Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup is a cozy favorite for fall and delicious any time of year. Early in my career I worked at a restaurant and loved sneaking tastes of their soups; the creamy chicken tortilla and black bean soups were my go-to. Over time I developed my own family-friendly version that’s rich, flavorful, and easy to make at home.
This recipe yields a silky, well-seasoned soup with layers of savory depth. I use a signature spice blend and a bit of cream to create the indulgent texture. I hope your family enjoys it as much as mine—let me know how it turns out!
When boiling the chicken, I like adding chicken bouillon seasoning to the water. It seasons the chicken as it cooks and produces a flavorful broth you can use in the soup instead of plain water.
A heavy dutch oven is ideal for this soup because it distributes and retains heat evenly, making the cooking process smoother and more consistent.
My signature spice blend for this soup includes garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, and Sazon. These spices build a warm, slightly smoky base that complements the tomatoes, beans, and corn.
Minced garlic is a convenient time-saver and works great here; sauté it until fragrant before adding the tomato paste so the flavors deepen.
🗒 More Delicious Soup Recipes
Chicken and Gnocchi Soup 🍲
Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup 🍲
Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup 🍅
Creamy Sausage & Tortellini Soup
👝 How to Store Leftovers
Store soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3–5 days. Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave, stirring occasionally to restore an even texture.
🤔 Common Questions
Yes. Leftover rotisserie or cooked chicken works well—just shred it and add it near the end of cooking to warm through.
Popular toppings include tortilla strips, avocado, shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped cilantro, and lime wedges. Mix and match to suit your taste.
🎥 Items Featured in Video
Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup
Pin Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken breasts
- 1 large white onion, chopped
- 2 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp cumin
- 2 packets Sazon
- 3 tbsp chicken bouillon seasoning
- 2 tbsp butter
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 10 oz can Rotel (diced tomatoes & green chiles)
- 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 15.25 oz can whole kernel sweet corn, drained
- 15.25 oz can black beans, drained & rinsed
- 1 cup water (divided)
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup reserved boiled chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 5–10 shakes Cholula (or hot sauce) to taste
- For topping: tortilla strips, shredded cheese, sour cream
Instructions
- Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the chicken bouillon seasoning and the chicken breasts. Boil 10–15 minutes or until cooked through.
- In a separate large pot or Dutch oven, heat olive oil and butter. Add the chopped onion and seasonings: onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, chili powder, cumin, Sazon packets, and salt & pepper. Sauté over medium-high heat 3–5 minutes until translucent and fragrant.
- Add minced garlic and sauté 2–3 minutes until fragrant. Stir in tomato paste and brown 2 minutes. Sprinkle in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, 2–3 minutes until it thickens slightly.
- Pour in the crushed tomatoes. Fill the crushed-tomato can with ½ cup water and add it to the pot. Bring to a boil, then add the Rotel along with ½ cup water from its can. Stir, reduce to a simmer, cover halfway, and simmer 10 minutes.
- Remove the boiled chicken, shred it, and reserve 1 cup of the cooking broth.
- To the soup pot add chicken broth, heavy cream, and the reserved chicken broth. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 5–7 minutes.
- Add black beans, corn, shredded chicken, and hot sauce. Stir, bring to a brief boil, then simmer covered halfway for 5 minutes to meld flavors.
- Serve topped with tortilla strips, shredded cheese, and sour cream. Enjoy.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Carbohydrates: 11 g
Protein: 23 g
Fat: 19 g
Let us know how it was!