Tortilla Soup Recipe (2024)

Published February 4, 2021.This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Learn how easy it is to make this authentic Mexican homemade tortilla soup topped off with avocados, fried tortilla strips, and cilantro.

We are huge soup fans in this family and always look forward to the fall, so soup-making can begin! That said, it does not have to fall to be soup season. If you’re anything like us, check out my Corn Chowder or Chicken and Wild Rice for any time of year.

Tortilla Soup Recipe (1)

Tortilla Soup

The origin of Tortilla soup is a bit of a mystery, but history shows that it was created in Mexico City, Mexico. It’s a very simple-to-prepare soup, consisting of a few ingredients and an assortment of toppings.

Here are some typical ingredients you would find in this recipe:

  • Tomatoes
  • Onions
  • Garlic
  • Stock or Water
  • Chiles

How to Make It

Follow along with these instructions for making this tasty homemade tortilla soup:

Caramelize the onions and garlic until wholly browned in a medium-sized pot over low heat with olive oil, about 45 minutes.

Tortilla Soup Recipe (2)

Next, add the tomatoes, chiles, and chicken stock and simmer over low to medium heat for 30 minutes.

Tortilla Soup Recipe (3)

Remove the chile and puree the soup until smooth and thick in a blender or using an emersion hand blender. Return the soup to the pot along with the chile, and season with salt and pepper.

Tortilla Soup Recipe (4)

Fry tortilla strips in oil and drain on a paper towel.

Tortilla Soup Recipe (5)

Serve the soup with assorted toppings

Tortilla Soup Recipe (6)

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Often times you will see chicken tortilla soup instead of just tortilla. Chicken is not traditional in this recipe; add some shredded cooked chicken at the end with the assorted toppings if you’d like.

Toppings

Toppings for tortilla soup will vary a bit, depending on the region of Mexico and personal preference. Here are some popular additions to finish off the soup:

  • Avocado
  • Crema
  • Cheese (Cotija, Queso Fresco, Oaxaca, or Chihuahua)
  • Cilantro
  • Chiles
  • Radish
  • Lime
  • Shredded Chicken

Make-Ahead and Storage

Make-Ahead: You can make this soup up to 2 days ahead. Be sure to keep the toppings separate.

How to Store: Cover the soup, separate it from the toppings, and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. Freeze the soup covered, separate from the toppings, for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator for 1 day before reheating.

How to Reheat: Add the desired amount to a small saucepot and heat over low heat until hot. You may need to readjust the seasonings with salt and pepper.

Tortilla Soup Recipe (7)

chef notes + tips

  • When making in the summertime, replace the canned tomatoes with fresh tomatoes.
  • If you do not want to fry tortilla strips, use tortilla chips.
Tortilla Soup Recipe (8)

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Tortilla Soup Recipe (9)

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Tortilla Soup Recipe

Tortilla Soup Recipe (10)

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5 from 10 votes

Learn how easy it is to make this authentic Mexican homemade tortilla soup that is topped off with avocados, fried tortilla strips, and cilantro.

Servings: 8

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Ingredients

For the Soup:

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 peeled and small diced yellow onions
  • 4 finely minced cloves of garlic
  • 1 dried guajillo chile
  • 2 28- ounce cans whole peeled tomatoes
  • 2 cups chicken stock
  • sea salt and pepper to taste

For the Toppings:

  • 1 peeled, seeded, and large diced avocado
  • Mexican crema
  • cilantro leaves
  • cooked shredded chicken
  • fried tortillas

Instructions

  • In a large pot over low heat add in the olive oil and caramelize the onions and garlic well, about 45 minutes.

  • Next, add in the tomatoes, chile, and chicken stock and simmer over low heat for about 25-30 minutes.

  • Remove the chile and puree the soup until completely smooth. Return the soup back to the pot along with the chile and season with salt and pepper.

  • Serve the soup with assorted optional toppings.

Notes

Chef Notes:

  • Make-Ahead: You can make this soup up to 2 days ahead of time. Be sure to keep the toppings separate.
  • How to Store: Cover the soup, separate from the toppings, and keep in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. Freeze the soup covered, separate from the toppings, for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator for 1 day before reheating.
  • How to Reheat: Add the desired amount to a small saucepot and heat over low heat until hot. You may need to readjust the seasonings with salt and pepper.
  • When making in the summertime, replace the canned tomatoes with fresh tomatoes.
  • If you do not want to fry tortilla strips, feel free to use tortilla chips.

Nutrition

Calories: 125kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 3gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 241mgPotassium: 439mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 279IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 47mgIron: 1mg

Course: Soup

Cuisine: Mexican

Author: Chef Billy Parisi

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19 comments

    • Helen
    • Tortilla Soup Recipe (11)

    My favorite – I modify a bit with the edition of hot rotel tomatoes, and red pepper flakes, a few poblano peppers. So good.

    • Reply
    • sue😁
    • Tortilla Soup Recipe (12)

    Tasty recipe thank you ChefBilly😁😋🤩👋

    • Reply
    • Cejay Downs
    • Tortilla Soup Recipe (13)

    Thank ou Chef 4 another great recipe

    • Reply
    • Lezlee Gunsolley
    • Tortilla Soup Recipe (14)

    YUMMY! This is authentic Mexican fare, and super easy to make! Very versatile and adaptable to most any odd & ends vegetable in the refrigerator!
    My family loves it, and it’s quick & easy!

    • Reply
    • Esme
    • Tortilla Soup Recipe (15)

    This is a soup that I have made over and over again. It’s delicious with or without shredded chicken in it.
    My quick and go to soup.

    • Reply
      • Chef Billy Parisi

      Thanks!

      • Reply
    • Chris Dean
    • Tortilla Soup Recipe (16)

    So Easy and oh so Good !!

    • Reply
    • Tortilla Soup Recipe (17)

        love it!

        • Reply
      • Shellayne Miller
      • Tortilla Soup Recipe (18)

      Really good and different from any other tortilla soup I’ve had. I recommend!

      • Reply
      • Tortilla Soup Recipe (19)

          Nice!

          • Reply
        • Kim Thomas

        Du you put the whole chili back in the soup or do you blend it as well and strain it?

        • Reply
        • Tortilla Soup Recipe (20)

            yes to all

            • Reply
          • Camille

          Do you chop the chile before returning it to the soup?

          • Reply
          • Tortilla Soup Recipe (21)

              no

              • Reply
            • Joan

            WHat other kind of Chile could you use, Please?

            • Reply
            • Tortilla Soup Recipe (22)

                ancho or arbol

                • Reply
              • Diane L Tjaden
              • Tortilla Soup Recipe (23)

              You are a fantastic chef and teacher. I have learned a lot from you.
              Thank you,
              Diane L Tjaden

              • Reply
              • christine marochko
              • Tortilla Soup Recipe (24)

              You are a remarkable Chef Billy Parisi! Another amazing soup.

              • Reply
              • Rehab
              • Tortilla Soup Recipe (25)

              Thank you, chef!
              Looks good!!

              • Reply
            Tortilla Soup Recipe (2024)

            FAQs

            What does chicken tortilla soup contain? ›

            Chicken tortilla soup is a Mexican-inspired soup that has a tomato and chicken broth base. It is spiced with chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, and has a little kick from the jalapeño. It also has hearty ingredients like beans, corn, and of course the shredded chicken.

            How to thicken up tortilla soup? ›

            Yes, you can use flour to thicken chicken tortilla soup. To do so, create a slurry by combining equal parts flour and cold water. Whisk the slurry into the soup gradually, allowing it to simmer for a few minutes until the desired thickness is achieved.

            How do you tone down chicken tortilla soup? ›

            Add Some Starches

            The easiest way to tone down a spicy dish is to serve a smaller portion with plenty of rice, bread, potatoes, pasta, or plain starch to counter the heat. For soups and stews, raw and starchy vegetables like potatoes or carrots work well.

            How long does tortilla soup last in the fridge? ›

            Storage Instructions

            This easy tortilla soup will keep airtight in the fridge for 5 to 7 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months. Extra tortilla strips will keep in airtight at room temp for up to 5 days.

            What is tortilla soup based on? ›

            Although the exact origin of tortilla soup is unknown, it is known that it comes from the Mexico City area in Mexico. Traditional tortilla soup is made with chicken broth combined with roasted tomatoes, onion, garlic, chiles and tortillas, cut into strips and fried.

            Can you cook raw chicken in soup? ›

            We first make the stock and later add the raw chicken meat to cook near the end of the soup-making process. You could also cook the breast and thigh chicken pieces whole, in the broth, and remove them after 15 minutes of cooking or so, cool them and shred them to be added at service.

            How can I make my soup thicker and creamy? ›

            6 ways to thicken soup:
            1. Blend all or part of it. If you've made a broth with chunks of vegetable in it, such as minestrone soup, then pour the soup through a sieve. ...
            2. Add cream or yogurt. ...
            3. Add flour or cornflour. ...
            4. Use a butter and flour paste. ...
            5. Blend in bread. ...
            6. Add lentils or rice. ...
            7. 5 of the best soup recipes to try next:

            Is it better to thicken soup with flour or cornstarch? ›

            It's important to note that cornstarch has twice the thickening power of flour. If you need to substitute cornstarch to thicken liquid in a recipe that calls for ¼ cup (four tablespoons) flour, you only need two tablespoons cornstarch.

            What can I add to soup to make it thinner? ›

            Add more liquid: The simplest solution is to add more liquid, such as water, broth, or milk. Start by adding a small amount and gradually add more until you reach the desired consistency. Use a blender: If you have a blender, you can puree the soup in batches, adding more liquid as needed.

            Why does my chicken tortilla soup taste bland? ›

            Using too little seasoning

            Reaching for something spicy without much distinct flavor, like cayenne, will result in a bland and spicy broth. Earthy spices like cumin and coriander are aromatic but not spicy. Chili powder is a blend that skews more flavorful than spicy, especially if you craft your own.

            Does tortilla soup go bad? ›

            But, again, note that when I do this, I ensure that food is cooked to a sanitary temperature before storage. How long does homemade chicken tortilla soup last in the fridge? The USDA recommends keeping leftovers for 3 to 4 days at temperatures less than 40 F. Frozen leftovers are good for 3 to 4 months at 0F or below.

            Can you eat soup that is 5 days old? ›

            A general rule of thumb is that soup can be stored in the refrigerator for about three days, but you should always taste your dish before deciding to reheat. A clear, vegetable-based soup with some acidity, such as tomatoes, may last longer. Chicken soup usually lasts three to five days.

            Does chicken tortilla soup contain gluten? ›

            Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe

            It's loaded with veggies and protein, plus it's naturally gluten free and dairy free!

            Does chicken tortilla soup have a lot of carbs? ›

            Tortilla Soup Calories and Macros

            ​Total fat​:​ One cup of tortilla soup has 18.3 grams of total fat, which includes 6.6 grams of saturated fat and 0 grams of trans fat. ​​Carbohydrates​:​ One cup of tortilla soup has 18 grams of carbs, which includes 5.1 grams of fiber and 1.4 grams of sugar.

            Does chicken tortilla soup have protein? ›

            Chicken tortilla soup is a protein-rich dish, thanks to the inclusion of chicken as the main ingredient. A serving typically provides around 15-20 grams of protein, which is essential for muscle growth and repair.

            Does tortilla soup have protein? ›

            Higher-Protein and Fiber: This high-protein chicken tortilla soup has 38 grams of protein in each serving with 13 grams of fiber from the beans and vegetables. That's almost half the daily recommended amount of fiber! Low-Calorie Chicken Tortilla Soup: This soup recipe has 406 calories for a hearty serving.

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