Healthy Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe

This Healthy Tortilla Chicken Soup recipe is perfect for a weeknight meal! It comes together in 15 minutes or less, thanks to the help of store-bought rotisserie chicken. The flavors are also so fresh and pronounced! 

It’s one of my favorite soup recipes because it uses minimal ingredients that are healthy and light and includes all the food groups from protein to vegetables and some healthy fat. It also makes enough for the lunch box the next day!

For more healthy soups try my Vegan Cream of Broccoli Soup or my Creamy Potato Leek Soup (with no cream, I use a secret ingredient!) both are equally delicious. 

Why You’ll Love This:

• The chicken broth, lime, and cumin do “all the work” for you! They add so much flavor, without a lot of calories, in just 3 simple steps
• It’s a great way to use up extra rotisserie chicken sitting in the fridge
• It’s a healthy soup, that is also quick and easy! You can make it right on the stove top in a flash.
• For a heartier tortilla soup you can make in a slow cooker try my Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup.

Ingredients:

• Chicken Broth If dietary restrictions are not an issue use the regular chicken broth (not low sodium) it will have more flavor that way.
• Shredded Chicken You can cook the chicken yourself, or use store-bought rotisserie chicken. If you cook the chicken you can make a little extra to meal prep my Healthy Chicken Salad recipe which can also last throughout the week. 
• Roma Tomatoes I like the Roma’s because they stay firm once simmered in the soup and don’t fall apart.
• Lime You’ll put lime juice in the soup, and I like to have extra to serve as wedges with the soup.
• Ground Cumin Gives this soup a wonderful smoky flavor that is delicious against the lime juice.
• Red Pepper Flakes I like to add these for a little extra heat but you can also leave them out or offer them on the side.
• Avocado Is a wonderfully creamy textures against the crunchy tortilla chips.
• Cilantro Will bring freshness and additional flavor to the soup. It’s great combined with the lime juice and avocado.
• Corn Tortillas Will be sliced and baked to create delicious crunchy strips to garnish your soup.

Step#1: Bake the Tortilla Chips

• Slice the corn tortilla strips thinly for the best crunch.
• The corn tortilla will crisp up better than flour tortillas, and most corn tortillas are also Gluten-Free! Just be sure you read the ingredients to be sure.  
• You can bake them in the oven or the air fryer too! 
• Follow my recipe for homemade Air Fryer Tortilla Chips for larger chips
• Then salt them with just a touch of salt for flavor

Make-Ahead Tips:

• You can bake the tortilla strips in advance and keep covered in an air tight container to last throughout the week
• Once they have cooled, place them in an airtight container and leave them at room temperature
• For the lunch box, you can pack the soup in a Thermos and then place the tortilla strips in a small container to pack in the lunch box the next day

Step#2: Add the Broth and Tomatoes

• There are a lot of great-tasting store-bought chicken broths to choose from, but my favorite is always the Swanson Chicken Broth. 
• It’s not too salty or overpowering in flavor, I think it works perfectly for this soup
• You can use Roma tomatoes or vine-ripened tomatoes. Allow them enough time to simmer in the broth so that they have time to soften.

Step#3: Add Seasonings and Lime Juice

• What gives this soup so much flavor is the ground cumin, it creates a smoky, savory flavor that is balanced out with the freshness of the lime juice. 
• I also like to add red pepper flakes, which is a fantastic way to beat off winter’s chill. It’s also good if you are feeling under the weather too!
• If you are serving kids, you may want to serve the red pepper flakes on the side as a condiment. 

How to Extract More Juice From a Lime

• To get more juice from your lime, try placing it in the microwave for five seconds. 
• The heat will soften the flesh of the lime and allow you to extract more juice from it.
• You can also roll it back and forth on a cutting board with the back of your hand. This too will soften the flesh and make your lime easier to juice. 

Step#4: Add the Chicken

• This soup comes together really quickly when using store-bought rotisserie chicken, but you can also roast your own chicken breasts and shred them with two forks. 
• I use bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts which will give you tender and moist chicken for the soup. 

For Additional Flavor:

• Add some dried oregano to the chicken broth as well
• You can also add some heat via freshly sliced jalapeños or a shake or two of your favorite hot sauce.

Make This Soup Cheesy!

• This soup is pretty healthy as is, but if you wanted to “kick it up a notch” and make it a bit more decadent, add some cheese!
• I like to use the finely shredded Mexican cheese blend on top of this soup because it melts quickly and adds a wonderful gooeyness against the flavors of the soup and the tortillas

Serving and Garnishing Tips:

• You can make a big batch of this soup on the weekend to last throughout the week
• Prepare the broth, add the cumin, tomatoes, and chicken
• Then before serving add the tortilla chips, lime juice, avocado, and fresh cilantro
• Serve lime wedges on the side

Can You Freeze This Soup?

• Yes! You can freeze the soup base with the chicken. I love freezing it in the 2-cup Souper Cubes! 
• Once reheated, then add the fresh lime juice, avocado, and tortilla chips

If You Enjoyed This Recipe

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