Delicious and healthy Chicken Tortilla Soup! This flavorful soup is filled with tender chicken, black beans, veggies, and topped with homemade crispy tortilla strips. It’s a healthy, delicious, and easy meal that is perfect to meal prep in advance of a quick and easy lunch or dinner.

The Best Healthy Chicken Tortilla Soup

Let’s talk healthy chicken tortilla soup!

I am a HUGE soup fan, ok? It is usually so easy to make, can be whipped up with just one large pot, and you get leftovers that somehow magically end up tasting even better as the days go on. It’s a WIN. This chicken tortilla soup is not only flavorful in it’s own right, but then you get to pile on all of your favorite toppings (umm…hello crispy tortilla strips!) and somehow it gets even better. Here’s why you’ll love this recipe:

Healthy – which simply means that it is made with good for you, nutrient dense, real food ingredients that will nourish your body.
Quick – we’re talking around 30-40 minutes which makes it the perfect solution to your weeknight dinner woes.
Cozy – ok, is there anything more cozy and comforting than a hot bowl of soup? This one just wins all the comfort food awards!

Chicken Tortilla Soup Ingredients

Chicken: you could use boneless, skinless chicken breast for this recipe but chicken thighs tend to have more flavor and stay a bit more tender than chicken breast after simmering.

Black beans: these add in an extra punch of protein and make the soup nice and hearty.

Veggies and aromatics: yellow onions, jalapeños, and garlic create a flavorful base for this soup.

Fire roasted crushed tomatoes: fire roasted tomatoes give this soup even more flavor. If you cannot find fire-roasted crushed tomatoes feel free to use regular crushed tomatoes instead.

Chicken broth: you could use veggie broth instead of chicken broth if you are keeping this soup vegetarian. I like to go with low-sodium broth to better control the amount of salt in the soup.

Spices: a combination of spices like cumin, chipotle powder, dried oregano, and paprika help to give this soup it’s flavor. If you don’t love a ton of spice then you can use less chipotle powder.

Helpful Kitchen Tools

How to Make This Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe

Step One: The first step in this recipe is to sear the chicken thighs. Searing the chicken helps to develop even more flavor in the soup. Be sure to liberally season the chicken with salt and pepper before searing.

Step Two: Next, you’ll remove the chicken from the pot and sauté all your veggies and the spices. Heating the spices for a moment helps to toast them and bring out even more flavor.

Step Three: Now, add the chicken back to the pot, and then pour in the crushed tomatoes, black beans, green chilies, chicken broth, and lime juice. Let the soup simmer for around thirty minutes.

Step Four: While the soup is simmering is the perfect time make the crispy tortilla strips!

Step Five: Remove the cooked chicken, use two forks to shred the meat, and then stir the chicken back into the pot. Then, pour in the full fat coconut milk, give the soup a stir, and simmer for another five minutes or so.

Step Six: Now it’s time to finish the soup! Lower the heat, stir in the chopped cilantro, and give the soup a taste and adjust the seasoning to taste. Ladle your finished soup into bowls and serve with all the toppings!

Homemade Crispy Tortilla Strips

One of the best ways to top this soup is with homemade crispy tortilla strips seasoned with lime juice and salt. While they might look a little complicated, making these crispy tortilla strips could not be easier.

Here’s how to make homemade tortilla strips:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Cut a few corn tortillas into thin strips.
Spray the tortilla strips with a generous amount of non-stick cooking spray, like this one. (You could also toss them in avocado oil).
Spread the strips out in an even layer on a sheet pan that has been lined with parchment paper.
Bake the strips at 375 degrees for ten to twelve minutes until the strips have browned a bit and are crispy.
While the strips are still hot, season them generously with salt and lime juice.

Tips, Tricks, and Frequently Asked Questions

Want to make a vegetarian version of this soup? Leave out the chicken and instead add in an extra can of black beans plus your favorite veggies.
This is a great base recipe to get creative with. Some of my favorite veggies to add to this soup are diced bell peppers, fresh corn (stir it in at the end), zucchini, mushrooms, baby spinach or even kale.
This recipes calls one pound of chicken but feel free to add half a pound or a pound more if you want an even heartier soup.
Want a creamier tortilla soup? Replace or two cups of chicken broth with full fat canned coconut milk.
Don’t feel like making the crispy tortilla strips? Feel free to use tortilla chips instead.

How to Make Chicken Tortilla Soup in the Slow Cooker

You can easily make this soup in the slow cooker. Here’s how:

Sear the chicken and sauté the veggies
Add the chicken and veggies to the base of a slow cooker
Add the broth, black beans, crushed tomatoes, spices, and lime juice to the slow cooker
Cook on low for 5-6 hours or until the chicken is fully cooked through and tender
Remove the chicken from the slow cooker. Use two forks to shred the meat and then stir the chicken back into the soup.
Stir in the chopped cilantro before serving

Can You Freeze Chicken Tortilla Soup?

Yes! Once the soup has cooled completely, transfer it to a freezer safe storage container and place in the freezer. Once you are ready to use the frozen soup, I recommend letting it thaw in the fridge and then reheating on the stove top for the best results.

Delicious Soup Toppings and Ways to Serve

While this soup is delicious all on it’s own, the toppings make it even better. Feel free to get creative and add your favorites. Here are a few of my personal favorite recommendations:

Greek yogurt or sour cream
Cilantro
Cotija cheese
Green onion
Shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Avocado
Crispy tortilla strips