Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

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Crowd Pleaser And Budget Friendly

Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

This meal comes together in less time than getting take out and it is definitely cheaper! This recipe only calls for 2 chicken breasts. You can really stretch your meat budget with recipe likes this one. Stretch that meat into a delicious soup that can easily feed a crowd or your hungry family.

The chicken gets shredded with all the beans and tomatoes for a hearty and filling meal. In fact, you can even add extra beans or tomatoes to stretch this meal even more. It is so easy to make, and very frugal friendly. This soup really stretches your chicken because you dont need much and it is packed with protein from the beans.

You could also chicken thighs in this soup instead of the chicken breasts. I often just use what is on sale. Use items you have in your pantry to make this dish in no time at all. If you are looking for Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup Pioneer Woman recipe, you will love this delicious soup!

This Version Is Somewhat Classic

This version you see here is quite modern. It is classic tortilla soup. I made it in my Instant Pot, but I have also included directions on how to make it with just a regular pot, too.

I know were about to be deep into holiday recipes but I cant eat cake for breakfast every night. This soup was a nice healthy-ish respite from all the sugar. It was very welcomed.

If you know more info on tortilla soup, leave it below!

Hope you love tis Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup!

  • 5 to 6corn tortillascut into thin or thick strips
  • 3tablespoonsvegetable oil or neutral oil
  • 1/4teaspoonflaky sea salt

Tortilla Soup:

  • 1/2yellow onionroughly chopped
  • 4garlic clovespeeled and smashed
  • 1teaspoonground cumin
  • 115-ounce can of diced tomatoes
  • 5cupsof chicken broth or waterdivided
  • 1/2poundof bonelessskinless chicken breasts

For Garnish:

  • 1/4cupsour creamwhisked with a squeeze of lime juice and a pinch of salt

A Good Instant Pot Is A Must:

We like using an 8 quart Instant pot but you can use a 6 quart. I personally have an Instant Pot and so far I am loving it. Its really changed dinner time around here. Those days when I forget to take something out of the freezer is not a problem with my instant pot.

No worries if you do not have a pressure cooker yet, try making Crock Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe. It is just as good in the slow cooker too!

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Can I Make Chicken Tortilla Soup In The Slow Cooker

Yes, you can certainly make this recipe in the slow cooker. Just follow all of the steps above but instead of setting your Instant Pot to sauté, set your slow cooker to the brown/saute function or cook on high for about 30 minutes before adding in the rest of the ingredients and cooking on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours.

How Do You Make Tortilla Soup In The Instant Pot

Easy, Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup
  • Sear chicken thighs on one side. Start by searing just one side of each boneless, skinless chicken thigh in the Instant Pot with the sauté function. This coaxes out some deeper flavors from the browned chicken. Only searing one side saves time and keeps the chicken from getting too stringy.
  • Sauté the aromatics and spices. Sauté onion, garlic, chili powder, cumin, and oregano together until the onion is tender.
  • Deglaze the pressure cooker. Add chicken broth and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom to loosen them.
  • Pressure-cook with the tomatoes. Return the chicken to the pot and add a can of diced tomatoes with green chiles . Pressure-cook on high for 10 minutes. This is a good time to make the optional tortilla chips.
  • Blend the soup base. Take the chicken out and blend the soup until smooth you can use an immersion blender right in the cooker or transfer it to a regular blender.
  • Add in the beans and corn. Stir the shredded chicken, a can of drained black beans, and frozen corn kernels into the soup and reheat if needed.

Also Check: How Do I Make Rice In The Instant Pot

Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup Spiciness

Using mild enchilada sauce and McCormick chili powder, wed rate this soup as medium-heat spicy. If adding toppings like cheese, sour cream, and avocado , these additions will mute the spiciness quite a bit.

If you dont plan on adding some of these toppings and are sensitive to spice, wed recommend reducing or omitting the chili powder. You will be missing out on some flavor, but the soup will be overall milder.

Why Make This Recipe

  • This is a great starter recipe if youre looking for an easy chicken tortilla soup and youve never used your Instant Pot before.
  • Peeps, this Pressure Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe is soooooo easy and sooooo good and the flavours are just right.
  • Its also a one pot dish. Lets face it. No one likes doing dishes and I certainly dont like making more than I need.
  • Great For meal prep. You can also store in the fridge to eat the next day or two for lunch or store in the freezer for a later time.
  • It can be customised to suit your dietary needs whether youre on a Keto, Paleo diet. You can also play with the spice level. Love spice, then add more jalapenos. Making it for the whole family, tone it down for everyone to enjoy.

Ready to make Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup? Gather your ingredients and Ill show you how.

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Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup Storage

  • How to reheat: This soup stores nicely in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-6 days. To reheat, add the soup to a small pot and heat over low heat until warmed to desired preference. Or reheat in the microwave.
  • Freezing: This soup will freeze well for up to 3 months. Here are some best methods for thawing frozen soup.

How Do I Make My Own Tortilla Strips

Chicken Tortilla Soup – Instant Pot

Making homemade tortilla chips or strips for toppings on this Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup is super easy.

  • Take a few corn or flour tortillas and cut them into long thin strips.
  • Heat up some olive oil in a pan and fry the cut tortillas until they are crispy.
  • Drain them on a plate lined with paper towels to remove excess oil.
  • Sprinkle with salt and enjoy as a topping for your soup!

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Tips For Making This Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

  • You can use your stand mixer to shred the cooked chicken for this recipe. Its so easy! Put the cooked chicken in the bowl of your mixer and mix on low using the paddle attachment until the chicken is shredded. This will take less than a minute! See my post on how to shred chicken for more tips.
  • To make this recipe with frozen chicken breasts, increase the pressure cooking time to 12 minutes. Then allow the pot to release naturally for 10 minutes before releasing the pressure.
  • To make this recipe vegetarian and vegan, substitute canned cooked chickpeas, pinto beans or a second can of black beans for the chicken breasts. Use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. This recipe is already gluten-free.
  • To cook this soup in a slow cooker, place all ingredients except for the chicken and corn in the slow cooker. Stir and then add the chicken breasts. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. Then stir in the corn and shred the chicken.

Can I Use A Rotisserie Chicken For Chicken Tortilla Soup

Yes, this is an easy shortcut to use a rotisserie chicken. Shred the chicken and add the tender shredded chicken into the Instant Pot at the end of the recipe. Its a great way to save time and effort while still having delicious soup!

If you have plenty of cooked chicken then this Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup is a great way to use up your chicken. Either way, whether you use raw chicken or precooked chicken it is sure to taste amazing!

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Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup Toppings

  • Tortilla strips: To keep things as easy as possible, use pre-packaged tortilla strips . Otherwise, make your own .
  • Cheese: We love adding a Mexican blend of sharp Cheddar, or Monterey-Colby Jack cheese.
  • Freshlime: A squeeze of fresh lime in each bowl adds a nice freshness.
  • Freshcilantro: Beyond what is added into the soup, a bit of extra cilantro is always a good idea if youre a cilantro lover.
  • Avocado: A perfectly ripe avocado is one of our favorite additions it adds a wonderful creaminess and freshness. You can also add a big scoop of guacamole instead.
  • Sour cream: This is another favorite addition especially if you like your soups on the creamy side! Fat-free or low-fat adds tons of creaminess for fairly few calories!

Add All Ingredients & Pressure Cook

16 Easy Instant Pot Dinners (Under 5 Minutes to Prep)
  • Turn ON the Instant Pot. Add the olive oil, tomatoes, corn and black beans .
  • Next, add the carrot and celery, if using, along with the garlic. Add the chicken breasts and all the spices. Pour in the chicken broth and stir well .
  • Close the lid. Set Manual/Pressure Cook at high pressure for 10 minutes on sealing mode . After cook time is over, let pressure release naturally for 5 minutes, then release remaining pressure manually. Once the pin drops, open lid .

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Why Youll Love This Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

With a cook time of just 20 minutes, its hard to believe that a soup this good can be made. But trust me on this one your Instant Pot can crank out some crazy good recipes!

This easy chicken tortilla soup Instant pot recipe will soon become a family favorite because it is:

  • Fast and simple to come in the pressure cooker.
  • Loaded with flavors such as chili powder.
  • Perfect for having as leftovers Who doesnt love leftover soup!

What Is A Tortilla Soup

Traditional Mexican tortilla soup is usually made with fried corn tortilla pieces that are submerged into a spicy broth made with tomatoes, onion, garlic, chilies, and herbs. The soup usually also has beans, chicken, pork, or other meats and is topped with avocado, shredded cheese, and sour cream.

For years, as I have enjoyed this soup in Mexican restaurants, some were absolutely delicious and some not so impressive. I knew this was a recipe I needed to try at home so I can enjoy the flavors I like and cook it more often.

After experimenting with it a few times, I finally have a flavor-packed, EASY Instant Pot Pressure Cooker recipe that everyone who has tried LOVES. I use most of the ingredients from the traditional recipe and also add corn to compliment the flavors and texture.

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Do I Have To Use Chicken Breasts For Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

No, you can certainly use boneless skinless chicken thighs instead or a mix of both. Chicken breasts are leaner and will yield more tender meat, but theres nothing wrong with using boneless skinless chicken thighs.

Just be sure to adjust the cook time as necessary if using thigh meat since it is generally tougher than breast meat.

Alternative Method: Stovetop Recipe

Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

Don’t have a pressure cooker, no problem! It is as easy and simple to make this delicious and healthy soup on the stove, too. Simply:

  • Start by placing a tall stock pot on medium-high heat. Add all the ingredients to the pot, give it a stir and let it come to a boil.
  • Reduce the heat to medium, cover and let it cook for about 20 minutes, or until the chicken becomes tender enough to shred.
  • Turn off the heat, shred the chicken and add it back to the pot. Finish with chopped cilantro and a freshly squeeze lime juice.

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Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe

Instant Pot chicken tortilla soup is a delicious, quick and easy dinner that you can throw together in less than thirty minutes.

Did yall catch the over the holidays? There were some CRAZY good deals!

If you are an Instant Pot newbie, welcome to the world of pressure cooking. There is a little bit of a learning curve, but once you get a few home run recipes under your belt, you will never look back. Check out my full Instant Pot recipe collection if you are interested.

No Instant Pot? No problem! If you want to make this same recipe in the slow cooker, you can get that recipe here.

But back to this Instant Pot chicken tortilla soup recipe!

To start making this recipe, fist gather your ingredients.

Recipe Notes And Tips

  • Sauté your aromatics in the Instant Pot before adding the rest of the ingredients. This step ensures maximum flavor for the soup.
  • Add plenty of fresh toppings like cilantro, diced avocado, and shredded cheese to individual bowls before serving.
  • I used a 6-quart Instant Pot to make this soup.

If you liked this Instant Pot chicken tortilla soup, you might also like some of my other easy Instant Pot soups:

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Chicken Tortilla Soup In The Instant Pot

Everyone asks for this recipe… It’s easy to make and adapt to your own level of spiciness. Kids love it! And for the kids who don’t, you can use some of the shredded chicken in a quick chicken quesadilla! Win-win! Optional toppings and mix-ins: avocado slices, shredded Mexican cheese, rice, sour cream, and chopped cilantro.

  • 1 containerchicken broth

  • 2 cansdiced tomatoes and green chiles

  • 1poundskinless, boneless chicken breast

  • 1 canblack beans, drained

  • 1 canenchilada sauce

  • 1 packagefrozen corn

  • 1mediumonion, diced

  • ¼teaspoonground black pepper

  • 1pinchchili powder, or to taste

  • ½cupcrushed tortilla chips, or to taste

How To Make Homemade Tortilla Strips:

Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

Stack 6 to 8 corn tortillas on a cutting board and use a sharp knife to cut them into strips that are about ¼ to ½ wide.

Heat ¼ cup of high temperature cooking oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. I use avocado oil but canola oil or vegetable oil work too.

Once the oil is sizzling hot, carefully add 4 to 6 strips of corn tortillas at a time to the oil. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side or until the strips are golden brown and have reached your desired level of crisp.

Transfer the crunchy tortilla strips to a plate lined with a paper towel and repeat the process for the rest of the tortilla strips.

These fried corn tortillas are best when served immediately, but you can add any leftovers to the leftover soup.

Store any leftover chicken tortilla soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.

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My Twist To The Recipe

  • Cut up 4 corn tortillas into 1-inch squares and add them to the soup along with other ingredients. The tortilla pieces simply melt in the soup during the pressure cooking cycle, adding a nice creaminess and body to the soup. Do try it and I promise you will enjoy the elevated texture and flavor.
  • While the soup is pressure cooking, I lightly brush the remaining corn tortilla with oil, sprinkle some salt, cut them into triangles , and bake them in the oven. The fresh-baked homemade tortilla chips are healthier and are perfect for scooping up the creamy tortilla soup.
  • Shred The Chicken Garnish & Serve

    • Remove chicken breasts and shred them using two forks .
    • Put the shredded chicken back in the soup .
    • Finish with chopped fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime .

    Using Rotisserie Chicken: You can use shredded rotisserie chicken in this soup. Add that instead of the raw chicken, reduce the pressure cooking time to 4 minutes and enjoy!

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    What Goes Into Chicken Tortilla Soup

    Olive oil You’ll need a tablespoon of olive oil to saute the veggies and aromatics in for extra flavor. Canola oil or avocado oil also work well here.

    Onion Yellow or red onion both work well in this chicken tortilla soup.

    Celery This adds extra flavor and texture to the soup. You can also add diced carrots if you like.

    Garlic Fresh garlic is best for flavor but you can also use frozen garlic.

    Jalapeño Adjust the amount of jalapeño to suit your taste. Deseed the jalapeño if you don’t want the soup to be too fiery.

    Spices A mix of ground cumin, chili powder and dried oregano infuses lots of flavor into this tortilla soup.

    Crushed tomatoes I like to make this soup with crushed tomatoes but you can also use diced tomatoes.

    Salsa verde Also known as green enchilada sauce, salsa verde is often made with tomatillos, coriander and chili peppers. It’s a perfect flavor base for tortilla soup.

    Sweetcorn Both canned and frozen sweetcorn work in this soup.

    Black beans Black beans work great in tortilla soup, but you can also use red kidney beans or pinto beans.

    Chicken For this soup, I prefer to use chicken breast as it’s the leanest cut. If you prefer darker meat, chicken thighs are a great option.

    It would also be delicious with leftover turkey, roast chicken, or rotisserie chicken. If you want to use frozen chicken, add 5 more minutes to the cooking time.

    Chicken broth Use a good quality chicken broth for the best flavor.

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