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4.81 from 21 votes

Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe

Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup is a hearty, spicy Mexican soup that's tomato and chicken broth based, full of spices. Top it with crispy tortillas.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Dinner, Soup
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Servings: 4
Cost: $10

Ingredients

Fried Tortilla Strips:

  • 5 to 6 corn tortillas cut into thin or thick strips
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil or neutral oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon flaky sea salt

Tortilla Soup:

  • 1/2 yellow onion roughly chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves peeled and smashed
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 chipotle in adobo
  • 1 15-ounce can of diced tomatoes
  • 5 cups of chicken broth or water divided
  • 1/2 pound of boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 2 small chicken breasts)

For Garnish:

  • 1 avocado sliced
  • 1/4 cup sour cream whisked with a squeeze of lime juice and a pinch of salt
  • Lime wedges
  • 1/2 jalapeño sliced
  • Cilantro leaves

Instructions

To Fry up the Tortilla Strips:

  • Place a bed of paper towels or a clean kitchen towel on a baking sheet or cutting board. We're going to use this to drain the tortillas after they leave the oil.
  • Slice up the corn tortillas into whatever size you prefer. I usually go for thin but this is about freedom so do as you please. Pour the oil in a pan set over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot and shimmering, add the tortilla strips, in batches, frying them up until crispy, about 1 minute. Transfer them to the towel and sprinkle with flaky sea salt. Repeat with frying the tortilla strips, adding more oil as necessary. Set them aside.

For Instant Pot Directions:

  • To the Instant Pot, turn it to the sauté function, and add a tablespoon of olive oil. When the oil sheens, it’s hot, add the onion and garlic cloves. Cook for about 2 to 3 minutes, until the onion becomes translucent. Add the spices and salt and mix until the spices are fragrant. Turn the Instant Pot off and scoop the onions and garlic and transfer them to a blender.
  • To the blender, add the chipotle in adobo, can of diced tomatoes and a splash of broth. Pulse until very smooth, about 1 minutes. Pour it back into the Instant Pot, along with the remaining chicken broth or water. Give it a taste and adjust the salt according to taste. I added a pinch or two.
  • Place the chicken breasts in the soup mixture. Top the Instant Pot with its lid, turn the seal to “seal," and set it to "manual" for 15 minutes.
  • When the Instant Pot is done, release the quick release and top the steam with a clean kitchen towel. Remove the lid and remove the chicken. Using two forks, shred the chicken and return it to the pot.

For Pot Directions:

  • To the medium pot, set over medium-high heat, add a tablespoon of olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the onion and garlic cloves. Cook for about 5 to 6 minutes, until the onion becomes translucent. Add the spices and salt and mix until the spices are fragrant. Turn off the flame and scoop the onions and garlic, and transfer them to a blender.
  • To the blender, add the chipotle in adobo, can of diced tomatoes and a splash of broth. Pulse until very smooth, about 1 minutes. Pour it back into the pot, along with the remaining chicken broth or water. Give it a taste and adjust the salt according to taste. I added a pinch or two of salt.
  • Place the chicken breasts in the soup mixture and bring to a simmer. Turn the heat to medium-low and cover the pot with the lid. Cook for about 30 to 35 minutes, until the chicken is cooked. Remove the lid and remove the chicken. Using two forks, shred the chicken and return it to the pot.

To Serve:

  • Divide the soup amongst bowls. Top it with a small handful of tortilla strips, a dollop of sour cream, a few slices of jalapeño, a squeeze of lime and a few leaves of cilantro.

Notes

Equipment: 
Instant Pot 
 

Nutrition

Serving: 4g | Calories: 276kcal