Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup (Printable version)

A hearty, creamy soup packed with chicken, black beans, corn, and spices. Ready in under an hour.

# Ingredient List:

→ 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 - 0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
13 - 0.5 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
14 - 0.25 teaspoon black pepper

→ Garnishes

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

# How-To Steps:

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

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything happens in one pot so cleanup is practically nonexistent
  • The combination of Rotel tomatoes and cream cheese creates restaurant style depth without any fancy techniques
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day when the spices have had time to really mingle
02 -
  • Cubing your cream cheese while it is cold prevents those frustrating clumps that never quite melt away
  • Letting the spices toast in the hot onion mixture for a full minute transforms the entire flavor profile
  • The soup continues thickening as it sits, so do not panic if it seems slightly thin at first
03 -
  • Rotisserie chicken from the grocery store is absolutely fine and saves so much prep time
  • Let everyone add their own toppings at the table so picky eaters can customize their bowls
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