Chef John’s Tortilla Chicken Soup
Chef John’s Tortilla Chicken Soup layers a rich tomato-chicken broth with gentle heat from chipotle and jalapeño, balanced by lime and aromatic oregano. Crisp tortilla strips add crunch while avocado, cilantro, and cheese bring freshness and creaminess. Serve it for a cozy weeknight dinner or a casual gathering when you want comfort with a bright, smoky finish.
- Prep30 mins
- Cook5 hrs 45 mins
- Serves6
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Chef John’s Tortilla Chicken Soup, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 54 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 35 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 92 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 42
- Heart Health
- 40
- Metabolic
- 57
- Digestive
- 34
- Inflammatory
- 55
- Performance
- 58
- General Wellness
- 1
Combine the chicken, 1 onion, the cilantro stems, bay leaves, oregano, peppercorns, dried chili pods, and 3 quarts of water in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer, reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer for 1 hour.
- 2
Meanwhile, for the tortilla strips, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper.
- 3
Cut the tortillas in half, then slice crosswise into 1/4-inch strips. Transfer the strips to the prepared baking sheet and drizzle with oil. Add salt and toss well to coat, then spread the strips out as evenly as possible.
- 4
Bake in the preheated oven until golden and crisp, tossing once or twice during baking, about 30 minutes. Set aside.
- 5
Carefully transfer the chicken to a bowl. Reduce the broth to low heat.
- 6
Let the chicken rest until cool enough to handle. Shred the chicken and refrigerate until needed.
- 7
Return the bones, skin, and all the scraps to the pot of broth, and simmer over low heat for about 4 hours total. If the broth reduces too much, add a splash of water.
- 8
Meanwhile, after about 2 hours, make the charred vegetable salsa: Preheat the oven’s broiler on high and set a rack about 8 inches below the heating element. Line a baking sheet with foil, lightly oil it, and place the remaining 2 onions, tomatoes, sweet red pepper, and jalapeno pepper on the prepared sheet.
- 9
Broil the vegetables until charred, 7 to 10 minutes. Add the charred vegetables to a blender with the garlic cloves, chipotle pepper, and 1 cup water, and blend until smooth.
- 10
Pour the pureed salsa into the pot and increase the heat to medium-low. Simmer the broth for another 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Strain the soup through a fine-mesh strainer into a separate pot, squeezing the chicken to extract the juices; discard the bones and skin in the strainer. Season the soup to taste with salt.
- 11
Add the cumin, shredded chicken, and the juice from 1 lime. Simmer for 15 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste for seasoning, then serve with the crispy tortilla strips. Garnish with sour cream, avocado, chopped cilantro, grated or crumbled Mexican cheese, additional lime juice, and a sprinkle of cayenne, if desired.
- Calories 1442.33 kcal High 72%
- Protein 87.4 g Good Source 175%
- Carbohydrate 186.08 g 68%
- Total Fat 35.61 g High 46%
- Saturated Fat 9.79 g High 49%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 222.73 mg High 74%
- Sodium 952.65 mg High 41%
- Dietary Fiber 19.59 g Good Source 70%
- Total Sugars 28.49 g --
- Added Sugars 19.88 g High 40%
- Calcium 559.87 mg Good Source 43%
- Iron 1.48 mg Low Source 8%
- Potassium 887.66 mg Moderate 19%
- Vitamin A 162.34 mcg Moderate 18%
- Vitamin C 74.49 mg Good Source 83%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Citrus 🍊
- Milk 🥛
- Corn 🌽
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Chef John's Tortilla Chicken Soup is a Tex Mex dinner recipe made with 23 ingredients. It takes about 6 hrs 15 mins, serves 6, and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Avocado, Black Peppercorns, Cayenne Pepper, and Chipotle Peppers in Adobo. Each serving provides about 1442.33 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Chef John’s Tortilla Chicken Soup?
- It is a Tex-Mex soup recipe made with 23 ingredients, usually served for dinner or lunch or soup.
- What is Chef John’s Tortilla Chicken Soup made of?
- The main ingredients are Avocado, Black Peppercorns, Cayenne Pepper, Chipotle Peppers in Adobo, Corn Tortilla. The full list of 23 is above.
- What goes well with Chef John’s Tortilla Chicken Soup?
- Explore these Tex-Mex side-dish recipes.
- How long does it take to make Chef John’s Tortilla Chicken Soup?
- About 6 hrs 15 mins in total: 30 mins to prepare and 5 hrs 45 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 1442.33 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Chef John’s Tortilla Chicken Soup easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 23 ingredients and 11 steps.
- Is Chef John’s Tortilla Chicken Soup healthy?
- Chef John’s Tortilla Chicken Soup has an easyChef Pro health score of 59/100. Per serving, it provides 1442.33 calories and 87.4 g of protein, or 175% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber, calcium and vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 952.65 mg (41% of the Daily Value), saturated fat at 9.79 g (49% of the Daily Value) and added sugars at 19.88 g (40% of the Daily Value). It contains Citrus, Milk, Corn, Tomatoes, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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