Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup (Print Version)

Hearty soup with tender chicken, beans, corn, and creamy cheddar cheese. Ready in under an hour.

# What You Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 2 cups cooked shredded chicken

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 cup frozen or canned corn, drained
05 - 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
06 - 1 can (10 oz) Rotel tomatoes with green chilies

→ Liquids

07 - 4 cups low sodium chicken broth

→ Dairy

08 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
09 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened and cubed

→ Spices and Seasonings

10 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
11 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
12 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
13 - 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
14 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Garnishes

15 - Tortilla strips or crushed tortilla chips
16 - Fresh cilantro, chopped
17 - Lime wedges
18 - Extra shredded cheddar cheese
19 - Sliced jalapeños

# How To Make It:

01 - Heat oil in large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion and sauté 3-4 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Stir in cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook 1 minute until fragrant.
02 - Add corn, black beans, Rotel tomatoes, chicken broth, and shredded chicken to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes.
03 - Stir in cream cheese cubes until completely melted and fully incorporated into the soup.
04 - Add shredded cheddar cheese, stirring continuously until smooth and creamy. Adjust seasoning as needed.
05 - Ladle soup into bowls and top with tortilla strips, cilantro, lime wedges, extra cheese, or jalapeños as desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The combination of cream cheese and cheddar creates this velvety richness that coats your spoon in the most satisfying way without being heavy.
  • You can toss everything in the slow cooker before work and walk into an apartment that smells like a southwestern restaurant at 5 oclock.
02 -
  • Never boil the soup after adding the cheeses or youll end up with a grainy texture instead of that silky smoothness we all crave.
  • Crushing some of your tortilla strips directly into the soup before serving creates wonderful little dumplings that soak up the broth while still maintaining a bit of texture.
03 -
  • When using a slow cooker, place the chicken on top of the other ingredients rather than stirring it in at the beginning to keep it from breaking down too much during the long cook time.
  • For an incredible flavor boost, char a couple of fresh corn tortillas directly over your gas burner until lightly blackened, then tear them into pieces and add them to the simmering soup to dissolve completely.
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