Looking for a meal that is way simpler than it tastes and will be a full, healthy meal the entire family loves? This Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup with Nachos will satisfy everyone with its tangy-spicy-smoky flavors and toppings!
I’m not sure why it’s still “soup weather” in large parts of the country, including here in the Pacific Northwest, where April showers bring … hummingbirds, …er, I mean, they bring many splendid tulips. This rainy, cold weather just reinforces the melancholy I’m feeling over not having my beloved local hummingbird mama nest right outside (!) my window ?. Following her nestings the past 3 years in a row, I’ve almost come to expect her. And 
I’ve so missed leaning far off my front porch, peeking at the beauty of those navy-bean sized eggs, watching and waiting for sounds of the baby bird tweets. I literally spent hours watching the nest, watching the mother (we called her Nancy) feed her hatchlings, seeing them grow to eventually fill up the nest, waiting for their first flights. And, indeed, I did see the first flights. (When I said I watched for “hours”, I wasn’t exaggerating!)
I followed them to see where they lived, after leaving the nest, still in my yard, being fed by Mama Bird for the next several days.
During those weeks, there were days that I couldn’t pass by front door without peeking out at the nest, sometimes just waiting to watch Nancy feed her babies.
But, I still needed to make a good dinner (among other things), in pretty short order for my hungry family. We had quite a few “leftover nights” during those few weeks of the year. This Chicken Tortilla Soup would’ve been the perfect quick meal that only seems like it took hours!
All my whining about hummingbirds aside, this soup is incredibly tasty – it is seasoned with Chipotle chiles for smokiness and spice, and has a healthy squeeze lime juice for tanginess. Also, it is filled with lovely veggies and tender chicken, and then adorned with NACHOS of all things, providing additional flavor, texture, and fun! The nachos also add a bit of “full meal” feel, which, as you might know from my Smoky Lentil Soup with Sausage post, is something some of us, (not saying who exactly) need when eating soup.
And, if you tend to spend some time doing things like bird-watching, this flavorful meal is deceptively quick – start to finish, you could have it done, including the nachos, in 30 minutes. So it could be a weeknight meal. The recipe was advertised on Epicurious as a 22-minute meal, but for some of us, much of that time is the time it takes to preheat the oven, am I right? So I adapted the recipe a bit, but it still took me 30 minutes. Maybe you will be more efficient than me.
So whether you are a bird watcher or not, this easy and quick Chicken Tortilla Soup with Nachos should be on your weeknight dinner list. It did made me feel a bit better about those crazy birds abandoning me, …ummm, I mean, choosing a more private spot this year. Hey, there’s always next year! And don’t forget, Cinco de Mayo is coming – make some Chicken Tortilla Soup with Nachos! You won’t regret it! Enjoy!
Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup with Nachos
This smoky, tangy, spicy soup is healthy, hearty and so delicious! The entire family will love the nachos either as a topping or on the side!
This recipe is adapted slightly from this one I found on Epicurious.
The best way to prepare this is to make the soup broth while the oven preheats. Let the broth simmer while you make the nachos, then add the chicken while nachos are cooking. That way, everything gets done at the same time!
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 20 min
- Total Time: 30 min
- Yield: 4 Servings 1x
- Category: Soups
Ingredients
For the Soup:
- 2 T neutral-flavored oil (olive, safflower, grape seed)
- 4 (6”) Corn tortillas
- 1 Small-Medium Yellow Onion, peeled and chopped
- 1 t Ground Cumin
- 1 t Kosher Salt
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- 4 c Low-sodium Broth (I used Chicken)
- 1 – 14oz. can chopped tomatoes, fire-roasted
- 1 seeded chipotle chile, chopped, from can of Chile in Adobo plus 1 t adobo sauce
- 1/2 t ground Black Pepper
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2” thick strips and cut lengthwise if large
- 2 T fresh lime juice (1–2 limes’ worth) plus 1 lime, cut into wedges
- (Optional for serving) Sliced or cubed avocado, sliced radish, chopped cilantro leaves
For the Nachos:
- 4 (6”) Corn Tortillas, cut into 1” pieces
- 1 T Neutral-flavored oil (olive, safflower, grape seed)
- 1/2 c Refried Beans (I used jalapeno-flavored, but any type will do)
- 3/4 c Shredded Cheddar or Monterrey Jack Cheese
- 1/2 t Ground Cumin
Instructions
Prepare the Soup Broth
- Preheat oven to 425F. Oven is for preheating for the Nachos, but you can make the soup broth while the oven preheats.
- In a large saucepan or a 4-5 qt pot, heat the oil to Medium-High. Then saute the chopped onion and cut tortillas until onions are slightly browned and soft, about 5 minutes. Add a bit more oil if tortillas begin to stick too much.
- Add the minced garlic and cumin and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Then add the tomatoes, broth, chiles, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to simmer, while you make the Nachos.
Make the Nachos
- Place tortillas on a large sheet pan. Brush a bit of oil on top of each tortilla. Place in oven for 5 minutes. Turn tortillas over, return to oven and bake 4-5 minutes until crisp.
- Spread about 2 T refried beans onto each tortilla. Shake a bit of cumin and a bit of salt over each tortilla, then 1/4 of the cheese. Return tortillas to the oven and bake until cheese is melted and starting to brown.
- Remove to a cutting board. Prior to serving, cut tortillas into quarters.
Finish the Soup
- Uncover the soup pot, add the chicken and cover for about 5 minutes or until chicken is fully cooked through. Add the lime juice, stir.
- Divide broth into bowls, and serve with chopped avocado, radishes and cilantro. Garnish with nachos if desired.
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Laura, I love watching the birds in my garden too. There are these beautiful yellow weaver birds which have been living in my garden for years now and have come to trust us so well now, they are like part of our family. They weave their nests on the palm tree outside my dining room window and I can also spend hours watching them coming and going with little pieces of food for their babies…on these days an easy soup recipe like this is perfect to feed my family especially when I lose track of time?. Thank you for sharing this delicious and easy recipe…definitely pinning and saving 🙂
Ashika, I’m so glad to find there are others, like me, who “lose track of time” while watching these fascinating creatures! I don’t think we have “weavers” here, I’m going to have to look them up! Thanks for visiting and the Pin. I’m glad you like this soup!
this looks delicious! warming and cozy, but not ridiculously heavy (: plus nachos on top?! yes, please!
Thanks, Heather! I admit it was the nachos on top that sold me on this soup! Thanks for your visit!
What a stunning, vibrant soup ~ and I have the same nest-watching addiction, it must be the ‘mama’ instincts in us 🙂
Thanks, Sue! I agree, it must be our “mama” instinct that kicks in every time we see a bird in a nest. Thanks for your kind words and your visit!
We are having soups four seasons and this one is to do in spite of warm weather over here. Kiss Nancy for me as soon as she arrives 🙂 Thank you !
So happy to hear you’re having warm weather! And a good point you make about this soup being fabulous even on a warm day! Thanks for your visit!
What a fun soup!!! It is also continuously snowing and melting and then snowing and melting here!! Cozy dishes like this is just what we need!!
Katherine – your weather seems similar to ours, just a peek of Spring, then goes back to cold and rain! Fingers crossed Spring is indeed around the corner! Thanks for your visit!
I love tortilla soup and I love nachos. I feel like this was made for me!
Thanks, Kelsie! I love them both, too! I feel the same way! Thanks for visiting!
Wow, I’ve never seen a hummingbird nest before…that is so cool that Nancy’s nest was right outside your window! Hopefully she’ll come back for a visit this year sometime. 🙂 Also, this soup sounds incredible. I love the toppings on there! And at this rate, we’ll still be in soup season come Cinco de Mayo…what the heck is up with the weather this year!? Either way, love this recipe!
Thanks, David! We do still see Nancy, and her two babies from last year, Chubby and Chippy. But it seems, sadly, she found a different place to nest this year. There’s always next year, though!
Loving your shots Laura! so colorful, bright and tempting. Also the soup sounds super delicious!
Thanks Neha, for visiting and for your kind words!
It’s official, you are my kindred spirit. I love chicken tortilla soup but never thought to garnish it with nachos. I mean, you should win an award for ingenuity because this recipe looks LEGIT!
Thanks so much Christina! Wish I could take credit, but I saw it on Epicurious! It is legit for sure! Thanks for your visit! And, I do like that we are kindred spirits!