Healthy Chicken Tortilla Soup is loaded with hidden veggies, tender chicken, quinoa, and beans. Grab a bowl, add toppings, and enjoy!
author’s note
This Soup = Instant Comfort in a Bowl!
Chicken tortilla soup has always been a go-to dinner in my house. It’s cozy, hearty, and the toppings make it so fun. My kids pile on cheese and chips and I can’t resist a squeeze of lime and a big handful of cilantro.
Since I make tortilla soup so often, I wanted a version that felt a little lighter but still really filling. That’s how this Healthy Chicken Tortilla Soup was born!
I packed in extra veggies, swapped in quinoa for added protein and texture, and leaned on the slow cooker to make it as straightforward as possible. The result? A soup that’s just as flavorful and satisfying, but with a wholesome spin that keeps me coming back for seconds.
This slow cooker meal is straightforward, but sautéing first makes it more flavorful. If your slow cooker has a sauté function, you can do it all in one pot!
Sautéing the aromatics, spices, tomato paste, and tomatoes deepens the flavor and ensures the onion cooks fully, so it’s not crunchy.
Healthy Chicken Tortilla Soup Ingredients
| Ingredient | Swaps or Tips |
|---|---|
| Chicken thighs | Use chicken breasts if preferred, but they can dry out faster. |
| Quinoa | Rinse before adding to remove bitterness. Rice works in a pinch, but cook separately and mix in at the end. |
| Red enchilada sauce | If too spicy, cut the amount in half and replace with chicken stock. |
| Chicken stock | Use low-sodium to control salt and season to taste at the end. |
| Black beans | Pinto beans or kidney beans also work. |
Healthy Chicken Tortilla Soup Toppings
- Tortilla strips: Use store-bought strips for ease or make your own baked or air-fried strips.
- Cheese: Add a Mexican blend, sharp Cheddar, or Monterey-Colby Jack.
- Avocado or guac: Add only to what you’ll be enjoying immediately.
- Lime juice: A drizzle of lime adds brightness and freshness.
- Cilantro: If you don’t like you can skip!
- Sour cream: Light or fat-free sour cream works great.
Storage
Leftovers?
Healthy Chicken Tortilla Soup gets thicker as the quinoa expands. It’s still tasty, but it thickens more over time. Best eaten in 2-3 days.
Reheat on the stovetop with a little chicken stock. It doesn’t freeze well since the quinoa soaks up the liquid.
More satisfying Soup Recipes:
Soups And Stews
Mushroom Carrot Soup
Soups And Stews
straightforward Zuppa Toscana Recipe
Dinner
slow cooker ChiliHealthy Chicken Tortilla Soup Notes
- Rinse the quinoa: Rinse in a fine strainer before using it.
- Cooking time: Quinoa takes in liquid as it cooks. Stop when quinoa “pops” for more broth.
- Slow cooker size: Use a 6-quart slow cooker.
- Cook on a hot burner: Cook on a hot burner for quinoa to cook right.
- Cut the chicken: Cut chicken into 2-inch pieces for even cooking.
Variations
- More heat: Add extra jalapeños, fire-roasted chilies, medium/hot enchilada sauce, or a pinch of cayenne.
- from-scratch sauce: Swap the can for your own enchilada sauce.
- Vegetarian: Use sweet potatoes or butternut squash instead of chicken like this these vegetarian enchiladas.
- Toppings: Try cheese or sour cream for a creamier soup.
