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    Home » By Meal » Lunch & Dinner

    Published: February 1, 2021

    Healthy 30-Minute Chicken Tortilla Soup

    5 from 6 votes
    Jump to Recipe Pin Print

    Easy healthy 30-minute chicken tortilla soup for a comforting, hearty, and nutritious dinner. Made with simple ingredients like tomatoes, corn, carrots, cheese, poblano pepper, and crispy homemade tortilla strips. Delicious Mexican-inspired one-pot dinner made gluten-free, grain-free, and low-fat. The best chicken tortilla soup your family and kids will love!

    Chicken Tortilla Soup

    The Best Ever Healthy 30-minute chicken tortilla soup

    Chicken tortilla soup is one of my all-time favorite Mexican dishes! There is just something about the slightly spicy broth with tender shreaded chicken, with juicy tomatoes, creamy avocado, and those addictively crispy tortilla strips on top that I can’t resist. Tortilla soup makes for the best comforting dinner, especially in the cold winter months.

    This healthy take on a traditional Mexican chicken tortilla soup is light, deep with flavor, and perfectly tangy. This chicken tortilla soup recipe takes things to a new level of deliciousness! It only takes 30 minutes and one pot to make! Seriously, any level cook can make this dinner recipe (even beginners!)

    One of my favorite things about this tortilla soup recipe are the toppings! Add your own favorite toppings, from homemade crispy tortilla strips, a bit of cotija cheese, fresh guacamole, pico de gallo, or even sour cream. Everyone can add what they love, making this recipe super customizable!

    This recipe makes enough that I stashed half in the freezer for those nights when I am tired and just want an easy dinner. This healthy chicken tortilla soup makes for the best meal prep! Absolutely ideal for family dinners, meal prep, athletes, and kids!

    30-Minute Chicken Soup with tortilla on top

    How I Made this chicken tortilla soup healthier:

    This flavorful and Mexican-spiced chicken soup is clean, nutritious, and incredibly tasty! To make this easy chicken dish, you only need a few very simple ingredients, all of which are healthier alternatives to what you’ll find in store-bought brands or restaurant take-out. There is no added sugar, no gluten, and no random ingredients in this recipe!

    Here are four ways that I made this healthy chicken tortilla soup more nutritious and health-friendly without taking away from the taste!

    1. Added fresh carrots for lots of vitamin A!
    2. I added a poblano pepper for lots of vitamins A and C!
    3. Used low-sodium chicken stock to increase the depth of flavors while reducing the sodium levels.
    4. I used grain-free tortillas, making think soup gluten-free, grain-free, and more protein-packed!

    Ingredients in healthy chicken Tortilla soup

    You’ll only need a few, simple ingredients to get this easy dinner recipe going! I am all about simplicity and ease, so don’t worry, you won’t need to go to the supermarket and buy a lot of expensive ingredients and spices. You probably have most of these ingredients in your pantry already. For this healthy dinner recipe, you’ll need chicken broth, tomatoes, and of course, chicken and tortillas!

    • Chicken breasts or Rotisserie Chicken
    • Olive Oil
    • Yellow Onion
    • Poblano Pepper – Tastes very similar to a green bell pepper with a little kick (not crazy spicy!! Just a mild heat)
    • Garlic
    • Whole Kernel Sweet Corn
    • Carrots
    • Crushed Tomatoes
    • Chicken Broth
    • Cilantro
    • Lime
    • Shredded Mexican Cheese Blend – The perfect blend. of cheeses to top this delicious soup.
    • Spices: cumin, chili powder, taco seasoning, salt and pepper

    Easy Ingredient Substitutions for 30 minute chicken tortilla soup

    You guys probably know by now that I love simple and easy recipes! If you don’t love every ingredient in this one, I am here to help you out with a list of the very best substitutions!

    Make this dinner vegan! Just substitute the chicken with chickpeas or cauliflower and use vegetable broth not chicken broth. To prepare, add in the chickpeas or cauliflower on step 3!

    Crushed Tomatoes: Simply use any canned diced tomato instead!

    Canned Corn: Simply use 2 ears of fresh corn. Cut it off the cobb.

    Chicken Broth: No worries, use vegetable broth is necessary.

    Yellow Onion: Substitute yellow onion with any type of onion.

    Dairy-Free: Just use dairy-free cheese!

    Healthy 30-Minute Chicken Tortilla Soup

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    Baja Shrimp Tacos

    What You’ll Need to Make healthy 30-minute chicken tortilla soup

    For this easy healthy dinner recipe, you’ll only need a couple of kitchen tools making the clean up super easy! To make this one-pot chicken tortilla soup, you’ll need:

    • Chopping Knife
    • Cutting Board
    • One Large Pot or Dutch Oven
    • Stirring Utensil
    • Measuring cups: 1/2 teaspoon, 1 teaspoon, 1 Tbsp, 1/4 cup, 1 cup.
    Chicken Tortilla Soup with guacamole and cheese on top

    How to Make Easy Healthy chicken tortilla soup

    My favorite thing about this simple and easy chicken soup dinner recipe (besides the taste of course) is how easy they are to make! This recipe is the absolute perfect healthy family dinner or healthy meal prep recipe; plus, this Mexican chicken dish is gluten-free, grain-free, and healthy!

    First, cut your tortilla into thin strips and toss in olive oil. Then, decide which method you are going to use to make the tortilla strips. If you are using the oven or toaster oven, heat to 375 F and line baking tray. After that, evenly spread across line tray and bake for 10 – 15 minutes until crispy. If you are using the stove-top method, Stove Top, heat a small pan to medium and fry until crispy (for about 5 – 7 minutes).

    Meanwhile, lets start making the chicken tortilla soup!

    First, in a large pot or dutch oven, heat the olive oil to medium-high heat and add in the onion and poblano pepper. Stir intermittently and cook for 5 minutes until onions are soft. Next, add in the garlic and sauté for 1 minute.
    After that, add in the chicken broth, crushed tomatoes, carrots, corn, cumin, taco seasoning, chili powder, salt, pepper, lime juice, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, add in the chicken breasts and reduce to a simmer for 15 – 20 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through. Then, remove the chicken breasts from the pot, shred using two forks or an electric mixer, and place back into soup.

    Next, add the fresh cilantro, stir and simmer for 3 minutes. Taste soup and adjust seasonings if desired.

    Now it’s time to plate! Spoon the soup into bowls, top with tortilla strips, lime, cilantro, cheese, avocado, and/or sour cream.

    Serve immediately and enjoy your easy healthy 30-minute chicken tortilla soup!!

    Chicken Tortilla Soup

    How to Store Extra Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup

    Make extra healthy chicken tortilla soup? No worries, I love to save my extras in a sealed airtight container in the fridge for 4 to 5 days or freeze for up to 6 months!

    Did you make this recipe?

    If you make this recipe, be sure to comment and rate it down below. Also, don’t forget to tag me @healthfulblondie on Instagram and use the hashtag #healthfulblondie so I can see your delicious creation and share it with my followers!

    Healthy 30-Minute Chicken Tortilla Soup - recipe by Healthful Blondie

    Healthy 30-Minute Chicken Tortilla Soup

    Easy healthy 30-minute chicken tortilla soup for a comforting and nutritious dinner. Delicious Mexican-inspired one-pot dinner that is made gluten-free, grain-free, and low-fat.
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 25 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Serving 4 servings

    Ingredients
     

    Chicken Tortilla Soup:

    • 1 Tbsp olive oil
    • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
    • 1 poblano pepper, thinly diced
    • 3 garlic cloves, minced
    • 4 cups low sodium chicken broth
    • 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
    • 3 medium carrots, cut into bite-sized rounds
    • 1 can whole kernel sweet corn, 12 or 15 oz
    • 1 tsp cumin
    • 2 tsp taco seasoning
    • 1 Tbsp chili powder
    • 1 tsp salt, more to taste
    • 1 tsp pepper
    • 1 lime, juiced
    • 2 medium chicken breasts
    • ¼ cup fresh cilantro
    • ¼ cup shredded cheese, for garnish
    • 1 avocado, optional for garnish

    Crispy Tortilla Strips:

    • 2 large tortillas, I love Siete Foods almond or chickpea flour tortilla
    • 2 tsp olive oil
    • ¼ tsp salt

    Instructions

    To Make Homemade Tortilla Strips:

    • Cut tortilla into thin strips. Toss in olive oil and salt. 
    • Oven: Heat oven or toaster oven 375 and line baking tray. Evenly spread across line tray and bake for 10 - 12 minutes until crispy.
    • Stove Top: Heat small pan to medium and fry until crispy (5 - 7 minutes).

    To Make Chicken Tortilla Soup:

    • In a large pot or dutch oven, heat olive oil to medium-high heat. Add in onion and poblano pepper. Stir intermittently and cook for 5 minutes until onions are soft.
    • Add in garlic and sauté for 1 minute.
    • Add in chicken broth, crushed tomatoes, carrots, corn, cumin, taco seasoning, chili powder, salt, pepper, lime juice, and bring to a boil.
    • Add in chicken breasts and reduce to a simmer for 15 - 18 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through.
    • Remove chicken breasts from the pot, shred using two forks or an electric mixer, and place back into soup. 
    • Add fresh cilantro, stir, and let simmer for 3 minutes. Taste soup and adjust seasonings if desired.
    • Spoon soup into bowls, top with tortilla strips, lime, cilantro, cheese, avocado, and/or sour cream.
    • Serve immediately and enjoy!

    Notes

    Can substitute homemade tortilla strips for store-bought or crush up chips.
    Can substitute chicken breasts with pre-cooked rotisserie chicken. Shred & add at step 6.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 366kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 78mg | Sodium: 748mg | Potassium: 1180mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 8591IU | Vitamin C: 40mg | Calcium: 103mg | Iron: 2mg
    Course Lunch & Dinner
    Cuisine Mexican
    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Please leave a comment and star rating on this post and tag @HealthfulBlondie on Instagram & hashtag it #healthfulblondie!

    I only recommend products I absolutely love and use myself. In full disclosure, by purchasing a product I recommend, I may receive a small compensation. Everything counts to keep my dream afloat; thank you for supporting Healthful Blondie!

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    Recipe Rating




    Comments

    1. Isabella Josh says

      February 05, 2021 at 10:18 am

      5 stars
      I only like giving comments on recipes I actually love and this is one of them. I really never thought I could make chicken tortilla soup, and this recipe made it so easy! It is the perfect flavor and really yummy. I made my own tortilla strips in the oven and it was great.

      Reply
      • Tati Chermayeff says

        February 19, 2021 at 2:54 pm

        Isabella – YAY!! Cannot tell you how happy I am to hear this 🙂

        Reply
    2. Eliza Mehafy says

      February 06, 2021 at 8:55 am

      5 stars
      Really yummy recipe.

      Reply
      • Tati Chermayeff says

        February 19, 2021 at 2:56 pm

        Eliza, so excited to hear this! I absolutely love this recipe too! So simple and delicious.

        Reply
    3. Bella Radcliffe says

      February 07, 2021 at 12:38 pm

      5 stars
      Easy to make and very flavorful. I used this a meal prep and it was great.

      Reply
    4. Abby Light says

      February 17, 2021 at 8:33 pm

      5 stars
      Fantastic dinner recipe! So flavorful. I used fresh corn and it worked perfectly.

      Reply
    5. Rachel Lee says

      June 21, 2021 at 1:38 pm

      Such a great recipe when you’re craving soup and do not have a lot of time. Love all the flavors in one bowl!! Had this all the time when it was chilly outside.

      Reply

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    Tati, founder and creator of Healthful Blondie

    I’m Tati, a foodie, recipe developer, and blogger based in Austin, Texas. I started Healthful Blondie in 2020 to celebrate life, health, and my passion for cooking and baking. If you are in search of “lightened-up,” healthier versions of classics, you are in the right spot! My recipes are easy to follow, simple, and super tasty.

    More about me →

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