Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup

Step 1

Finely dice the onion and jalapeno (remove the ribs and seeds). Mince the garlic and cilantro. Frain the corn (if canned) and black beans.

Step 2

Heat the oil in a large, heavy-based saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat.

Step 3

Once hot, add the onion, jalapeno, and garlic, and sauté for 2-4 minutes until soft and translucent.

Step 4

Add the chicken and taco seasoning to the pan, searing it for 1-2 minutes per side. Add the chicken stock and crushed tomatoes and stir.

Step 5

Bring to a boil over high heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the chicken has cooked through (often 25 minutes for larger chicken breasts).

Step 6

Remove the chicken breasts from the soup and use two forks or a stand mixer to shred it and return it to the pot.

Step 7

Add the corn, beans, and cilantro, and stir to combine. Continue to simmer for just a few minutes to warm all the ingredients.

Step 8

Before serving, taste the soup and adjust the seasonings (taco seasoning or adding extra salt and black pepper).

Step 9

Meanwhile, while the soup simmers, prepare the crispy tortilla topping by cutting the tortillas into ¼-inch wide strips with a sharp knife or pizza cutter. Cook them in your preferred method.

Step 10

To fry the strips: Add an inch of oil to a wide, large saucepan and heat over medium-high heat (about 350ºF/175ºC). Once hot, fry the tortilla strips in batches of a couple handfuls for 1-2 minutes, then use a slotted spoon to set them aside to drain on a paper towel.To test if the pan is hot enough without a thermometer, carefully add a single drop of water to the oil. It should sizzle/sputter immediately but NOT be smoking.To bake the strips: Brush or spray the tortilla strips with olive oil and spread them across a baking sheet in a single layer. Bake in a preheated oven at 400ºF/200ºC for 10-16 minutes, flipping/tossing them once at 6-7 minutes.

Step 11

Optionally salt them while warm, then leave them to cool & they'll crisp up further as they do. Finally, serve the soup topped with the tortilla strips and your choice of toppings, and enjoy!