Every year, thousands of Chick fil A fans flock to the drive-thru for a bowl of tortilla soup. This seasonal offering is among their most popular menu items and deserves all the hype. The recipe features a creamy soup base filled with flavorful shredded chicken, beans, peppers, corn, and a hint of lime. The soup is topped with crisp tortilla strips, adding color and texture.
Like many Chick fil A diners, we dream of this soup all year long, so we created our own version of the Chick fil A Tortilla Soup Recipe. We kept this dish simple, relying on pantry items easily found at most grocery stores. If you’re looking for a bold dish packed with plenty of Southwest flavor, you’ll adore this simple soup. It comes together in less than an hour and freezes well, so you’ll have enough to last all winter. Grab your favorite soup pot and get cooking!
The Inner World of Tortilla Soup
Tortilla soup is a Mexican classic, often called “sopa de tortilla.” In the U.S., diners view this soup as a main course, but it’s a popular appetizer in Mexico. Many fast food restaurants, such as Chick fil A, have adopted this dish as part of their seasonal offerings, but tortilla soup is a year-round delicacy in Mexico.
This comforting dish can be comprised of tomato soup, veggie, beef, or chicken broth, and every region has its preference. Traditionally, chicken tortilla soup does not include cream, as you’ll see in American restaurants. Authentic Mexican soup is also spicier and contains more fresh ingredients, such as hot peppers and cilantro. You’ll also find tortilla strips woven throughout the soup instead of as a garnish. This Chick fil A dupe is suitable for even the most mild taste. Feel free to make this recipe your own by increasing the heat or adding fresh herbs or extra sour cream. You can also include any vegetables or meat that you need to use up. The sky’s the limit!
Cost to Make Our Chick-fil-A Tortilla Soup Recipe
A bowl of Chick fil A Tortilla Soup will cost you about $4.85. In contrast, you can make enough of our Chick fil A Tortilla Soup recipe to feed 8 people for just $18.14 or $2.27 a serving. That’s a savings of about 50%!
Keep in mind that this total can vary based on where you live and the ingredients you have at your disposal. Here’s how that breaks down:
- Olive oil: $0.15
- Onion: $0.50
- Red bell pepper: $1.00
- Pickled jalapeños: $0.20
- Garlic: $0.10
- Salt: $0.04
- Smoked paprika: $0.20
- Onion powder: $0.10
- Cumin: $0.10
- Diced tomatoes with chilies: $1.00
- Creamed corn: $2.00 (adjusted)
- Chicken broth: $2.00
- Black beans: $2.00
- Chicken breasts: $5.00
- Sour cream: $0.75
- Lime: $0.50
- Tortilla strips: $0.50
Grand Total: $18.14
Considering you may have most of these items (chicken broth, spices, etc.) in your pantry, your out-of-pocket cost may be even less! Be sure to freeze any leftovers for easy meal prep all winter.
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How to Make Chick fil A Tortilla Soup
Keep reading to learn how to make a comforting pot of Chick fil A Tortilla Soup.
Step One: Cook the Chicken
Preheat the oven to 350℉. Place the thawed chicken breasts on a baking tray and season liberally with salt and pepper. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until cooked all the way through. Remove from the oven and let cool. Shred and set aside.
Step Two: Saute the Veggies
Place the olive oil in a medium saucepan set over medium-high heat. Add the onion, red bell pepper, jalapeños, and minced garlic. Saute until the veggies are soft, then stir in the salt, smoked paprika, onion powder, cumin, and sugar. Remove from heat and set aside.
Step Three: Let the Soup Simmer
Add the sauteed veggies, diced tomatoes, creamed corn, chicken broth, black beans, and shredded chicken breasts to a large soup pot set over medium-low heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, then turn the heat to low and let simmer for 20 minutes.
Step Four: Add Sour Cream and Lime
Stir in the sour cream and lime juice. Remove from heat and ladle into bowls. Top with tortilla strips. Enjoy!
What to Serve With Our Chick fil A Tortilla Soup Recipe
Serve our Chick fil A Tortilla Soup Recipe with additional jalapeños, lime wedges, shredded cheese, and sour cream.
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Storing Leftover Chick fil A Tortilla Soup
You can store leftover Chick fil A Tortilla Soup in the fridge for up to five days or freeze it for up to five months.
Chick fil A Tortilla Soup Recipe
Turn up any lunch or dinner with our flavorful Chick fil A Tortilla Soup recipe. This straightforward soup will bring a touch of heat to the coldest winter months. It features a creamy base studded with tender chicken, vegetables, beans, and a kiss of citrus. Be sure to make extra for a rainy day!
- Baking Sheet
- Medium saucepan
- Dutch Oven
- 2 count chicken breasts (cooked and shredded)
- 1 count salt (to taste)
- 1 count pepper (to taste)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 count onion (chopped)
- 1 count red bell pepper (chopped)
- 2 tablespoons pickled jalapenos
- 2 count garlic cloves
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 count diced tomatoes with chilies (10 ounce can)
- 2 count creamed corn (14.75 ounce cans)
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 2 count black beans (15 ounce cans, drained and rinsed)
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 count lime juiced
- 1 count tortilla strips (for topping)
Preheat the oven to 350℉. Place the thawed chicken breasts on a baking tray and season liberally with salt and pepper. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until cooked all the way through. Remove from the oven and let cool. Shred and set aside.
Place the olive oil in a medium saucepan set over medium-high heat. Add the onion, red bell pepper, jalapeños, and minced garlic. Saute until the veggies are soft, then stir in the salt, smoked paprika, onion powder, cumin, and sugar. Remove from heat and set aside.
Add the sauteed veggies, diced tomatoes, creamed corn, chicken broth, black beans, and shredded chicken breasts to a large soup pot set over medium-low heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, then turn the heat to low and let simmer for 20 minutes.
Stir in the sour cream and lime juice. Remove from heat and ladle into bowls. Top with tortilla strips. Enjoy!
You can also swap out the chicken breast for a rotisserie chicken; just remove the salt / pepper from the ingredients as well.