the cream cheese in the microwave until very soft. Once the soup is boiling, mix in the cream cheese until fully incorporated. Off the heat, stir in the grated Cheddar until melted, then stir in the rotisserie chicken.
- SERVE: Ladle soup into bowls, top with favorites like tortilla strips, sour cream, avocado, or cilantro, and enjoy!
- STORAGE/LEFTOVERS: Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat gently on low heat. Avoid boiling or high temperatures to prevent curdling. For freezing, cool the soup fully, then transfer to freezer-safe containers. Freeze for up to 2-3 months. Thaw in the fridge and reheat on low.
Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I thought this was delicious and so easy for a chilly weeknight dinner!! My fiancé thought it needed more spices so I’ll probably triple them next time but I loved this.
I am so happy to hear this! Thanks Ashley! 🙂
This was very good! I like that it’s semi-homemade. This is a keeper! Yum!
So happy to hear! Thanks Christina! 🙂
Absolutely love this soup! My whole family loves it! We are never disappointed!
I’m so happy to hear this! Thanks! 🙂
This soup is so delicious it’s become my signature dish.
And it’s versatile as heck.
My parents don’t like the cheesy broth – no problem, half the cream cheese and remove the cheddar.
Cooking for myself? Stirfry a poblano pepper or two with the onion, add the whole block of cream cheese, use Del Monte southwest corn (do NOT use Green Giant’s “Mexicorn”, it’s just corn with a little bit of bell pepper and a lot of added sugar… blech) and use an extra can of it, use hot chili beans, and octuple the garlic and cayenne pepper. I like my soup spicy and chunky, thanks.
Feeling virtuous? Switch out the chicken stock for vegetable stock, omit the cheese and chicken, stirfry some bell peppers (and a poblano if you’re me) with the onion, throw some spinach in in the last few minutes and you’ve got a delicious southwest vegetable bean soup.
It even works with leftover thanksgiving turkey if you’re that desperate to get it used up.
Haha, this was such an awesome comment! Thanks so much! I’m beyond thrilled you love this so much! 🙂
Made this for a Management meeting. Quick prep and cook time, I doubled the batch (loved that feature when you print out). Everyone enjoyed it and had plenty to share with other employees. Keeping this recipe for future use. Thank you!
I am so happy to hear this! Thanks so much for your comment Marla! 🙂
This came out perfect! I tweaked it a little, to my own liking. I added 2 cans of fire-roasted tomatoes and 2 cans of corn. I may have added more enchilada sauce as well. Also used hatch green chiles.
Sounds awesome! So glad you enjoyed! Thanks for sharing Dustin! 🙂
Absolutely DELICIOUS!!! 😋 The whole family loved it!! Will definitely be making this recipe again!!
Yay! So happy to hear! Thanks for your comment! 🙂
I can’t wait to make this! I have been looking for a good recipe for chicken tortilla soup for a few YEARS since a coworker brought some in for us to try. This is the first recipe I have found that looks like the one she made us! Thank you. It looks delicious. Can’t wait.
I am so excited for you to try! Thanks! 🙂
I made this soup for the first time last week….. Since then we have made it two more times.. so THREE times in one week! My kids love it (even my oldest daughter who is so picky and refuses to try anything new!) We definitely have a new favorite! Thank you.
I am seriously so happy to hear this! That’s so awesome! Thanks for sharing Holly! 🙂
So yummy! Most importantly my 6 year old, 4 year old, 2 year old, 11 month old, and 38 year old 😉 boys (each picky in one way or another) all loved it and finally ate their dinner without complaint and made sure I knew this was a winner I should make again. This NEVER happens! Thanks for the delicious recipe!
Yay!! Love hearing that!! Thanks Kaitlyn 🙂
Wondering if you could freeze this recipe