Chick-fil-A Inspired Tortilla Soup

Recipe Highlights: Why You’ll Love This Soup

• **Authentic Flavor:** Tastes remarkably similar to the popular Chick-fil-A Chicken Tortilla Soup, satisfying your cravings for the real deal.
• **Effortlessly Easy:** Primarily a slow cooker chicken tortilla soup recipe, requiring minimal hands-on time, with a convenient Instant Pot option for quicker preparation.
• **Year-Round Enjoyment:** No more waiting for soup season! Enjoy this comforting dish whenever the craving strikes, any time of the year.
• **Dietary Friendly:** Naturally gluten-free and dairy-free, making it accessible for those with sensitivities or specific dietary preferences.
• **Customizable Toppings:** Offers endless possibilities for customization, allowing you to personalize each bowl with your favorite additions and elevate the experience.

For the Chick-fil-A Style Chicken Tortilla Soup

Chicken Breasts: We recommend using about 1.5 lbs of boneless, skinless chicken breasts, typically 2-3 medium-sized pieces. Once cooked in the slow cooker, they become incredibly tender and easy to shred, soaking up all the rich flavors of the soup. Feel free to adjust the quantity based on your preference for more or less chicken per serving.

Vibrant Veggies & Aromatics: This soup gets its body and depth from a medley of vegetables. We use canned corn and canned diced tomatoes (with their juices for added liquid and flavor), along with canned diced green chiles for a mild, smoky undertone. Freshly diced onions, minced garlic, and a diced jalapeño add essential aromatics and a customizable kick of heat. For less spice, remove the seeds and membranes from the jalapeño, or omit it entirely if preferred.

Enchilada Sauce: A key flavor component, red enchilada sauce provides a rich, savory base with a hint of smoky spice. We particularly love the Siete Foods brand for its clean ingredients and authentic taste, ensuring the soup remains gluten and dairy-free. If Siete Foods is not available, you can substitute a high-quality 15 oz can of plain tomato sauce for a milder flavor, or another brand of gluten-free enchilada sauce.

Black Beans: Drained and rinsed black beans add a wonderful source of plant-based protein and fiber, contributing to the soup’s hearty texture. While black beans are traditional for this type of soup, you could also use other mild beans like Navy beans or cannellini beans if you wish, though black beans offer the most authentic look and taste for this copycat Chick-fil-A tortilla soup.

Seasonings: A carefully selected blend of spices is crucial for that signature tortilla soup flavor. We use garlic powder, ground cumin for warmth, dried oregano, salt to taste, chili powder for mild heat and depth, and paprika for a touch of color and subtle sweetness. Don’t be shy about adjusting these seasonings to match your personal preference for spice and intensity.

Chicken Broth: Four cups of good quality chicken broth forms the liquid base of the soup. Opt for a low-sodium or no-sodium-added variety to better control the overall saltiness of the dish, especially since other ingredients like canned tomatoes and enchilada sauce already contribute sodium.

For Crispy Homemade Tortilla Strips

Corn Tortillas: For truly authentic and gluten-free tortilla strips, corn tortillas are the way to go. The Siete brand, made with almond flour, offers an excellent gluten-free and grain-free option that bakes up beautifully crispy. However, any good quality corn tortilla will work wonderfully. Avoid flour tortillas for this recipe, as they won’t achieve the same crisp texture and might not be gluten-free.

Avocado Oil Spray: A light, even coating of oil is essential for making your tortilla strips perfectly crispy. Avocado oil is preferred due to its high smoke point, which makes it ideal for baking at higher temperatures without burning. Olive oil can also be used, but avocado oil provides a neutral flavor that won’t overpower the tortillas.

Sea Salt: A simple sprinkle of sea salt after spraying with oil enhances the flavor of the tortilla strips, making them an irresistible topping. Adjust the amount of salt to your liking – a little goes a long way to bring out the corn flavor. If you’re watching your sodium intake, you can certainly reduce or omit the added salt.

1. Combine Soup Ingredients: Begin by adding all of the soup ingredients into your slow cooker. This includes the chicken breasts, diced onion, minced garlic, diced jalapeño, diced green chiles, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, paprika, oregano, salt, diced tomatoes (with juices), enchilada sauce, chicken broth, black beans (drained and rinsed), and canned corn (drained and rinsed).
2. Stir and Cook: Give all the ingredients a thorough stir to ensure they are well combined and the seasonings are evenly distributed. Place the lid on your slow cooker and cook on high for 4 hours, or on low for 7-8 hours. The longer cooking time on low often results in even more tender chicken and deeper flavors.
3. Shred the Chicken: Once the cooking time is complete, the chicken should be fall-apart tender. Carefully remove the cooked chicken breasts from the slow cooker and place them on a cutting board or shallow dish. Using two forks, shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces. This process should be very easy if the chicken is properly cooked.
4. Return and Season: Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker, stirring it into the soup. Taste the soup and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more salt, pepper, or a pinch of any other spice to achieve your desired flavor profile.

1. Prepare for Baking: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large baking sheet with foil or parchment paper for easy cleanup. This prevents the tortillas from sticking and helps them crisp up evenly.
2. Cut Tortilla Strips: Stack your corn tortillas neatly. Using a pizza cutter or a sharp knife, slice the tortillas into vertical strips, approximately 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide. Once you have a pile of vertical strips, rotate them and cut horizontally across the strips to halve their length, creating perfect bite-sized tortilla strips.
3. Season and Spread: Transfer the cut tortilla strips to the prepared baking sheet, spreading them out in a single layer to ensure even baking and crisping. Spray them generously with avocado oil, ensuring each strip is lightly coated. Then, sprinkle them evenly with sea salt.
4. Bake to Crispy Perfection: Bake the tortilla strips for 7-10 minutes. Keep a close eye on them, checking frequently, as baking times can vary between ovens. They are ready when they are lightly browned, golden, and wonderfully crispy. Once baked, remove from the oven and set aside to cool slightly. They will become even crispier as they cool.

Mary’s Expert Tips & Tricks for the Best Tortilla Soup

Achieving the perfect homemade Chick-fil-A tortilla soup is easy with a few insider tips. These suggestions will help you adapt the recipe to your schedule, preferences, and ensure every bowl is nothing short of fantastic.

Instant Pot Method for Speed: If you’re short on time but still crave this incredible soup, your Instant Pot is a lifesaver. Simply add all the soup ingredients (excluding the tortillas) to the Instant Pot. Stir well, then cook on high pressure for 12 minutes. Allow for a natural pressure release for 5-10 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure. Remove the chicken, shred it, and return it to the pot. This method will have your Chick-fil-A tortilla soup ready in under 30 minutes, making it a fantastic option for a quick weeknight dinner.

Proper Storage for Leftovers: Leftover soup is a true delight! Store the cooled soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. When ready to enjoy, reheat gently on the stovetop over medium heat until warmed through, or in the microwave. Crucially, always store homemade tortilla strips and any other fresh toppings (like avocado or sour cream) separately. This prevents the tortilla strips from becoming soggy and ensures your toppings remain fresh and vibrant for each serving.

Chicken Shortcuts & Alternatives: For those days when even the slow cooker feels too long, pre-cooked chicken is your best friend. A store-bought rotisserie chicken, shredded, works beautifully and significantly reduces the slow cooker time to just 1 hour on high, as the chicken only needs to heat through and meld with the flavors. Alternatively, if you want to skip the slow cooker entirely, combine all ingredients (with cooked shredded chicken) in a large pot and simmer over medium heat on the stovetop for about 20-30 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.

Stovetop Simmering Option: Don’t own a slow cooker or Instant Pot? No problem! This soup can easily be made on the stovetop. Add all ingredients (including raw chicken breasts) into a large stock pot. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Let it simmer, covered, for 30-45 minutes, or until the chicken is fork-tender and easily shreds. Remove the chicken, shred it as directed, and then return it to the pot to stir everything together. Continue to simmer for another 5-10 minutes to ensure all flavors are integrated.

Customizable Toppings Galore: The beauty of this homemade chicken tortilla soup lies in its versatility with toppings. Beyond the crispy tortilla strips, shredded cheese (or dairy-free alternative), sour cream (or dairy-free substitute), fresh cilantro, and creamy avocado, consider adding a squeeze of fresh lime juice, finely diced red onion, a dash of hot sauce for extra heat, or even some pickled jalapeños for a tangy kick. Each topping adds a unique layer of flavor and texture, allowing everyone to personalize their bowl.

Keeping it Dairy-Free: This recipe is intentionally crafted without dairy in the soup base itself. However, many traditional toppings like shredded cheese and sour cream do contain dairy. To maintain a fully dairy-free dish, simply opt for high-quality dairy-free shredded cheese substitutes and your favorite dairy-free sour cream alternative. Many excellent plant-based options are available that replicate the creamy texture and tangy flavor perfectly, ensuring everyone can enjoy this soup.

Spice Level Adjustment: The recipe calls for one jalapeño and diced green chiles, providing a mild-to-medium heat. If you prefer a spicier soup, leave some of the seeds and membranes in the jalapeño, or add an extra jalapeño. For a milder version, remove all seeds and membranes, or omit the jalapeño entirely and rely solely on the green chiles for a subtle hint of warmth. A pinch of cayenne pepper can also be added for an extra fiery kick.

Thickening the Soup: This soup has a naturally rich consistency, but if you prefer an even thicker broth, you have a few options. After shredding the chicken and returning it to the pot, you can mash a portion of the black beans against the side of the slow cooker or pot, or remove about half a cup of the soup, blend it until smooth, and then return it to the pot. This creates a slightly thicker, creamier texture without adding external thickeners.

Explore More Delicious Soup Recipes…

If you loved this copycat Chick-fil-A chicken tortilla soup, you’ll surely enjoy these other comforting and flavorful soup recipes, perfect for any season!

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