Chicken Tortilla Soup
Chicken Tinga (or optional shredded chicken) simmers in a vibrant broth of spiced tomatoes, garlic, onions, peppers and sweet corn in this Chicken Tortilla Soup. Serve with fresh toppings,, like sour cream, cheese, cilantro, tortilla strips, or even avocado and lime wedges, for the perfect finish.
Easy Soup Using Leftover Chicken Tinga
One of my cornerstone secrets to managing a healthy, homemade, weeknight menu and not feeling overwhelm, is making a protein once yet using it twice. This Chicken Tortilla Soup is a prime example. If you didn’t catch my Slow Cooker Chicken Tinga Tacos I made for Cinco de Mayo, you’ll want to view this recipe. Slow-cooked in earthy, smoky, Mexican flavors, Chicken Tinga Tacos are tender, saucy and perfectly spicy. The slow-cooked Chicken Tinga is the base of this Chicken Tortilla Soup. It gives the soup its rich flavor. I highly recommend making the Chicken Tinga first, and this soup as a grand finale to cover two mealtimes with minimal effort the second time around. But if you’re making this first, without making the Chicken Tinga, simply substitute shredded chicken and the suggested seasonings.
My son has had a full calendar of baseball and soccer this spring. Add to it my daughter’s dance obligations and an infant, and it takes some real planning to put a healthy dinner on the table for my family.
In early May I prepared Slow Cooker Chicken Tinga Tacos and had plenty of leftovers. Knowing how my family feels about leftovers (they rarely reheat and eat) I froze a hefty serving of Chicken Tinga knowing I could put it to good use later. And good use I have! Enter, this Chicken Tortilla Soup! This soup is vibrant, flavorful and spicy. And I had it on the table in 30 minutes!
Nutrition Facts of Chicken
Chicken breast is a fantastic source of protein. A 3 oz serving of chicken breast contains a whopping 24 g of protein. Protein is essential for building and repairing your tissues and maintaining muscle mass. It even plays a role in calcium metabolism and for optimizing bone health. (source)
Vitamins and Minerals
Chicken also contains key nutrients such as Niacin, Selenium and Phosphorus. These key nutrients are an important part of any diet. (source)
Selenium – proper immune function, thyroid health and even fertility
Niacin – central to energy production, DNA synthesis, and brain health
Enjoy! And if you like the recipe, please share on Pinterest, or snap a photo of your creation and tag me on Twitter, or Instagram!
Chicken Tortilla Soup
Equipment
- 1 Large Soup Pot
Ingredients
- 1 Medium Yellow Onion thinly sliced
- 2 Cloves Garlic thinly sliced
- 2 Cups Baby Bell Peppers sliced
- 2 Cups Leftover Chicken Tinga* thaw first if frozen
- 2 Cups *(Cooked Shredded Chicken) (*may be substituted, along with spices for Leftover Chicken Tinga)
- *(1 tbsp Chili Powder, 2 tsp Cumin, ¾tsp Chipotle Powder, ½ tsp Oregano, 1 Bay Leaf) (*may be substituted, along with spices for Leftover Chicken Tinga)
- 1 14.5 oz Can Diced Tomatoes with Green Chiles
- 1 12 oz Bag Frozen Corn
- 1 14.5 oz Can Drained and Rinsed Black Beans optional
- 32 oz Chicken Broth
- 2 Cups Water
- Juice of 2 limes, about 3 tbsp
- 1 tsp Kosher Salt
- Serve with Fresh Cilantro, Avocado, Sour Cream, Shredded Cheese, Tortilla Chips, Lime Wedges or toppings of your choice
Instructions
- Cook the Onions, Garlic and Peppers over Medium heat, stirring frequently, until softened and beginning to brown, 5-7 minutes.
- Add 2 cups of leftover Chicken Tinga. (If not using the leftover Chicken Tinga, add 2 cups of Cooked Shredded Chicken along with Chili Powder, Cumin, Chipotle Powder, Oregano and Bay Leaf at this time.) Saute with Onions, Garlic and Peppers for about 1 minute.
- Pour in the Tomatoes, including the juices, the Corn and the Black Beans (if using).
- Add the Chicken Broth, Water, Lime Juice, and Kosher Salt. Stir until combined. Reduce Heat to Med-Low. Place a lid on the pot and allow the soup to simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Adjust salt and pepper as needed. Serve with various favorite toppings – suggestions include fresh Cilantro, Sour Cream, Shredded Cheese, Avocado, Tortilla Strips, etc. Enjoy!
