Best Recipe for Chicken Tortilla Soup
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We’ve been told repeatedly that this is the best chicken tortilla soup ever. With a couple of simple tricks, you can maximize flavor while keeping prep time low. Make it in your crockpot or on your stovetop, either way it’s a delicious Mexican recipe that’s a true crowd pleaser.
When your Latino bestie tells you this is the best chicken tortilla soup he’s ever had, you know the recipe truly earns its name. I’ve always loved chicken tortilla soup, but it took a lot of testing (and many very delicious bowls) to finally land on a version that’s not just good — it’s exceptional.
Three simple tricks take this soup from everyday to unforgettable, and once you know them, you’ll use them in all kinds of soups. Ready to see what they are?
If you’re a chicken soup fan, you might also love my chicken taco soup!
Ingredient notes
- Dried Mexican peppers – we use a combination of guajillo, pasilla, and ancho peppers as we love the flavor and they’re not overly spicy. If you’d like a fiery soup, add a spicy chili such as a chili de arbol.
- Skinless bone-in chicken thighs – bone-in is important as the bones will add so much flavor to the soup!
- Chicken stock – we always use our homemade chicken stock. If you don’t have any, try to use store-bought bone broth.
- Black beans – we use canned for conveneince. Just make sure to drain and rinse them before adding them to the pot. You could go with a different kind of bean if you have something else on hand.
- Frozen corn – you could use drained canned corn instead if you wish. Or get a little fancy and cut the cobs off an ear of corn.
Pro tips
- Use bone-in chicken — this is the real trick. The primary reason chicken tortilla soup falls flat is the store-bought broth. It’s convenient, yes, but it can’t compare to the rich flavor of homemade stock. To keep things easy while boosting flavor, we simmer bone-in chicken right in the pot. As it cooks, the broth becomes fuller, rounder, and almost creamy. It’s such a simple step, but it completely transforms the soup. Keep this trick in your back pocket for other soup recipes, too.
- Blend the onions and garlic — another sneaky tip. Instead of leaving them chunky, sauté the onions and garlic until golden, then blend them with the softened dried peppers and a little water. This creates a smooth, intensely flavorful base that permeates every spoonful. It’s like adding liquid gold to the pot, making the soup taste more complex with almost no extra effort.
- Use dried peppers — this one is a game-changer. Many recipes call for chili powder, but most chili powders don’t have much going on. Dried Mexican peppers, on the other hand, are incredibly flavorful and surprisingly inexpensive. Guajillo, pasilla, and ancho are my favorites; none of them are spicy, but they add a beautiful depth to the broth. Three peppers seem to be the magic number, though the exact mix isn’t critical. Just avoid using three spicy peppers — they bring heat but not much flavor. If you want a little kick, add a single chile de árbol to the blend.
Toppings to try
Don’t even think about skipping those crispy tortilla strips – they’re so good, and I love the crunch that they add. Some of my other favorite toppings:
- Cheese: Queso or grated cheddar are my go-tos, but monterey jack melts beautifully into the soup.
- Dollops: Sour cream or greek yogurt meld right in and adds a luscious creaminess that balances out the spices.
- Avocado: Creamy avocado slices are a must for a texture contrast that balances the heat of the peppers.
- Spice it up: If you LOVE spicy flavors, add some sliced jalapeños, pickled jalapeños, or a drizzle of hot sauce for a fiery finish!
- Herbs: I love fresh cilantro, but you could also use green onions.
- Lime: A squeeze of lime juice is the perfect bright, tangy finish.
- Pico de gallo: For some vibrant freshness, a pico de gallo will meld right into these flavors.
Best Ever Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe
We've been told repeatedly that this is the best chicken tortilla soup ever. With a couple of easy tricks, you can maximize the flavor while keeping the prep time low. Make it in your crockpot or on your stovetop, either way it's a delicious Mexican recipe that's a true crowd pleaser.
Ingredients
- 3 dried Mexican peppers – guajillo, pasilla, and ancho ( (see notes))
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil (we like avocado oil)
- 1 medium onion (chopped)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 8 skinless bone-in chicken thighs (see notes)
- 8 cups chicken stock
- 1 tablespoon sea salt
- 15 ounce can diced tomatoes
- 15 ounce can black beans (drained and rinsed)
- 2 cups frozen corn
- Optional toppings: sour cream, queso, limes, cilantro
The Crispy Tortillas
- 1 teaspoon cooking oil
- 4 large tortillas cut into thin strips (use gluten-free, if needed)
Instructions
- Place the dried peppers in a bowl and cover them with about a cup of hot tap water.
- Heat the tablespoon of oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until it is well browned, about 7-8 minutes. Add the garlic and cumin and cook for 1 minute more.1 tablespoon cooking oil, 1 medium onion, 3 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- Pull the stems off of the peppers. Add the peppers and the soaking water into your blender. Add the cooked onion and blend until smooth. If it is too thick to blend properly, add some of the stock. Pour this liquid into your crockpot or a large soup pot.
- Add the chicken thighs, chicken stock, sea salt, and tomatoes. Set the crockpot to high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours. If cooking in a pot, you want the pot to simmer very gently.8 skinless bone-in chicken thighs, 8 cups chicken stock, 1 tablespoon sea salt, 15 ounce can diced tomatoes
- Remove the chicken from the crockpot or pot. Separate the meat from the bones and discard the bones and shred the meat. Return the meat to the pot and add the black beans and corn and let them heat through.15 ounce can black beans, 2 cups frozen corn
- Serve the chicken tortilla soup with the tortillas on top and any or all of the optional toppings.Optional toppings: sour cream, queso, limes, cilantro
The crispy tortillas
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Put the tortilla strips on a baking sheet and toss them with the oil. Spread them out on the baking sheet, then put them in your oven. Let them toast for about 10-15 minutes, gently mixing them up twice until they are lightly browned. Remove them from the oven. Note: they will continue to crisp as they cool.1 teaspoon cooking oil, 4 large tortillas cut into thin strips
Video
Notes
Dried peppers: We’ve tried many different combinations of peppers, and every time this soup turns out great. The important part seems to be that you use dried peppers, not necessarily which types. If you would like a spicier soup, add one spicy chili pepper, such as a chile de árbol, to the mix.
Bone-in chicken: Make sure you use bone-in chicken. The bones are what make the soup extra flavorful. Usually, bone-in chicken is sold with the skin on; pull the skin off before putting the chicken in the pot.
Chicken breast: If you and your family prefer chicken breast, opt for bone-in chicken breast, which is often called split chicken breast. This will give you the extra flavor from cooking the bone in the soup, and you’ll be able to enjoy your favorite cut of chicken.
Nutrition
Serving: 2 ½ cups, Calories: 511kcal (26%), Carbohydrates: 53g (18%), Protein: 43g (86%), Fat: 15g (23%), Saturated Fat: 3g (19%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 139mg (46%), Sodium: 2282mg (99%), Potassium: 1280mg (37%), Fiber: 8g (33%), Sugar: 9g (10%), Vitamin A: 207IU (4%), Vitamin C: 16mg (19%), Calcium: 106mg (11%), Iron: 5mg (28%)
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
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So deeply satisfying and comforting!
My family and myself love tortilla soup so I gave your rescue try did some modifications however because the original batch – it’s just too plain in flavor. I double the garlic, Browned the corn, fire roasted two whole, with seeds, jalapenos, used one full cup of cilantro stems, soaked the three peppers suggested and added all into the mixer. I use rotisserie chicken for full bodied flavir.
Delicious, thanks for the recipe.
Worth the special suggestions and just gets better the next day! We also
added one arbol to the three, and we always have homemade chicken stock
in the freezer.
The best chicken tortilla soup! A big hit with my family. The ingredients added layers of goodness. Flavors that comfort the soul! I used a whole roasted chicken instead of thighs. I will try the thighs next time. Thanks for sharing now a new family favorite.
I made this soup a few years ago and couldn’t find the recipe. This time I pinned it!! So glad I found it, it’s delicious!
This was a HUGE disappointment! I bought the dried peppers($20 for 3 bags) and followed recipe exactly. It was not spicy at all. It was flavorless,and not even edible. It made a huge amount and it all went down the garbage disposal and trash can.
I’m sorry it wasn’t a hit. If you were expecting it to be spicy, it’s not. The peppers I recommend are not spicy, they’re flavorful.
If you meant it wasn’t flavorful then I’m really curious if you followed the recipe. Did you add the salt? Use bone in chicken thighs? Blend the onions and garlic? I actually made this recipe again just yesterday and was once again amazed at how flavorful it is.
If you want it to be hot and spicy you can always add a jalapeño or chili de arbol to the mix.
Fixed this soup tonight and to speed things up I used a rotisserie chicken from the grocery. As I was fixing it, my thought was I would have plenty left over for my lunch this week, as my husband and daughter don’t usually like my chicken tortilla soup so much. Well needless to say this recipe is a keeper… one small bowl left for my lunch. They gobbled it right up and loved it.
I love it! It’s a great sign when all the food gets eaten!
How many servings? I wany to make for office crowd tomorrow.
At least 6 good-sized servings. 🙂
I’ve made quite a few versions of this soup in my life, but Since it’s my fave I’m usually looking at recipes for new variations. I’ve always made my own bone broth but I had not tried the blended onion/garlic/pepper trick – and I’m sold! I had some orange cherry tomatoes from my garden and blended them as well, plus added a zucchini. It was one of the best versions I’ve ever made for sure! Thanks!
That’s so wonderful to hear! Hooray!!
Loved this soup! I didn’t have bone in thighs so I used bone broth instead of chicken stock. also added an extra can of beans. I like beans.
I’m so happy to hear you liked the recipe!
This TRULY is a life-changing, make-for-your-guests soup-that-you-dream-about kind of soup. The flavour is so rich and turns a beautiful deep maroon, and the broth is dreamy. If you’re looking for watery, pale broth – look elsewhere! Thank you so much for this incredible recipe!
I’m thrilled that you love this recipe! Thank you for taking the time to come back and let us know!
Hands down the best tortilla soup receipe. I have been looking for a good chicken tortilla receipe and this is it. My search for the perfect soup has ended with this one. This receipe reminds me of the soup at Islands Restaurant. Cooking the chicken thigh bone in was well worth it. I cooked the chicken for 10 hours and made the soup the next day. Thanks for sharing this receipe!
I’m so happy to hear it was a hit! Hooray!!
I am about to make your recipe but purchased dried arbol chiles. I’ve know read they are super hot.
Also, do I grind the dried chiles with the sautéed garlic and onions or throw the pod in the pot and remove it later?
Yes, arbol chilis are quite spicy. That’s why I like to use a mix of chili peppers so it’s not too spicy but still very flavorful. And yes, you blend the chilis with the onions and garlic. 🙂
I am a little confused, this is calling for 4 cups of stock and 3 cups os water, however it appears you are making the stock using bone in chicken at the time of making the soup. Where are you getting the 4 cups of stock when the stock is made while the soup is made? Are you implying using remade home made stock and then again using bone in chicken which would be like doubling the stock in the soup?
Basically where do you get the 4 cups of stock if the stock is made while the soup is cooking?
Thanks Bill
When I make this recipe, I usually use a 1 liter (4 cup) carton of store-bought stock. If you don’t have any on hand, you can simply use water (7 cups total) instead as the bones add tons of flavor. Hope that makes sense!
Awesome recipe, followed nearly exactly. Wife prefers breast so mixed in both bone in breast and bone in thighs (she didn’t notice) only thing I will do different next time is use a few more dried chili’s. The fast was amazing, thinking a couple more for more depth. Thank you!
I’m so happy to hear it was a hit!
Oh, this was wonderful, just made it today!
I already had chicken breast “tenders” so I used those (8). I even put them in the crock pot frozen.
I used 2 Pasilla/Ancho peppers and 1 guajillo. The pasilla/ancho is how the bag was marked (I’m a little confused on that)
The only other change I made was that I used 1 cup of water only. I was concerned that 3 cups of water would water down the flavor. Perhaps it wouldn’t have, but I don’t regret just using 1 cup of water.
I also used an extra glove of garlic
I sliced a few chunks of fresh avocado and added to my bowl. Also used a blob of sour cream. But, it’s perfect without either of those additions! I didn’t even do the tortillas; this soup was good enough without them..
This soup is marvelous!!
I’m so happy to hear you loved the soup! It’s one of my all-time favorites. 🙂