This Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup is quick, healthy, and delicious! Packed with juicy, tender chicken, tomatoes, black beans, and corn, this soup is bursting with flavor. Add your favorite toppings, such as homemade tortilla chips, diced avocado, and cheese, and enjoy a delicious weeknight dinner or meal prep lunch in minutes.
Because I can’t get enough of my Instant Pot, I created a pressure cooker friendly version of my most popular Slow Cooker meal, Chicken Tortilla Soup. This soup is a reader and family favorite, and while I love both versions, this Instant Pot recipe is perfect for busy weeknights.
Seriously, people, if you think life with a Slow Cooker is easy, it’s even easier with an Instant Pot. This bowl of deliciousness took only a fraction of the time it would have in the Crock Pot. In fact, it took me around 30 minutes total. One of the easiest recipes for your new pot for sure.
And if you ever left for the day and FORGOT to turn on your crock pot (it can’t be just me, right?), you hear me loud on clear on that, don’t you? Oh – and while I am at it, even if you forget to take your chicken out of the freezer…you are STILL a-ok.
Seriously.
I guess what I’m saying is the Instant Pot is going to be the end of all your excuses. You will have get a little more creative the next time you want to stop at the drive through. Just sayin’.
New to the Instant Pot? Check out this post of Healthy Instant Pot Recipes and get cooking!
Why I love this Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe
- Toppings. I am a sucker for a soup with toppings and this soup has all my faves.
- It’s pretty much a dump and go recipe here with very minimal chopping and no babysitting. You just dump a bunch of ingredients into the pot and voila…an amazingly delicious soup, perfect for your busy nights.
- This instant pot soup amazing for meal prep, as the flavors intensify, so this is even better the next day. A great recipe for a make ahead lunch.
- It is customizable – want more veggies? Add them! Dairy free? Skip the cheese topping. In a bigger rush? Use leftover cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken.
Ingredients
The soup recipes comes together with simple, wholesome ingredients. Exact amounts and full details are in the recipe card below.
Here’s what you need:
- boneless skinless chicken breasts – raw chicken can be fresh or frozen. Feel free to swap in boneless skinless chicken thighs if that’s what you have on hand.
- diced tomatoes with green chiles – I look for mild or original heat rotel tomatoes for this, otherwise the soup can be too spicy for my kids.
- diced tomatoes – I look for low sodium or no salt added whenever possible.
- frozen corn – I have used fresh sweet corn and canned corn in a pinch.
- black beans – give your beans a good rinse before adding to the soup to cut down on the sodium.
- yellow onion – I prefer a yellow onion, but you can use red onion or white onion in this soup.
- jalapeno – this adds flavor not really heat, but if you have sensitive kiddos or family members, you can omit them and use as a topping instead.
- garlic – fresh is best.
- low sodium chicken broth or chicken stock – whatever you have will work.
- cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper – sometimes I add my salt free taco seasoning if I have some prepped, otherwise these simple spices are the perfect combo.
- lime juice – the perfect finish – chef’s kiss!
- Topping ideas – diced avocado, cheese, lime, Greek yogurt, fresh cilantro, homemade tortilla strips
- Ingredients for homemade tortilla strips – it’s really easy to bake your own crunchy tortilla strips to top your soup. All you need is:
- organic corn tortillas – I love the mission brand thin tortillas
- avocado or olive oil cooking spray – either will work, but I prefer avocado oil spray
- salt – you can add other seasonings, too, but I like a plain salted version.
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
- Add more veggies – bell peppers, spinach, zucchini carrots, or kale taste amazing in this recipe.
- Switch out your beans – kidney beans or pinto beans are a great option, but any beans will work.
- Use fire-roasted tomatoes – love the smokey kick they give to this soup.
- Swap in poblano pepper – for a little less heat than a jalapeno.
- Saute veggies – Have more time? Use the saute function to saute your onions and garlic before adding the rest of the ingredients.
Instructions
- Toss all the ingredients for the soup into your Instant Pot and give it a stir.
- Turn onto to manual setting for 15 minutes. It will take about 10-15 minutes to come to pressure. When the timer is up, allow soup to naturally release for 5-10 minutes, then carefully switch to quick release, releasing the remaining pressure (I hold a kitchen towel over the top to be safe).
- Once the the steam stops, carefully open the lid and shred chicken with two forks.
How to make homemade tortilla strips
- Preheat your oven to 350 and cut the corn tortillas into strips. Spray with olive oil or avocado oil cooking spray and sprinkle with salt. Bake for about 10-15 minutes.
- Enjoy with toppings!
Expert Tips
- Doing a full or partial natural release ensures juicy chicken every time.
- If I need some Mexican flavored chicken for meal prep, I will add more to the soup and then separate it into a meal prep container after cook time.
- This soup is delish day of, but gets even more flavorful as it sits, so go ahead and prep it in advance.
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely. You can even use a mix of different cuts of chicken. Use the same cook time!
Totally. Pinto beans are a yummy choice, but any bean would work.
Yes! I have an easy slow cooker chicken tortilla soup on the blog. And making this stovetop is also very simple. I added instructions to the recipe card below.
Jalapenos aren’t very spicy, but if you are sensitive to heat, you can omit them and this soup will still have a lot of flavor.
Meal Prep and Storage
To prep ahead: love this recipe for meal prep! Hardly any chopping and no need to sear or babysit the soup. Also, it tastes even better the next day. Simply cool the soup, then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
To store: Cool soup. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator (I love using Mason Jars) for up to 4 days. Store homemade tortilla strips in a ziplock baggie or airtight container for up to 4 days. They should stay crisp.
To freeze: Freeze soup in souper cubes or freezer safe containers, leaving room at the top of the container for some expansion. Store in the freezer for up to 4 months.
To reheat: Heat soup in a small pot or in the microwave until soup is warmed.
More Instant Pot Soup Recipes
Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 lb raw boneless skinless chicken breasts about 3-4 Breasts
- 10 oz. diced tomatoes with green chilies
- 14.5 oz. diced tomatoes no salt added
- 1 cup frozen corn thawed
- 1 cup black beans no salt added, drained & rinsed
- 1 medium onion diced
- 1 jalapeno diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 4 cups organic low sodium chicken broth or stock
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon Himalayan salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Tortilla Strips:
- 4 organic corn tortillas
- Olive oil cooking spray
- Himalayan salt
- Optional toppings – avocado, cheese, lime, Greek yogurt, cilantro
Instructions
Instant Pot
- Toss all the ingredients for the soup into your Instant Pot and give it a stir.
- Turn onto to manual setting for 15 minutes. It will take about 10-15 minutes to come to pressure. When the timer is up, carefully switch to quick release (I put a kitchen towel over the top to be safe). Once the the steam stops, carefully open the lid. Remove chicken, and shred with two forks. Add chicken back to soup.
- Enjoy with toppings!
Stovetop
- Add all of your ingredients to a large dutch oven or pot. Stir.
- Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook for 25 minutes, or until chicken is cooked though.
- Remove chicken, and shred with two forks. Add chicken back to soup.
- Enjoy with toppings!
To make homemade tortilla strips:
- Preheat your oven to 350 and cut the corn tortillas into strips. Spray with olive oil spray and sprinkle with Himalayan salt. Bake for about 10-15 minutes.
Jean says
Made this tonight and it was a huge hit! I doubled the recipe and I’m going freeze some for a real easy meal down the road!! Thank you!
Nancylynn says
Doubling and freezing – YES that’s perfect!
Carrie says
Soooo yummy! First time ever making this recipe and I’m hooked! I topped mine with shredded cheddar and a dollop of nonfat plain Greek yogurt. Wish I had cilantro, but gosh it is yummy! Can’t wait to hog tnr remaining 5 servings for myself! Ha!
Chrissy says
The WW link is not correct. It links to a Baked Eggplant recipe instead. Any way to correct this to have accurate points to track?
Nancylynn says
EEK! Sorry about that, should be all fixed now! Thank you for pointing it out!
Robin says
Delicious and so easy! I used partially frozen chicken breasts, kidney instead of black beans, and a small spoonful of canned jalapeño- perfection! We also loved the baked tortilla strips. Thank you !
Nancylynn says
Sounds amazing, thank you for sharing your subs!
LINDA HINSON says
This recipe has become my “go to” favorite soup recipe. It freezes well and that way I always have some for a quickie lunch or dinner. The toppings are great but it is yummy with or without toppings. Recommended by my daughter and boy was she right.
Nancylynn says
So grateful your daughter shared the recipe with you and that you love it! Thank you for the comment and review – it’s so helpful to other readers!
Theresa says
Does anyone know the macros on this?
Nancylynn says
Stay tuned – we are working on converting all recipes to a new recipe card with nutrition info included!
Tracy Hager says
I am new to cooking with the Instant Pot. This is only the third meal I’ve cooked in it. A friend sent it to me as one of her favorite Instant Pot recipes. My family LOVED it! I only used half of a jalapeno and it was perfect! I am not following Weight Watchers. I am just logging all of my food into my Fitbit. Do you know how many calories per serving the Chicken Tortilla Soup is? I can’t wait to try more of your recipes!
Nancylynn says
Thank you so much to your friend for sharing with you- we all need friends like that! So glad you and your family loved the recipe.
I don’t calculate calories automatically on the recipes, but MyFitnessPal has a really convenient copy and paste feature on their site for those that need the calorie info!
Emily says
Just stopped by to make this for the umpteenth time and had to leave a note about how great this recipe is! It’s become one of my favorite soups and a real crowd-pleaser.
Nancylynn says
Thank you sooo much for taking the time to rate the recipe and leave a comment! So glad you love the soup!
CC says
This has been my go-to chicken tort soup for a while now. Not sure if I’ve ever reviewed. We live off of this stuff! Super fuss-free and perfectly nourishing! Thank you for your recipes!
Nancylynn says
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment and review the recipe- it means the world!
Christina says
My family absolutely loves this Chicken tortilla soup!!! My father loves it as well and wants to make it for himself. He doesn’t have an instant pot but has a crock pot. Do you think he should try cooking it on high for four hours or low for 8?
thanks!!
PS. All of the recipes I’ve made from your site are superb!
Nancylynn says
Thank you for the high praise! Here is the crock pot version of the soup- I hope your father enjoys it! https://confessionsofafitfoodie.com/21-day-fix-crock-pot-tortilla-soup/
Nancylynn says
Hi Mary – thank you for this comment! Would you be willing to change your rating to reflect your positive experience with the recipe? Thank you!!!!!!
Mary Vanlandingham says
I did give this recipe 5 stars, but it didn’t pick them up for some reason! Sorry, Nancy!! This is definitely a 5 star recipe!!!!! My husband said it was the absolute best Tortilla Soup he had ever eaten; better than any restaurant!! This will be one of my top go-to recipes!!
Nancylynn says
You are the best!! Thank you so much, Mary – you have no idea how much these comments mean to me!!
Anne Gideon says
What if I can’t STAND chunks of cooked tomatoes? It’s a texture thing….can I just add pureed? How much?
Nancylynn says
Yes! I would use the same amount as the diced or you can just blend the diced tomatoes yourself!
Shelley says
You have literally changed my life with your 21 day fix recipes! Thank you! Made this soup last night, so delicious! Some of my chicken was a little tough though, do you think I should decrease my cooking time?
Nancylynn says
Sorry for the delay!! I would do a natural release next time!
Veronica says
If I want to double it, how would that affect the cooking time?
Nancylynn says
The time would be the same!
Nikki Demny says
Sooooo delicious! Made this tonight and it was so quick and easy since I did all the veggie prep on Sunday. My family loved this and I have plenty of leftovers for lunches this week or I might freeze for later. I did make sure to devein and not use any of the jalapeno seeds this keeps the heat to a minimum. I also used the mild rotel and like I said it was perfect!
Nancylynn says
So, so happy!
Tracy says
This is one of our favorite go-to recipes, especially during our long, cold, dark winters! We omit the jalapeño for our kids, and add lime juice. So easy, and so delicious!!
Nancylynn says
Perfect!!! Thank you so much for taking the time to rate and review! <3
Debbie says
Hello, I’m brand new to Instant Pot cooking. Does this cook time mean 15 minutes after the pressurizing?
Nancylynn says
Hi! Yes! Just set your IP for 15 minutes and it will pressurize and then count down.
Danielle says
Hi, really excited to make this recipe. I want to increase the container counts from 1/2 red to 1/2 green annnnnndddd… NO yellow. I know how to remove the yellows, but to increase the reds and greens, do I just double the chicken and veggie amounts?
Nancylynn says
Yes!!
Ellie says
Could I do natural release as well? I have to run outb
Nancylynn says
Totally!
Melissa says
I’ve made the crockpot version of this many times but want to use my new instant pot for it now. What cooking time should I use if I double the recipe?
Nancylynn says
Keep it the same! Enjoy!
Alexis says
Is it half red, green, and yellow for each serving or the whole thing? Thanks!
Nancylynn says
Per serving!
Tammie says
Can you start recipe with soaked hard beans opposed to canned beans? If so would I do recipe as stated?
Nancylynn says
Yes! Just increase time to 25 minutes!
Melissa says
Delicious!! Used frozen chicken breasts and cooked for 20 minutes as suggested in comments. 🙂
Nancylynn says
Perfection!!
Billie Jo says
I made this last night for my family, and it is most excellent! I had more chicken (32oz) and adjusted the cook time to 19 minutes, plus the 5 minutes NR. It was cooked PERFECTLY (thanks for the guide). The only change I made was leaving out the black beans since I have kiddos that don’t like legumes (texture). So delicious and simple! This will be a go-to soup for us.
Nancylynn says
That’s fantastic. Bille Jo!!! Thanks for taking the time to share – made my day!!
Jean says
Hi, do you think this recipe could be made in a crock pot? TIA
Nancylynn says
Completely! I actually have a crock pot version on the blog (search it!) – you basically dump everything in the pot and cook for 6-8 hours on low!
Lori says
I made this soup today. I converted it to a vegan version by replacing the chicken broth with Imagine No Chicken broth and I added Beyond Meat Grilled Chicken Strips (frozen) instead of chicken but only during the last few minutes. I topped it with 1 tablespoon each of SO Delicious Cheddar Jack Shreds, Tofutti Sour Cream and salsa. Because my beans & tomatoes contained salt, I omitted the salt completely. Turned out perfectly. I did use regular Rotel tomatoes & green chilis and a full jalapeno out of my garden. I grew some “mild” jalapenos this year and used one of them. The soup was spicy, but not hot. Love it and will definitely make it again. I don’t use my Instant Pot enough and this soup gives me a great reason to bring it out. Thanks!
Nancylynn says
This is fabulous and we use the same cheese for my son! I am thrilled you were able to adapt and enjoy it! Thanks so much for sharing!
Kathryn Egly says
Love this recipe! It was awesome! My VERY first Instant Pot Recipe turned out GREAT! Thank you! I shared this with friends and on my pinterest page.
Nancylynn says
Sorry I didn’t get back to you yet – but THANK YOU! This made my day, Kathryn!
Renee says
Hello do you drain the cans of tomatoes?
Nancylynn says
Hi! I don’t!
MELISSA C MANALO says
I can’t use tomatoes in this recipe. Should I add more liquid?
Nancylynn says
You can add a little more if you’d like, but it’s ok to leave it as is, as well!
MELISSA C MANALO says
Hi, I can’t use tomatoes for this recipe. Should I add more liquid?
Krystina says
Can I use frozen chicken breasts for this recipe?
Nancylynn says
Yes!
Lauri Citro says
What if I have skin on, bone in chicken breasts? Can I remove skins, cook and then remove whole chicken breast, then shred? Hate handling raw chicken!
Nancylynn says
YES!
Lisa says
Has anyone added rice to this soup?
Tamara says
Hi
Do you think this would work vegetarian style?
Nancylynn says
I do! But I would increase the amount of beans!
Michelle says
Can I freeze the combined ingredients to cook in the instant pot from frozen?
Nancylynn says
Yes!
prip says
First time will be using Instant Pot tonight, do i have to cut up the chicken before adding all the ingredients?
Nancylynn says
Hi! You can, but you don’t have to! I don’t!
prip says
made the soup last nigh! loved it 🙂 thank you
cant wait to try more of your recipes
Nancylynn says
I am SO glad! <3 <3
Katy Maffucci says
Have you doubled this recipe? Does it need extra time? Does it fit in the 6qt? Sorry new to all of this. Love the soup though and want to make it for a party! Thank you!
Nancylynn says
I am not sure if it will fit, but you could try…I think it will be close! It’s hard to mess this soup up, so I would try and cook what you can fit!
Windy says
So yummy! My whole family loves this! Easy to throw together, with such a tasty result! Thank you for the recipe!!
Nancylynn says
That’s SO great!! <3
Vicki says
First thing I made in new instant pot. Loved,Loved, loved it! Made it Monday & making it again today(Fri)! The only thing I changed was left out jalapeno. Still great soup! Close enough to Chili’s to satisfy my craving.
Nancylynn says
Perfect!!!!
Ray says
If one chose to cut the chicken into pieces prior to coming would you change any other part of the recipe?
Ray says
That should read cooking, not coming. Sorry!
Nancylynn says
Nope!
Mary Nyahay says
Oh my goodness! This is hands down the best soup I’ve ever tasted! I loved that it was truly a 1 Pot meal- I just stood around twiddling my thumbs while the IP did it’s job! I can’t wait to try more of your recipes! I did leave out the jalapeño, and it was spicy enough for my husband that way. I added jalapeño to mine after cooking. Delicious!
Nancylynn says
“Twiddling my thumbs” – that made me giggle and I’m SO glad you guys liked it!!
Kelly says
Amazing! Hi made it tonight. Big hit with my husband and sons. My youngest son said he wanted to go to Chilis for tortilla soup- I was so glad I could do it easily at home with ingredients I had on hand.
Nancylynn says
That’s SO wonderful!
Jessica says
I just got my insta pot and this is the first thing i made so good will be makeing again and again
Nancylynn says
I’m SO happy to hear that, Jessica!
Colette says
Do you use whole chicken breads or do you cut them up first?
Nancylynn says
I use whole for this recipe.
Cheryl Ann says
I have an awesome recipe for this soup and this is very close. So excited to try it in my new Instant Pot! Only one disappointment… it wouldn’t print without ads so it took two pages which is so hard to keep up with.
Nancylynn says
I will look into that! I agree – that is annoying! Thanks for letting me know.
Lindsay says
Can I use frozen chicken? How much would that increase my time?
Nancylynn says
Yes! You can add a couple of mins!
Bev says
What size instapot do you use? I just got one and it’s a 6 quart. Haven’t even taken it out of the box.
Nancylynn says
I have both the 6 quart and the 8 quart, but mostly use the 6! It’s perfect!
PamB says
A double recipe will not fit in a 6 quart,. I found out the hard way! I took out about 25 oz of broth and withheld 1 can of black beans. I added them after it was done. I love this recipe!
Nancylynn says
Nice problem solving! Thanks for the tip!
Pam says
Can I add 1/2 cup rice to this using pressure cooking feature?
Nancylynn says
Yes! Set the cook time to 22 minutes and do a natural release if you add rice!
Jennifer says
Do you hit the buttons that says soup or cook on high pressure?!!
Nancylynn says
I do manual pressure on high!
Chelsea says
How much is in a serving?
Nancylynn says
1 1/2 cups!
Betsy says
Low or high pressure?
Nancylynn says
high 🙂
Betsy says
I did low pressure and it came out great!
Nancylynn says
That’s great to know!!
Brooklyn Child says
Me and my husband LOVED this soup! However, the jalapeno that I used was WAYYYY too hot! I would almost forgo the jalapeno or the tomatoes with the chili’s! But over all, I would make this meal again in a heart beat!!
Nancylynn says
YES!!!!! I think get mild tomatoes with chilis and leave the jalapeno out next time! I am SOOO happy it was still a hit!
katherine a tildes says
How about if you already have shredded chicken?
Nancylynn says
Hi! I would reduce the cook time to about 5 minutes then!
Alysha says
I made this with leftover chicken from “Salsa Lime Chicken bowls”
Lindsey says
Thank you for the recipes!
What size is one serving of the soup?
Nancylynn says
You are so welcome! A serving is 1 1/2 cups!
Stephanie Lampe says
I’m assuming that boneless, skinless chicken thighs work? Would cooking time change? I just got my insta pot so am new to this! Thank you!
Nancylynn says
Yes! I would keep the cook time the same – should be enough time!
Tia says
This is my new favorite!! I just started the Fix, and I have eaten it all week as my to go meal. Thanks!
Nancylynn says
YAY!!!!!!
AlyG says
When I meal prep, I just measure out servings into pyrex as I go. Is there any chance you know how *big* or how many cups each of the six servings are? That would make my prep day SOOOO much easier! This recipe looks great… I think I’m going to incorporate it into next weeks prep! Also, do you have a recipe for the tortilla strips? TIA 🙂
Nancylynn says
You should be good with 1 1/4 cup servings! To make homemade tortilla strips:
Preheat your oven to 350 and cut the corn tortillas into strips. Spray with olive oil spray and sprinkle with Himalayan salt. Bake for about 10-15 minutes.
Nicole says
How many strips per serving for the chips?
Nancylynn says
I usually do 1 tortilla’s worth of strips per bowl for 1/2 of a yellow 🙂
Brittany says
Can I make this recipe in my instant pot using frozen chicken? If so, what do I change?
Nancylynn says
Yes! I would set it to 20 minutes instead – that should do it!
Edward Turner says
Are you using dry beans or cooked beans. Frozen chicken, thawed, or cooked
Nancylynn says
I used canned beans and thawed chicken!
Brooke says
How long do you cook in the crockpot?
Nancylynn says
Here is a link to that recipe! https://confessionsofafitfoodie.com/2015/09/21-day-fix-crock-pot-tortilla-soup/
Angela Wells says
Im new to this way of eating. Is a serving a green container?
Callie says
Hi there!! I have this in my IP now and I’ll be eating it all week. So excited! Quick question, does your container count include the tortilla strips? If I’m not going to include those, I can eliminate the yellow, right?
Nancylynn says
The 1/2 yellow is for the corn and beans…I usually also add 1/2 yellow of tortilla chips, but you definitely don’t have to! So the counts are before the toppings.
Callie says
Thank you! I probably should have figured that out on my own… ?. Love your site!!
Nancylynn says
Awww…I have no problem answering questions! Ask anytime! And thank you so much!
Kayla says
I really wanted to make the INSTANT POT CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP, but all this post is showing is a recipe for Krispie Baked Chicken. Sad day.
Nancylynn says
I am so sorry…no idea what happened!! Some kind of recipe card glitch!! It’s fixed now, but I feel terrible!!
julie says
Am I the only one seeing a recipe for baked chicken instead of soup?
Nancylynn says
You are not…so sorry – several of my recipes were showing the incorrect recipe card for some reason…it seems to be fixed now.
Janine M Walsh says
I saw the recipe earlier this week and now when I go to it the recipe is Crisped Baked Chicken! Can you share how to make in the Tortilla Soup in the Instant Pot? Please! Thank yoU!
Nancylynn says
So sorry – it’s fixed now! Hopefully you can still try it!
Steph says
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!! I used original Rotel and omitted the jalapeño. So flavorful! My husband and I love the heat but I’ll probably use mild next time because our 2 year had to drink milk after each bite even with Greek yogurt (but she also loved it). 🙂
Nancylynn says
Oh my goodness – I love it! What a tough cookie – eating the spicy soup and chasing it with her milk! I am very happy everyone enjoyed it – and I’ve made it with mild Rotel…still SO good! Thanks for making my night!
Steph says
Thank you for making ours! My husband even had seconds which is rare! This will definitely be in our regular rotation. 🙂 Thanks again!
Jennifer says
Does the cooking time increase if you double the recipe?
Karen says
This looks great! How many services does it make?
Nancylynn says
six!
Mallory says
How much is one serving?