🍲🥑🍅🧀 Chicken, tomatoes, corn, black beans, avocado, cheese, and addictively crunchy tortilla strips! Fast, easy weeknight meal, and better than from a restaurant! Made in ONE pot and ready in 30 minutes, this is a fan FAVORITE that will impress your friends and family!
1cupsweet Vidalia or yellow onionpeeled and diced small (about 1 medium onion)
1large jalapeno pepper(about 4 to 5 inches long, diced very small (the seeds are where the heat is concentrated; included or discard them based on preference)
4garlic clovespeeled and finely minced
32ounces4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
two 14.5-ounce cans diced tomatoes and juice(I used petite diced, no-salt-added)
one 15-ounce can black beansdrained and rinsed
2cupsshredded cooked chicken(use store bought rotisserie chicken to save time; or roast or cook your own chicken or use other leftover chicken you have on hand)
1 ½cupscorn(I used frozen straight from the freezer, or use canned corn that's drained, or fresh may be substituted)
1tablespoonlime juiceplus more to taste if desired
1teaspoonsmoked paprika(regular paprika may be substituted)
¼teaspooncayenne pepperoptional and to taste
⅓cupfresh cilantro leavesfinely minced, or to taste
diced avocado for servingoptional for serving
shredded cheeseoptional for serving
sour creamoptional for serving
Instructions
Make the Tortilla Strips:
Preheat oven to 375F and line a baking sheet with a Silpat or foil to save cleanup time.
Loosely scatter the tortilla strips, evenly drizzle with olive oil, evenly sprinkle with kosher salt, toss with hands to coat evenly, and bake for about 15 to 18 minutes, or until crisp and lightly golden brown; set aside.
While strips bake, begin making the soup.
Make the Soup:
To a large Dutch oven or stockpot, add 2 tablespoons olive oil and heat over medium-high heat to warm.
Add the onion, jalapeno, and sauté for about 5 minutes, or until vegetables begin to soften. Stir intermittently.
Add the garlic and sauté for 1 to 2 minutes. Stir intermittently.
Add the chicken broth, tomatoes and juice, black beans, chicken, corn, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, 2 teaspoons salt, pepper, smoked paprika, optional cayenne pepper, and bring to a boil.
Allow mixture to boil gently for about 5 to 7 minutes. If at any point the overall liquid level looks low or you prefer your soup to have more broth, add 1 to 2 cups of water; you’ll adjust the salt and seasoning levels at the end.
Add the cilantro and boil 1 minute.
Taste soup and add salt to taste. This will vary based on how salty the chicken broth, tomatoes, black beans, and rotisserie chicken are, and personal preference. Make any necessary seasoning adjustments (i.e. more salt, pepper, chili powder, cumin, cayenne, etc.).
Ladle soup into bowls, top with tortilla strips to taste, optionally garnish with avocado, cheese and/or sour cream; serve immediately.
Video
Notes
Storage: Soup will keep airtight in the fridge for 5 to 7 days or in the freezer for up to 3-4 months. Reheat in the microwave for 30-60 seconds, or as needed. Extra tortilla strips will keep in airtight at room temp for up to 5 days.