Chicken Tortilla Soup
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Chicken Tortilla Soup is a classic comfort food that may be served to a crowd or a family dinner any week night. Chicken, spices and vegetables come together in a nutritious broth to create the perfect blend that satisfies most everyone. The spicy-heat is easily controlled and the ingredients may be purchased frugally. Make enough to freeze extra for later, or take to someone who would appreciate a meal.
What You’ll Need:
- chicken ~~ Use uncooked chicken breasts; canned chicken; rotisserie chicken; or pre-cooked, shredded chicken.
- onions ~~ may use chopped or powder
- peppers ~~ bell or your favorite kind
- minced garlic ~~ This jarred kind is easier for me.
- Mrs. Katie’s Original or Mild Taco Seasoning, or your other favorite brand
- ranch seasoning
- salt ~~ I only use this kind for all of my cooking.
- canned tomatoes and peppers, such as Rotel
- chicken broth ~~ store-bought or homemade
- tomato paste ~~ canned or tubed
- black beans ~~ canned or home-cooked
- corn ~~ canned or frozen
- cilantro ~~ fresh or dried
- plain corn meal ~~ This is an optional step for slightly thickening the soup. I wouldn’t ask you to go purchase this only to use for this recipe.
- stock-pot or Dutch oven
FAQ
Can I Make Substitutions?
- Use canned chicken, rotisserie, or home-cooked, shredded chicken instead of uncooked chicken breasts.
- Use 1 T. onion powder instead of chopped onions.
- Use hotter peppers than bell peppers, according to your taste and availability.
- No Rotel? Just use a small can (14-16 oz.) of chopped tomatoes, undrained. May add additional peppers, if using this option.
- Use water and chicken bouillon instead of chicken broth, or only water if that’s what you have.
- Use pinto beans instead of black beans. May use 2 cans beans to increase protein and fiber content.
- Use 1-2 cans corn instead of using frozen.
- No plain corn meal? This step can be optional.
Shopping tips from a grandmother with 50 years of cooking experience.
- A standard can of tomato paste is 6 oz. Use half for one recipe. Remaining tomato paste may be frozen until ready to use. Tomato paste may also be purchased in tubes.
- The amount of Rotel tomatoes is the same for a single or double recipe.
Learn from an experienced cook, mother and grandmother of many.
Click here to watch me make a double recipe of Chicken Tortilla Soup and learn many money-saving tips for food shopping and cooking.
To Intensify Flavors:
- Sauté, or sear, chicken breasts in 2 tablespoons oil just until lightly browned on both sides. Add onions, peppers, garlic, all seasonings and sauté about one minute to allow flavors to bloom. Continue with recipe, adding other ingredients except corn meal and cilantro. Watch this video to learn how I intensify the flavor of Chicken Tortilla Soup using no extra ingredients.
- Use high-quality store-bought, or homemade, chicken broth or stock for full-bodied flavor.
Multiplying the Recipe and Storage:
- This recipe may be easily doubled. Check out the video tutorial on Heritage Ways YouTube, search “Chicken Tortilla Soup,” for many shopping and cooking tips as well as a demonstration for doubling this recipe.
- This recipe may be cooled and stored in plastic baggies or freezer containers Label and freeze. When ready to use, thaw and heat.
Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
If using uncooked chicken breasts,
- In stock-pot or Dutch oven, add uncooked chicken breasts, onions, peppers, seasonings, Rotel, chicken broth, and tomato paste.
- Over medium-high heat, bring mixture just to a low boil and then reduce heat to simmer. Stir contents then allow to simmer for 25 minutes, or until chicken breasts are cooked thoroughly. Use the lid to partially cover the soup while simmering.
- Remove chicken breasts to a plate. Using two forks, shred the meat to desired size. Return it to the soup pot.
- Add beans and corn.
- Combine corn meal with enough water, about 2 tablespoons, to make a slurry. Stir this into the soup.
- Simmer until everything is thoroughly heated, flavors are combined and the corn meal has cooked and slightly thickened the soup, about 20-30 minutes. Stir occasionally.
- When ready to serve, either add chopped cilantro to the soup pot or to each serving bowl.
See NOTES to learn how to intensify flavors.
This soup may be kept warm and ready-to-serve on a very low heat, covered, after it has been heated thoroughly.
If using cooked, shredded chicken,
- In stock-pot or Dutch oven, combine all ingredients except corn meal and cilantro. Stir to combine and to break up the tomato paste.
- Over medium-high heat, bring to a low boil and then reduce heat to simmer. Stirring every 10 minutes or so, simmer until heated through and flavors are combined, about 25 minutes.
- Combine corn meal with enough water, about 2 tablespoons, to make a slurry. Stir this into the soup. Simmer about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- When ready to serve, either mix the cilantro into the pot of soup, or use as garnish on each serving.
If using a gas stove, always know that liquids will evaporate and cook faster than using electric. This soup may be ready on a gas stove in less time than on electric. Adjust heat as necessary.
This soup may be kept warm and ready-to-serve on a very low heat, covered, after it has been heated thoroughly.
Notes
Substitutions:
Use canned chicken, rotisserie, or home-cooked, shredded chicken instead of uncooked chicken breasts.
Use 1 T. onion powder instead of 1 cup chopped onions.
Use hotter peppers than bell peppers, according to your taste and availability.
No Rotel? Just use a small can (14-16 oz.) of chopped tomatoes, undrained. May add additional peppers, if using this option.
Use water and chicken bouillon instead of chicken broth, or only water if that’s what you have.
Use pinto beans instead of black beans. May use 2 cans beans to increase protein and fiber content.
Use 1-2 cans corn instead of using frozen.
No plain corn meal? This step can be optional. Shopping tip:
3 oz. tomato paste is half of a standard 6 oz. can. Tomato paste may also be purchased in tubes. The amount of Rotel tomatoes is the same for a single or double recipe. To intensify flavors:
Sauté, or sear, chicken breasts in 2 tablespoons oil just until lightly browned on both sides. Add onions, peppers, garlic, all seasonings and sauté about one minute to allow flavors to bloom. Continue with recipe, adding other ingredients except corn meal and cilantro. Use high-quality store-bought, or homemade, chicken broth or stock for full-bodied flavor. Increasing and Storage:
This recipe may be easily doubled. Check out the video tutorial on Heritage Ways YouTube, search “Chicken Tortilla Soup,” for many shopping and cooking tips as well as a demonstration for doubling this recipe. This recipe may be cooled and stored in plastic baggies or freezer containers Label and freeze. When ready to use, thaw and heat.
Use canned chicken, rotisserie, or home-cooked, shredded chicken instead of uncooked chicken breasts.
Use 1 T. onion powder instead of 1 cup chopped onions.
Use hotter peppers than bell peppers, according to your taste and availability.
No Rotel? Just use a small can (14-16 oz.) of chopped tomatoes, undrained. May add additional peppers, if using this option.
Use water and chicken bouillon instead of chicken broth, or only water if that’s what you have.
Use pinto beans instead of black beans. May use 2 cans beans to increase protein and fiber content.
Use 1-2 cans corn instead of using frozen.
No plain corn meal? This step can be optional. Shopping tip:
3 oz. tomato paste is half of a standard 6 oz. can. Tomato paste may also be purchased in tubes. The amount of Rotel tomatoes is the same for a single or double recipe. To intensify flavors:
Sauté, or sear, chicken breasts in 2 tablespoons oil just until lightly browned on both sides. Add onions, peppers, garlic, all seasonings and sauté about one minute to allow flavors to bloom. Continue with recipe, adding other ingredients except corn meal and cilantro. Use high-quality store-bought, or homemade, chicken broth or stock for full-bodied flavor. Increasing and Storage:
This recipe may be easily doubled. Check out the video tutorial on Heritage Ways YouTube, search “Chicken Tortilla Soup,” for many shopping and cooking tips as well as a demonstration for doubling this recipe. This recipe may be cooled and stored in plastic baggies or freezer containers Label and freeze. When ready to use, thaw and heat.
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