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Chicken Tortilla Soup

Chicken quarters are an economical choice AND the skin and bones bring a TON of flavor to the party. Make use of these bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces by doing double-duty: create a quick, flavorful broth & poach the meat for a tender shredded chicken. Use this method to make broth and shredded chicken for all sorts of soups, stews, and dishes including this Mexican inspired Chicken Tortilla.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 10 minutes
Course: Main Course
Author: Dani Bowen

Equipment

  • Large pot

Ingredients

  • 1 avocado
  • 1/2 bunch cilantro
  • 1 lime
  • 1 onion
  • 4 chicken quarters
  • 1 can  black beans
  • 1 can diced tomatoes
  • 2/3 cup frozen corn
  • 2 tbsp taco seasoning
  • 2/3 cup cheddar cheese
  • 2 cloves garlic or 2 tsp granulated garlic
  • olive oil
  • salt
  • pepper

Instructions

  • Mince or grate garlic. Small dice onion. Remove black beans from can and strain. Grate cheddar cheese. Cut lime into wedges. Tear cilantro leaves and tender stems.
  • Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large pot over medium-high. Add half of the onion and sauté 1-2 min. Add chicken quarters, 8 cups of water and a dash of salt and pepper. Cover and bring to a boil. Remove lid, reduce heat and simmer for 30-45 min chicken is fully cooked and broth has reduced some.
  • Remove chicken from broth using tongs and set on a plate. Allow a few minutes to cool and pull using two forks or your hands to shred the meat off of the bones. Set meat aside and discard bones. Place broth in a bowl so you can reuse the pot. Do not clean pot.
  • Add 1 tbsp oil to previously used pot over medium-high heat. Add remaining onion. Cook 2-3 min until softened. Add garlic and taco seasoning. Sauté 1-2 min until very fragrant. Add beans, corn, and diced tomatoes. Sauté another minute or two. Add chicken broth and pulled chicken and mix to incorporate. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10-20 min until the flavors have developed. Season to taste.
  • Dice avocado. Divide tortilla soup between bowls. Top with cheddar cheese, cilantro and avocado. Serve with a squeeze of lime!