Tortilla Soup Recipe (2024)

Published February 4, 2021.This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Learn how easy it is to make this authentic Mexican homemade tortilla soup topped off with avocados, fried tortilla strips, and cilantro.

We are huge soup fans in this family and always look forward to the fall, so soup-making can begin! That said, it does not have to fall to be soup season. If you’re anything like us, check out my Corn Chowder or Chicken and Wild Rice for any time of year.

Tortilla Soup Recipe (1)

Tortilla Soup

The origin of Tortilla soup is a bit of a mystery, but history shows that it was created in Mexico City, Mexico. It’s a very simple-to-prepare soup, consisting of a few ingredients and an assortment of toppings.

Here are some typical ingredients you would find in this recipe:

  • Tomatoes
  • Onions
  • Garlic
  • Stock or Water
  • Chiles

How to Make It

Follow along with these instructions for making this tasty homemade tortilla soup:

Caramelize the onions and garlic until wholly browned in a medium-sized pot over low heat with olive oil, about 45 minutes.

Tortilla Soup Recipe (2)

Next, add the tomatoes, chiles, and chicken stock and simmer over low to medium heat for 30 minutes.

Tortilla Soup Recipe (3)

Remove the chile and puree the soup until smooth and thick in a blender or using an emersion hand blender. Return the soup to the pot along with the chile, and season with salt and pepper.

Tortilla Soup Recipe (4)

Fry tortilla strips in oil and drain on a paper towel.

Tortilla Soup Recipe (5)

Serve the soup with assorted toppings

Tortilla Soup Recipe (6)

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Often times you will see chicken tortilla soup instead of just tortilla. Chicken is not traditional in this recipe; add some shredded cooked chicken at the end with the assorted toppings if you’d like.

Toppings

Toppings for tortilla soup will vary a bit, depending on the region of Mexico and personal preference. Here are some popular additions to finish off the soup:

  • Avocado
  • Crema
  • Cheese (Cotija, Queso Fresco, Oaxaca, or Chihuahua)
  • Cilantro
  • Chiles
  • Radish
  • Lime
  • Shredded Chicken

Make-Ahead and Storage

Make-Ahead: You can make this soup up to 2 days ahead. Be sure to keep the toppings separate.

How to Store: Cover the soup, separate it from the toppings, and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. Freeze the soup covered, separate from the toppings, for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator for 1 day before reheating.

How to Reheat: Add the desired amount to a small saucepot and heat over low heat until hot. You may need to readjust the seasonings with salt and pepper.

Tortilla Soup Recipe (7)

chef notes + tips

  • When making in the summertime, replace the canned tomatoes with fresh tomatoes.
  • If you do not want to fry tortilla strips, use tortilla chips.
Tortilla Soup Recipe (8)

More Soup Recipes

  • Beef and Barley
  • Ham and Bean
  • Ribollita
  • Chicken Noodle
  • Italian Wedding

Tortilla Soup Recipe (9)

Save

Tortilla Soup Recipe

Tortilla Soup Recipe (10)

Print

5 from 11 votes

Learn how easy it is to make this authentic Mexican homemade tortilla soup that is topped off with avocados, fried tortilla strips, and cilantro.

Servings: 8

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Ingredients

For the Soup:

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 peeled and small diced yellow onions
  • 4 finely minced cloves of garlic
  • 1 dried guajillo chile
  • 2 28- ounce cans whole peeled tomatoes
  • 2 cups chicken stock
  • sea salt and pepper to taste

For the Toppings:

  • 1 peeled, seeded, and large diced avocado
  • Mexican crema
  • cilantro leaves
  • cooked shredded chicken
  • fried tortillas

Instructions

  • In a large pot over low heat add in the olive oil and caramelize the onions and garlic well, about 45 minutes.

  • Next, add in the tomatoes, chile, and chicken stock and simmer over low heat for about 25-30 minutes.

  • Remove the chile and puree the soup until completely smooth. Return the soup back to the pot along with the chile and season with salt and pepper.

  • Serve the soup with assorted optional toppings.

Notes

Chef Notes:

  • Make-Ahead: You can make this soup up to 2 days ahead of time. Be sure to keep the toppings separate.
  • How to Store: Cover the soup, separate from the toppings, and keep in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. Freeze the soup covered, separate from the toppings, for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator for 1 day before reheating.
  • How to Reheat: Add the desired amount to a small saucepot and heat over low heat until hot. You may need to readjust the seasonings with salt and pepper.
  • When making in the summertime, replace the canned tomatoes with fresh tomatoes.
  • If you do not want to fry tortilla strips, feel free to use tortilla chips.

Nutrition

Calories: 125kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 3gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 241mgPotassium: 439mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 279IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 47mgIron: 1mg

Course: Soup

Cuisine: Mexican

Author: Chef Billy Parisi

Elevate Your Every Day Cooking

Get Chef Billy’s go-to tips that transform “blah” into “brilliant” plus weekly newsletter!

Add a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

20 comments

    • Amy Dawson
    • Tortilla Soup Recipe (11)

    Super simple and super flavorful! Best tortilla soup I’ve ever made. I used cans of fire roasted diced tomatoes & chilis. It added a nice little kick to soup my family loved. Thanks Chef for another great recipe!

    • Reply
    • Helen
    • Tortilla Soup Recipe (12)

    My favorite – I modify a bit with the edition of hot rotel tomatoes, and red pepper flakes, a few poblano peppers. So good.

    • Reply
    • sue😁
    • Tortilla Soup Recipe (13)

    Tasty recipe thank you ChefBilly😁😋🤩👋

    • Reply
    • Cejay Downs
    • Tortilla Soup Recipe (14)

    Thank ou Chef 4 another great recipe

    • Reply
    • Lezlee Gunsolley
    • Tortilla Soup Recipe (15)

    YUMMY! This is authentic Mexican fare, and super easy to make! Very versatile and adaptable to most any odd & ends vegetable in the refrigerator!
    My family loves it, and it’s quick & easy!

    • Reply
    • Esme
    • Tortilla Soup Recipe (16)

    This is a soup that I have made over and over again. It’s delicious with or without shredded chicken in it.
    My quick and go to soup.

    • Reply
      • Chef Billy Parisi

      Thanks!

      • Reply
    • Chris Dean
    • Tortilla Soup Recipe (17)

    So Easy and oh so Good !!

    • Reply
    • Tortilla Soup Recipe (18)

        love it!

        • Reply
      • Shellayne Miller
      • Tortilla Soup Recipe (19)

      Really good and different from any other tortilla soup I’ve had. I recommend!

      • Reply
      • Tortilla Soup Recipe (20)

          Nice!

          • Reply
        • Kim Thomas

        Du you put the whole chili back in the soup or do you blend it as well and strain it?

        • Reply
        • Tortilla Soup Recipe (21)

            yes to all

            • Reply
          • Camille

          Do you chop the chile before returning it to the soup?

          • Reply
          • Tortilla Soup Recipe (22)

              no

              • Reply
            • Joan

            WHat other kind of Chile could you use, Please?

            • Reply
            • Tortilla Soup Recipe (23)

                ancho or arbol

                • Reply
              • Diane L Tjaden
              • Tortilla Soup Recipe (24)

              You are a fantastic chef and teacher. I have learned a lot from you.
              Thank you,
              Diane L Tjaden

              • Reply
              • christine marochko
              • Tortilla Soup Recipe (25)

              You are a remarkable Chef Billy Parisi! Another amazing soup.

              • Reply
              • Rehab
              • Tortilla Soup Recipe (26)

              Thank you, chef!
              Looks good!!

              • Reply
            Tortilla Soup Recipe (2024)

            FAQs

            What is the secret to soup? ›

            7 Tips for Successful Soup Making
            • Use a Sturdy Pot. It is worth investing in a heavy pot with a thick bottom to use for making soup. ...
            • Sauté the Aromatics. ...
            • Start with Good Broth. ...
            • Cut Vegetables to the Right Size. ...
            • Stagger the Addition of Vegetables. ...
            • Keep Liquid at a Simmer. ...
            • Season Just Before Serving.
            Oct 9, 2022

            How do I thicken up my tortilla soup? ›

            The best item to thicken a soup is some sort of starch, whether from flour, cornstarch, arrowroot, or even a lot of potatoes. If it is a powder, mix it with cold water and stir to make a smooth, lump-free paste, and stir constantly as you add it to the soup. A little goes a long way! How do you make amazing tacos?

            How to make soup better? ›

            7 Easy Ways to Make Any Soup Better
            1. Brown or Sear the Meat.
            2. Roast the the Veggies.
            3. Mix up the Texture.
            4. Use Homemade Stock Whenever Possible.
            5. Put Your Cheese Rinds to Work.
            6. Perk up a Bland Soup With Simple Pantry Staples.
            7. Add Fresh Herbs or Dairy When Serving.
            8. Recipes Pictured.

            What is a fun fact about tortilla soup? ›

            Tortilla Soup was born in the state of Tlaxcala near Mexico City. In fact, Tlaxcala in Nahuatl means “the land of the corn” or “ the place where tortillas abound.” Tlaxcala was one of the first places where the Spaniards settled.

            What is the most important ingredient in soup? ›

            For clear, brothy soups, stock is your most important ingredient. If you want to make a good soup, you need to use an excellently flavored stock — otherwise, the entire pot could be tasteless.

            What gives soup the best flavor? ›

            Herbs and spices add aroma, flavor, and intensity to soup broth. "Use fresh or dried basil in tomato-based recipes or fresh parsley to add freshness to clear broth soups," says Sofia Norton, RD. You can also go with more heat and spices.

            Why is my tortilla soup watery? ›

            Keep Simmering

            Sometimes all your soup needs is a little more time on the stove. Allow your chicken tortilla soup to simmer uncovered for an extended period. The heat will help evaporate some of the liquid, naturally thickening the soup.

            Is it better to thicken soup with flour or cornstarch? ›

            It's important to note that cornstarch has twice the thickening power of flour. If you need to substitute cornstarch to thicken liquid in a recipe that calls for ¼ cup (four tablespoons) flour, you only need two tablespoons cornstarch.

            Will flour tortillas thicken soup? ›

            Soup Thickening Method: Blended Tortilla

            About this method: Flour tortillas are absorbent and fairly neutral in flavor, so when I came across it during my research as a way to thicken soup, it made perfect sense. Because this soup is chunky, I blended the tortilla before adding it so it would integrate more seamlessly.

            What not to do when making soup? ›

            The 7 Biggest Mistakes You Make Cooking Soup
            1. Boiling instead of simmering. You want a small bubble or two to rise to the surface of the liquid every few seconds. ...
            2. Not using enough salt. ...
            3. Ignoring water. ...
            4. Overcooking the vegetables. ...
            5. Adding tomatoes at the beginning. ...
            6. Neglecting to garnish. ...
            7. Not trying a pressure cooker.
            Nov 19, 2014

            What makes homemade soup taste good? ›

            To make a good soup, you have to build flavours as you go. Vegetables like onion, garlic, celery and carrots — referred to as "aromatics" — are part of most soup recipes for this very reason, sautéed in oil or butter as a first step of flavour-making.

            What spices are good in soup? ›

            To season it, we recommend starting with our Vegetable Soup Mix. It contains celery salt, parsley flakes, garlic powder, sea salt, summer savory, marjoram, thyme, black pepper, turmeric and sage, which are all excellent with root vegetables, so you can incorporate things like carrots or potatoes into the soup.

            What is tortilla soup made of? ›

            Chicken tortilla soup actually is an authentic Mexican dish. The traditional soup is made with chicken broth, tomatoes, garlic, onion, chiles, and fried tortilla strips. There are also variations of the soup, like ones that include beans.

            How long is leftover tortilla soup good for? ›

            Storage Instructions. This easy tortilla soup will keep airtight in the fridge for 5 to 7 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months. Extra tortilla strips will keep in airtight at room temp for up to 5 days.

            What gives soup depth of flavor? ›

            Dried herbs and seasonings: homemade seasoned salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and dried bay leaves lend flavor to the soup. Stock: I much prefer chicken stock over vegetable stock in terms of flavor, though if you want to keep this soup vegetarian, feel free to use vegetable broth or stock instead.

            What are three qualities of a good soup? ›

            A soup's quality is determined by its flavor, appearance and texture. A good soup should be full-flavored, with no off or sour tastes. Flavors from each of the soup's ingre- dients should blend and complement, with no one flavor overpowering another.

            References

            Top Articles
            Latest Posts
            Article information

            Author: Ms. Lucile Johns

            Last Updated:

            Views: 5741

            Rating: 4 / 5 (41 voted)

            Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

            Author information

            Name: Ms. Lucile Johns

            Birthday: 1999-11-16

            Address: Suite 237 56046 Walsh Coves, West Enid, VT 46557

            Phone: +59115435987187

            Job: Education Supervisor

            Hobby: Genealogy, Stone skipping, Skydiving, Nordic skating, Couponing, Coloring, Gardening

            Introduction: My name is Ms. Lucile Johns, I am a successful, friendly, friendly, homely, adventurous, handsome, delightful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.