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

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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 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

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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
    • Esme
    • Tortilla Soup Recipe (16)

    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 (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

            How do you thicken tortilla soup broth? ›

            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.

            What is in Chick Fil A 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.

            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 is sopa de tortilla made of? ›

            Traditional tortilla soup is made of fried corn tortilla pieces, submerged into a broth of tomato, garlic, onion, and epazote. It is served with pieces of pasilla chiles, chicharrón, avocado, queso panela, lime, and Mexican crema.

            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 does cornstarch do to soup? ›

            Cornstarch, or corn flour, can be used to thicken soup through its high starch content. Cornstarch is a great thickener for soup because only a little bit is needed to significantly thicken a soup, and it will not affect the flavor profile of the soup.

            What is Chick-fil-A secret ingredient? ›

            That ingredient is monosodium glutamate, more commonly known as MSG. While many people think MSG is only found in Chinese (or Americanized Chinese) cuisine, it's prevalent in dozens of all types of food items, including snacks like Doritos and powder mixes like Hidden Valley's ranch dressing.

            What type of beans are in Chick-fil-A tortilla soup? ›

            Shredded chicken breast with navy and black beans in a white creamy soup base with a perfect blend of vegetables and spicy heat. Topped off with seasoned corn tortilla strips.

            How long can chicken tortilla soup last in the fridge? ›

            This soup will last up to 5 days in the fridge and 3-6 months in the freezer. Add tortilla chips and avocado right before eating and some extra cheese on top.

            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.

            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.

            What is a Mexican dish of filled tortilla called? ›

            Burrito. One of the more common Mexican dishes in America, a burrito is a flour tortilla filled with a protein (usually chicken, pork, beef, or steak), rice, beans, and other fillings like lettuce and salsa before being wrapped so it's easy to hold in your hand.

            What is the red liquid they dip tortillas in? ›

            Simply dip a corn tortilla in the richly-flavored birria broth, place it on a hot skillet and fill it with birria beef and your favorite Mexican cheese, fold and fry until the cheese has melted and the birria taco shell is nice and crispy, then serve the quesatacos up nice and warm with an extra bowl of the warm birria ...

            What is Aztec tortillas? ›

            Made with 51% ultragrain flour, Azteca Ultragrain tortillas deliver whole grain goodness with delicious white flour tortilla taste and performance. In addition to its whole grain goodness, this tortilla has no artificial preservatives, colors or flavors.

            What is the easiest way to thicken broth? ›

            Add Flour Or Cornstarch

            Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool. Add a few tablespoons of flour or cornstarch to the bowl and whisk until it's blended smooth. Next, bring the soup to a simmer and add the mixture back to the pot. Pro tip: Don't dump in the entire mixture at once.

            What do you add to broth to thicken it? ›

            Arrowroot powder

            Add the arrowroot powder one tablespoon at a time once your soup or broth has already cooked until you have the desired thickness. You do not want to cook with the arrowroot because it breaks down very quickly, compared to starch, and will make your soup feel sticky.

            How do you fix watery soup? ›

            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:

            How do you thicken soup with masa harina? ›

            To make your slurry, combine equal-parts masa harina and room-temperature water in a small bowl, stir until dissolved, and then pour the mixture into your pot of chili and stir over low heat.

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