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)

More Soup Recipes

  • Beef and Barley
  • Ham and Bean
  • Ribollita
  • Chicken Noodle
  • Italian Wedding

Tortilla Soup Recipe (9)

Save

Tortilla Soup Recipe

Tortilla Soup Recipe (10)

Print

5 from 11 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

Elevate Your Every Day Cooking

Get Chef Billy’s go-to tips that transform “blah” into “brilliant” plus weekly newsletter!

Add a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

20 comments

    • Amy Dawson
    • Tortilla Soup Recipe (11)

    Super simple and super flavorful! Best tortilla soup I’ve ever made. I used cans of fire roasted diced tomatoes & chilis. It added a nice little kick to soup my family loved. Thanks Chef for another great recipe!

    • Reply
    • Helen
    • Tortilla Soup Recipe (12)

    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 (13)

    Tasty recipe thank you ChefBilly😁😋🤩👋

    • Reply
    • Cejay Downs
    • Tortilla Soup Recipe (14)

    Thank ou Chef 4 another great recipe

    • Reply
    • Lezlee Gunsolley
    • Tortilla Soup Recipe (15)

    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
      • Chef Billy Parisi

      Thanks!

      • Reply
    • Chris Dean
    • Tortilla Soup Recipe (17)

    So Easy and oh so Good !!

    • Reply
    • Tortilla Soup Recipe (18)

        love it!

        • Reply
      • Shellayne Miller
      • Tortilla Soup Recipe (19)

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

      • Reply
      • Tortilla Soup Recipe (20)

          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 (21)

            yes to all

            • Reply
          • Camille

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

          • Reply
          • Tortilla Soup Recipe (22)

              no

              • Reply
            • Joan

            WHat other kind of Chile could you use, Please?

            • Reply
            • Tortilla Soup Recipe (23)

                ancho or arbol

                • Reply
              • Diane L Tjaden
              • Tortilla Soup Recipe (24)

              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 (25)

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

              • Reply
              • Rehab
              • Tortilla Soup Recipe (26)

              Thank you, chef!
              Looks good!!

              • Reply
            Tortilla Soup Recipe (2024)

            FAQs

            What does 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.

            What goes well with tortilla soup? ›

            You can enjoy tortilla soup with many things, like tacos, burritos, and quesadillas. Mexican rice, chips with guacamole, roasted corn, black beans, and Mexican cornbread are also good choices.

            What can I use to thicken my tortilla soup? ›

            Hi Tom, Sure, cornstarch will work. I'd mix it with some cold water and add it at the very end. You could also use fine cornmeal (or instant polenta), increase the amount of corn tortillas, or reduce the amount of broth to make the soup thicker. Enjoy!

            Why is it called tortilla soup? ›

            Known in Spanish as Sopa De Tortilla, Tortilla Soup is a humble Mexican soup that is consumed by the nation's populace every day. It is in no way a celebratory dish, but a simple comfort food that derived its name from the generous topping of crispy tortillas on top of the soup.

            What's in Chick-fil-A chicken tortilla soup? ›

            The Chicken Tortilla Soup is a hearty, seasonal Chick-fil-A® favorite that features shredded chicken breast and beans in a creamy base with a blend of vegetables and spices, served with Seasoned Tortilla Strips.

            How long can you keep tortilla soup 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.

            Does tortilla soup have a lot of carbs? ›

            On average, a serving contains approximately 20-30 grams of carbohydrates, primarily from vegetables, beans, and tortilla strips.

            Is tortilla soup good when you're sick? ›

            Chicken tortilla soup is low in calories but high in flavor. The amino acid cysteine, contained in the chicken in this powerful soup, loosens secretions, thinning out mucus and promoting coughing, which is needed to clear your nose and throat.

            What do Mexicans eat with tortillas? ›

            Tortilla-based dishes
            • Alambre – Mexican food.
            • Arizona cheese crisp – Cheese dish.
            • Burrito – Tex-Mex dish consisting of a wheat flour tortilla wrapped to enclose the filling.
            • Chalupa – Mexican specialty dish.
            • Chilaquiles – Traditional Mexican dish.
            • Chimichanga – Mexican and Southwestern American dish.

            What are the two sides to a tortilla? ›

            Quality corn tortillas have two sides. (The stomach and the back). The back is a thicker and softer layer, and the stomach is a thin and smoother layer. The rugged/thinner side has more imperfections and it is the correct side to put your fillings and get the most resistance out of your tortillas.

            Who did the cooking in tortilla soup? ›

            The meals featured in the film were prepared by celebrity chefs Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger who, as hosts of the Food Network program Too Hot Tamales, introduced viewers to their contemporary take on traditional Mexican cuisine.

            Is corn starch or flour better for thickening soup? ›

            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 does chicken tortilla soup contain? ›

            Chicken tortilla soup actually is an authentic Mexican dish. The traditional soup is made with chicken broth, tomatoes, garlic, onion, chiles, and fried tortilla strips. There are also variations of the soup, like ones that include beans.

            Why is my tortilla soup watery? ›

            Keep Simmering. Sometimes all your soup needs is a little more time on the stove. Allow your chicken tortilla soup to simmer uncovered for an extended period. The heat will help evaporate some of the liquid, naturally thickening the soup.

            Why do Mexican restaurants give you two tortillas? ›

            Mexicans fondly refer to this as 'la copia' (literally: the copy). If you ask around, you'll be given many reasons for this. But a popular explanation is that the second tortilla can be used to make another taco with any fillings that spill out the side.

            Is pozole the same as tortilla soup? ›

            That is made with pork and is cooked in a dried chile pepper based broth and it is more of a stew. This version is actually very similar to chicken tortilla soup but with added cabbage and hominy (and it's brothier than the rojo). You can adjust the spices of this soup to suit your taste.

            Why do Mexicans eat corn tortillas? ›

            Corn tortillas are seen as more authentic to Mexican dishes, corn has been a staple ingredient in Mexican cooking for thousands of years. Wheat, on the other hand, has only been around since the Spanish brought the crop with them when they arrived in the Americas.

            What is in Panera chicken noodle soup? ›

            Water, Chicken Raised Without Antibiotics, Carrots, Enriched Noodles (Semolina Wheat Flour, Eggs, Egg Whites, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Celery, Contains 2% or less of: Onions, Chicken Stock, Natural Flavor, Sea Salt, Chicken Fat, Corn Starch, Garlic, Yeast Extract, Parsley, ...

            What is the significance of tortilla soup? ›

            Mexican Traditional Recipe

            Without a doubt the tortilla soup is one of the most representative dishes of the Mexican gastronomy. Its origin is attributed to the state of Tlaxcala (soil of maize) and the dish represents the fusion of the Prehispanic and Spanish cultures.

            What is in chicken tortilla soup costco? ›

            Citric Acid, Calcium Chloride), Chicken, Corn, Onions, Carrots, Red Bell Pepper, Tomato Paste, Green Poblano Peppers, Green Anaheim Peppers, Tortillas (corn, Water, Sodium Phosphate, Propionic Acid, Dextrose, Calcium Hydroxide), Green Onions, Modified Cornstarch, Cultured Dextrose (maltodextrin), White Corn Masa (white ...

            Is 5 day old soup ok to eat? ›

            Leftovers can be kept for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. After that, the risk of food poisoning goes up. If you don't think you'll be able to eat leftovers within four days, freeze them right away. Frozen leftovers will stay safe for a long time.

            How to thicken tortilla soup? ›

            Pureed chiles easily thicken tortilla soup

            Adding this to the broth brings all of that great heat and flavor, but as this simmers, it also helps thicken the broth. While Flay uses a mild ancho chile that even beginners can tolerate, any dried chile would work.

            Can you leave chicken tortilla soup out overnight? ›

            Food should not be at room temperature for more than two hours. Shallow containers or small amounts of hot food can be placed directly in the refrigerator or rapidly chilled in an ice or cold water bath before refrigerating. Cover foods to retain moisture and prevent them from picking up odors from other foods.

            What is this tortilla made of? ›

            tortilla, round, thin, flat bread of Mexico made from unleavened cornmeal or, less commonly, wheat flour. Traditionally, the corn (maize) for tortillas was boiled with unslaked lime to soften the kernels and loosen the hulls. (This lime was the principal source of calcium in the Mexican diet.)

            What is usually in a tortilla? ›

            All wheat tortillas contain flour, water, fat, and salt.

            What are the ingredients in Costco chicken tortilla soup? ›

            INGREDIENTS: chicken stock, diced tomatoes in juice, cooked chicken meat, cooked white chicken meat, onions, corn, carrots, roasted poblano peppers, roasted red bell peppers, roasted green chiles, tortillas (corn, water, lime), contains 2% or less of: tomato paste, water, cultured dextrose, sea salt, modified food ...

            What does soup contain? ›

            Soup is a primarily liquid food, generally served warm or hot (but may be cool or cold), that is made by combining ingredients of meat or vegetables with stock, milk, or water. Hot soups are additionally characterized by boiling solid ingredients in liquids in a pot until the flavors are extracted, forming a broth.

            References

            Top Articles
            Latest Posts
            Article information

            Author: Terence Hammes MD

            Last Updated:

            Views: 6118

            Rating: 4.9 / 5 (69 voted)

            Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

            Author information

            Name: Terence Hammes MD

            Birthday: 1992-04-11

            Address: Suite 408 9446 Mercy Mews, West Roxie, CT 04904

            Phone: +50312511349175

            Job: Product Consulting Liaison

            Hobby: Jogging, Motor sports, Nordic skating, Jigsaw puzzles, Bird watching, Nordic skating, Sculpting

            Introduction: My name is Terence Hammes MD, I am a inexpensive, energetic, jolly, faithful, cheerful, proud, rich person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.