Chicken Tortilla Soup

My take on one of the soup classics! It’s delicious, it’s flavorful - it’s✨ Chicken Tortilla Soup ✨

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Chicken Tortilla Soup

Serves 4-6

INGREDIENTS

SOUP

🔸4-6 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
🔸1 Yellow Onion, thinly sliced
🔸1 Red Pepper, thinly sliced
🔸1 Jalapeno Pepper, diced
🔸6-8 Garlic Cloves, minced
🔸2-4 Limes
🔸1 can San Marzano Peeled Tomatoes, 28 oz
🔸Tomato Paste
🔸Cholula Hot Sauce (I find this brand to have the perfect balance of heat and flavor, but you can use whatever hot sauce you like)
🔸1 can Black Beans
🔸1 can Corn
🔸1 box Chicken Broth, 32 oz
🔸Shredded Mexican Cheese
🔸Cilantro
🔸Dried Oregano
🔸Cumin
🔸Fajita or Taco Seasoning
🔸Olive Oil
🔸Freshly Ground Salt + Pepper

AVOCADO CILANTRO LIME CREMA

🔸2 Avocados
🔸2-4 Limes
🔸Cilantro
🔸Sour Cream
🔸Garlic Powder
🔸Freshly Ground Salt + Pepper

CRISPY TORTILLA STRIPS

🔸Corn Tortillas
🔸Avocado Oil
🔸Freshly Ground Salt

CRISP MARGARITAS (one serving)

🔸3 tbsp Tequila
🔸2 tbsp Fresh Lime Juice
🔸1 tbsp Orange Liqueur (Triple Sec)
🔸1.5 tbsp Simple Syrup/Agave Syrup

There aren’t measurements for the dried spices because I always say you should measure with your heart 🧡 However if you’d like to play it safe, always start with 1/2 teaspoon of any spice and add more to taste.

INSTRUCTIONS

1️⃣ Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. 

2️⃣ Add in prepped onion, pepper, jalapeño, and garlic along with some olive oil, freshly ground salt and pepper to a 6 quart dutch oven on the stove over low heat. Stir. 

3️⃣ Salt and pepper your chicken breasts on both sides, then add to the dutch oven right on top of the mixed veggies. Add in San Marzano Tomatoes by hand, squeezing them as you put them into the pot. Make sure to evenly coat. Add in tomato paste and hot sauce evenly on top of the tomatoes, then add freshly ground salt and pepper, dried oregano, cumin, and fajita seasoning on top. Put the lid on the dutch oven and cook in the oven for 45 minutes to an hour.

4️⃣ While the chicken cooks, make the Avocado Cilantro Lime Crema. Add 2 avocados, the juice of 2 limes, sour cream, cilantro, garlic powder, and freshly ground salt and pepper to a food processor and turn on, mixing until smooth. Add in more of any ingredient necessary to taste (lime juice especially). Once you’ve achieved the taste you like, add the crema to a gallon sized bag and squeeze into a squeeze bottle. Shake and refrigerate. This would also be a good time to chop up some cilantro for topping at the end if you’d like.

5️⃣ Place a large skillet over medium-high heat, add in avocado oil. Thinly slice corn tortillas, then add to heated oil, tossing occasionally. Keep an eye on these to make sure they don’t burn, and cook in batches if necessary. When the tortilla strips have turned golden brown, remove with tongs and place on a paper towel lined baking sheet, sprinkling with salt immediately before they cool. Set aside.

6️⃣ Remove the dutch oven pot from the oven and place on the stove over low-medium heat. Transfer the chicken from the pot into a separate bowl for shredding, put the lid on the dutch oven, and shred the chicken. Once shredded, add chicken back into the pot. Rinse corn and black beans together in a mesh sieve, then add into the pot along with the entire box of chicken broth. Stir until combined, then place the lid on the pot and let simmer for 10-15 minutes. This would be the time to make margaritas if you’d like.

7️⃣ Remove the lid and stir, turning off the heat. Ladle the soup into wide, low bowls to allow for maximum topping space, then top with shredded cheddar cheese, Avocado Cilantro Lime Crema, freshly chopped cilantro, and Crispy Tortilla Strips. Serve immediately.

NOTES

🔶Before you start to cook, I always recommend prepping your ingredients. Set yourself up for success so you’re not scrambling between steps to prep ingredients.
🔶I listed all of the ingredients as their most basic form so that it is accessible to all. When I make this recipe myself, I do my best to use all organic, gluten free, and dairy free ingredients (though I always make exceptions for cheese).
🔶If you want to simplify this recipe, you can always swap out homemade Crispy Tortilla Strips for store bought, or swap out the Avocado Cilantro Lime Crema for plain, sliced avocado.

REFERENCES

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8BCxbou/