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Weeknight • Soups

Cozy Chicken Tortilla Soup

A hearty and flavorful chicken tortilla soup, perfect for a comforting and easy weeknight meal.

Prep
15 min
Cook
25 min
Servings
6
Level
Weeknight
Cozy Chicken Tortilla Soup

Imagine wrapping yourself in a warm blanket of flavor – that's what this Cozy Chicken Tortilla Soup tastes like! It's brimming with tender chicken, rich tomato broth, and subtle spices, all ready to be topped with your favorite crunchy fixings. This recipe is a fantastic way to use leftover chicken or a rotisserie chicken for extra speed!

Ingredients

Yield: 6 servings

Main

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 small yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (14.5-oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 (10-oz) can Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 (15-oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 (15-oz) can corn, drained
  • 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced
  • 1 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • Salt and fresh black pepper to taste

For Topping (Optional)

  • Crushed tortilla chips or strips
  • Shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
  • Sour cream or Greek yogurt
  • Diced avocado
  • Fresh cilantro, chopped
  • Lime wedges

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium heat. Add chopped onion and bell pepper and cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes.

  2. Step 2

    Stir in minced garlic, chili powder, cumin, and oregano. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.

  3. Step 3

    Add diced tomatoes, Rotel, chicken broth, and water. Bring to a gentle simmer, then stir in black beans, corn, and cooked chicken. Season with salt and pepper.

  4. Step 4

    Cover and simmer for at least 15-20 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld. The longer it simmers, the better it gets!

  5. Step 5

    Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Ladle hot soup into bowls and let everyone customize with their favorite toppings like tortilla chips, cheese, sour cream, avocado, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime.

Tips

  • For a hint of smoky flavor, add a chipotle in adobo, minced, along with the other spices.
  • Make a double batch and freeze half for a quick meal later. It freezes beautifully!
  • If you don't have cooked chicken, you can poach chicken breasts directly in the broth before adding other ingredients, then shred.

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