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, healthy, light ingredients 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, Chicken Tortilla Soup in a Slow Cooker, or my Creamy Potato Leek Soup (with no cream, I use a secret ingredient!). Both are equally delicious. 

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Ingredients:

• Chicken Broth: if dietary restrictions are not an issue, use 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 Romas because they stay firm once simmered in the soup and don’t fall apart.
• Lime: You’ll add lime juice to the soup, and I like to have extra to serve as wedges.
• Ground Cumin: Gives this soup a wonderful smoky flavor that pairs well with 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: has a wonderfully creamy texture 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: Sliced and baked into delicious, crunchy strips to garnish your soup.

Step#1: Bake the Tortilla Chips

• Slice the corn tortilla strips thinly for the best crunch.
• Corn tortillas crisp up better than flour tortillas, and most are also Gluten-Free! Just be sure to read the ingredients.  
• You can bake them in the oven or the air fryer, too! 
• Then salt them with just a touch of salt for flavor

Make-Ahead Tips:

• You can bake the tortilla strips in advance and keep them covered in an airtight 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 they soften.

Step#3: Add Seasonings and Lime Juice

• What gives this soup so much flavor is the ground cumin, which imparts a smoky, savory note balanced by 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 microwaving it for five seconds. 
• The heat will soften the lime flesh and help you extract more juice.
• 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 make the chicken in the soup tender and moist. 

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 in it. I love freezing it in the 2-cup Souper Cubes! 
• Once reheated, add the fresh lime juice, avocado, and tortilla chips