Simple Tortilla Soup (Elote Style): A No-Stress Dinner That’ll Warm Everyone Up

If your kitchen ever feels like an episode of Chopped—you’re not alone.

This simple tortilla soup recipe came to life during one of those “make it work” nights. We were in the middle of a pantry challenge, trying to use what we had without one more trip to the store. I already had four chicken breasts thawed in the fridge that needed to be used, so I scrounged up what seemed like a bunch of random ingredients and crossed my fingers that it would turn into something comforting.

And it did.

We’d just spent the entire day outside painting our house—because of course, we waited until the last possible weekend of the year to tackle it. Note to self: if you live in Colorado or anywhere else that turns to ice overnight in November, don’t try to paint your house this late. No matter how fast you think you can work, you’ll still end up wind-burned, freezing, and absolutely over it.

So when we came inside, all I wanted was something warm, hearty, and totally hands-off.

This Elote Chicken Tortilla Soup hit the spot. It was simple, cozy, and ready in about 30 minutes. Plus, it was flexible enough to use what we had on hand.

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Parts of this post were drafted with the help of AI, then reviewed, updated, and edited by me to reflect my personal experience and voice. I always aim to share real-life content that’s helpful, honest, and rooted in my day-to-day rhythms.

This post contains affiliate links. That means I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you choose to purchase through my links. I only share products I use and love in my own home.

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🥣 Why This Is a Simple Tortilla Soup

You literally just dump everything into a pot and let it simmer. I did take one extra step because I personally can’t stand boiled chicken—so I baked my chicken separately while the soup simmered. But even that didn’t require much thought.

You could easily:

• Use canned chicken
• Toss in leftover rotisserie
• Boil the chicken right in the soup

There’s no right way—just whatever makes sense for your day.

It’s warm, satisfying, and gives you a win on nights when your brain is fried.

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🛒 Ingredients You’ll Need

This recipe is pantry-friendly and super adaptable. Here’s what we used:

• 4 chicken breasts (I marinated mine in elote seasoning—highly recommend!)
• 1 onion, diced
• 3–4 cloves garlic, minced (or 1 tsp garlic powder)
• 2 cans Rotel tomatoes
• 1 can corn (or 1½ cups frozen or fresh)
• 2 cans black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 box (4 cups) chicken broth
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp chili powder
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Oil for sautéing

Optional Add-Ins:

• 1 small can green chiles
• ½ tsp smoked paprika
• Fresh lime juice or zest
• Chopped cilantro

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🔥 How to Make It (Step-by-Step)

1. Cook the Chicken

Grill, bake, or sauté your marinated chicken breasts until cooked through (internal temp of 165°F). Let rest, then shred or chop.

2. Sauté the Onion + Garlic

In a large pot, heat a drizzle of oil and sauté the onion until soft. Add garlic and your spices—let them bloom for 1–2 minutes.

3. Dump in the Good Stuff

Pour in your broth, tomatoes, corn, and beans. Stir everything together and let it simmer gently for 10–15 minutes so the flavors can come together.

4. Add Your Chicken

Once the chicken is cooked and shredded, stir it into the pot. Let the soup simmer for another 5 minutes. If you want to bake your chicken like I did, I baked it on a sheet pan covered in parchment paper, for easy clean up, at 400°F for about 30 minutes or until its internal temp was 165°F.

5. Taste + Adjust

Add salt, pepper, or more seasoning to taste. If you like a little extra zing, squeeze in some lime juice or sprinkle with cilantro.

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🌿 Serve It With Love

This soup is one of those “build-your-own-bowl” dinners my kids love. Here are our favorite toppings:

• Crushed tortilla chips
• Shredded cheese
• A big scoop of sour cream
• Diced avocado
• Fresh lime wedges
• More cilantro if you’re into it

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💛 For the Overwhelmed Mom Standing in the Kitchen…

If it’s 4:45 and you have no plan, no energy, and a fridge that’s looking a little questionable—I see you.

This soup is one of those dinners that doesn’t ask a lot of you. It doesn’t need perfection. It just needs you to dump, simmer, and maybe top it with cheese.

You’re not behind. You’re doing an amazing job feeding your family—even if it’s soup and chips tonight. That counts.

This post is all about a simple tortilla soup recipe.

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