Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup {GF}

Published March 30, 2014. Updated August 21, 2019

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Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup. A hearty, warming and comforting soup made with juicy chicken, vegetables and loaded with delicious toppings. Best of all this soup is whipped up in around 30 minutes and couldn’t be easier!

Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup in a white bowl with a spoon

Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup

Since it’s starting to warm up a little I decided I better get my last good soup days in. Don’t get me wrong, I still eat soup all summer long, not quite as frequently, but it is much more enjoyable on a cold snowy day or a cloudy rainy day than it is on a hot, sunny summer day.

I think of this soup as a hybrid of two southwestern soups that I love, this Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup and this Chicken Enchilada Soup. But, this one has something neither of those do – the creaminess. Aren’t creamy soups the best? Especially when they are smothered with a generous helping of cheese.

Ingredients – What You Need

  • Chicken Breasts
  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Jalapeno
  • Chicken Broth
  • Diced Tomatoes
  • Chili Powder
  • Milk
  • Masa Harina
  • Black Beans
  • Pinto Beans
  • Corn
  • Heavy Cream
  • Sour Cream

An overhead shot of Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup in a bowl topped with avocado and lime wedges at the side

The Best Toppings To Choose

  • Cheese – cheddar, Monterey Jack or your favorite cheese
  • Avocado
  • Cilantro
  • Fresh Lime Juice
  • Tortilla Chips

I made this recipe to be practically a 30 minute meal. It is made all in one pot, no cooking chicken separately or making a roux in a separate pot. This is a soup that is perfect for a weeknight meal, and it’s one that your whole family can enjoy.

Top Tip –  If you don’t like heat, reduce the amount of jalapeño, and if you love heat leave the seeds.

A close up of Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup topped with avocado

You will love this filling and deliciously satisfying Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup! It’s loaded with a whole lot of goodness. Enjoy!

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4.86 from 21 votes

Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup (GF)

A hearty, warming and comforting soup made with tender chicken, fresh vegetables and loaded with delicious toppings. 
Servings: 6 servings
Prep15 minutes
Cook35 minutes
resting time5 minutes
Ready in: 50 minutes

Ingredients

For serving:

  • Shredded cheese (I used a blend of cheddar and monterey jack), sour cream, diced avocados, cilantro, lime wedges (optional), corn tortilla chips

Instructions

  • Heat canola oil in a large pot over medium heat. Once hot, add onion and jalapeño and saute 3 minutes, adding garlic during last 30 seconds of sauteing.
  • Add chicken broth, chili powder, cumin, paprika and season with salt and pepper to taste. Add chicken breasts and bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to medium, cover pot with lid and gently boil until chicken has cooked through, about 15 minutes.
  • Remove chicken and allow to rest 5 minutes. Meanwhile, add diced tomatoes with green chilies to pot. Then, in the 2-cup liquid measuring cup used to measure milk (or a bowl), whisk together milk and masa harina until well blended.
  • Pour mixture into pot and cook, stirring frequently, until mixture boils and thickens slightly (it won't thicken much). Dice chicken and add to pot, then add black beans, pinto beans and corn. Then stir in cream and sour cream and cook until heated through.
  • Serve warm topped with cheese, sour cream, avocados, cilantro, limes and tortilla chips.
  • *If chicken breasts are fairly thick, slices them horizontally through the thickness to create two portions. They will cook faster this way and be more tender as they'll cook more evenly.
  • **If looking to make this gluten free, be sure the masa harina you're using is labeled as gluten-free, same with the tortilla chips. Masa harina can be found in the Latin section of the grocery store.
  • Recipe Source: Cooking Classy
Nutrition Facts
Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup (GF)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 521 Calories from Fat 171
% Daily Value*
Fat 19g29%
Saturated Fat 9g56%
Cholesterol 105mg35%
Sodium 405mg18%
Potassium 1331mg38%
Carbohydrates 51g17%
Fiber 12g50%
Sugar 7g8%
Protein 37g74%
Vitamin A 760IU15%
Vitamin C 13.8mg17%
Calcium 196mg20%
Iron 4.7mg26%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.

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196 Comments

  • Taz

    I made this for my family, and they loved it. It was even better the second day. I’m keeping this recipe!

    I left out the onions (I’m not an onion fan) and used a rotisserie chicken (I’m lazy). And I’m making it again this weekend!

    Seriously, this is delicious! Even my father, who is recovering from cancer and eats almost nothing, finished his bowl the second day.

  • Amy

    Thank you for this wonderful recipe…. I made this tonight and the family loved it! It is a definite keeper….

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      Thanks for your feedback Amy! I’m happy to hear your family enjoyed it!

  • Tisha

    Made this soup last night and my family LOVED it! My 11 yr old picky eating daughter had 3 bowls! lol This one will be in heavy rotation for sure. Thanks so much for sharing! :)

  • Caroline

    My partner just made this with a little of my help and it came out DELICIOUS!!!

    It looks just like the picture. The masa harina really makes it, I would not recommend leaving it out! It adds the most amazing aroma… We did not alter the recipe. We garnished with Mexican-mix cheese, avocado, and crushed tortilla chips. We didn’t have lime or cilantro on hand, but it was still very delicious.

    The recipe also made quite a bit!

    For personal preference however, and this is coming from someone who doesn’t like chicken very much, is that it was quite heavy on the chicken. Again, this is personal preference. My favorite parts about this soup are really all the non-chickeny parts so next time we will probably just use half of what was called for.

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      Thanks for your feedback Caroline! I’m so glad you and your partner enjoyed it!

  • Becca

    I made this yesterday and followed the recipe with just one sub for the masa harina, since the store did not have any. I used a flour/butter roux instead and it worked just fine. I LOVE the soup! It’s kind of like a Mexican chowder. I can’t wait for hubby to try it, cause I know he’s going to love it too, especially since it has a nice kick.
    For anyone that may be thinking of skipping or subbing the pintos; I had not had them before and was wary but I wanted to follow the recipe, so I bought them. They blend right in with the black beans and do not have any significant flavor/texture that sets them apart. SO, sub if you need to but otherwise, you wouldn’t even notice them. :)
    Thanks Jaclyn for the great soup! I am excited to make it again once I find the masa harina.

  • Sonya

    This is a wonderful recipe. We have made it twice and I shared the recipe with friends who I INSISTED they make. My housekeeper has also made it and she mentioned she needed me to print the recipe so she could stop on the way home from my house for ingredients. So I said, ok we will make it tonight also! It actually tastes best the next day. Perfect day because it has cooled down in our neck of the woods and so soup is perfect!

  • Tina

    I want to make this soup for a lunch Sunday,
    U think it would work if I safe me some time Sunday an cook it on Saturday evening?
    And warm if up for Sunday Lunch??
    Thanks….

  • Anne

    I made this last night. I skipped the gluten free part mainly because I couldn’t find my masa. It is the new family fav for this kind of soup. I am throwing out all my other chicken tortilla soup recipes.