Where to Find Delicious Chicken Tortilla Soup

Chicken tortilla soup tastes like Mexican food and is hearty and tasty. It has tender chicken, vegetables, tortilla strips, and a little spice. Chicken tortilla soup is a popular comfort food that you can find in a lot of restaurants and grocery stores. But where is the best chicken tortilla soup?

What Makes Great Chicken Tortilla Soup

A good chicken tortilla soup starts with a rich, flavorful broth. It should be deeply savory with notes of cumin garlic and chili powder. Shredded chicken breast is a must – it should be tender and juicy. The soup should feature a medley of vegetables like tomatoes, corn, peppers, and onions. Toppings like shredded cheese, avocado, cilantro, and lime add freshness and texture. Crispy tortilla strips on top provide a satisfying crunch. The soup often contains a bit of heat from peppers or hot sauce. With each spoonful, you should get a balance of textures and bright, bold Mexican flavors.

Places to Buy Prepared Chicken Tortilla Soup

Restaurants

Many Mexican restaurants serve chicken tortilla soup, but a few chains are especially known for it.

Panera Bread – Panera offers a creamy chicken tortilla soup with pulled chicken, tomatoes, corn, chili peppers, cilantro, and lime. It’s topped with tortilla strips and Monterey Jack cheese. You can order it in stores or get it delivered through Panera’s website and app. Panera’s chicken tortilla soup is made with chicken broth, so it’s a good option for those avoiding beef.

Chipotle is a well-known fast-food chain that serves chicken tortilla soup with a spicy kick. It has pinto beans, shredded chicken, and Chipotle’s famous adobo peppers and spices. Cheese, cilantro, avocado, and crunchy tortilla strips are on top of the soup. You can customize it to your spice preferences. Chipotle’s chicken tortilla soup can be bought in-store or online and can be picked up or delivered.

Chili’s – This family-friendly chain offers chicken tortilla soup loaded with veggies and topped with corn chips and cheese. Chili’s soup has a mild level of spice – it’s made with a mix of chili peppers. You can find it on their regular menu at locations nationwide.

Fresh Mex at Chevy’s: Chevy’s serves traditional chicken tortilla soup with avocado, tortilla strips, cilantro, and pulled chicken breast. Their soup has a bit of heat. You can order it for dine-in, takeout, or delivery.

On The Border – This Tex-Mex chain is known for its Chicken Tortilla Soup. It’s packed with veggies and topped with crunchy tortilla strips, cheese, and avocado. On The Border’s soup contains white meat chicken and signature border spices. It’s available at locations across the U.S.

Grocery Stores

You can buy prepared, ready-to-eat chicken tortilla soup at many supermarkets to enjoy at home.

Whole Foods Market: Whole Foods sells chicken tortilla soup in 24 oz. containers that need to be kept cold. Shrimp, tomatoes, corn, carrots, tortilla chips, chicken stock, and spices like cumin and garlic are used to make it. Whole Foods’ soup just needs heating before serving. It’s sold at Whole Foods stores nationwide.

Trader Joe’s – Trader Joe’s sells ready-to-serve chicken tortilla soup in 32 oz cartons. It contains chicken, tomatoes, peppers, onions, corn, and spices in a zesty tomato broth. You simply heat it up and top it with tortilla strips. It’s available seasonally at Trader Joe’s locations.

Publix – Publix Super Markets carry their own GreenWise chicken tortilla soup made with shredded chicken, black beans, corn, zesty tomatoes, peppers, cumin, and lime juice. It’s sold refrigerated in 32 oz containers. You can find it at Publix stores in their operating region in the Southern U.S.

Wegmans – Select Wegmans stores sell freshly prepared chicken tortilla soup by the pound or quart at their in-store Market Cafes. It features chicken, veggies, and Mexican spices in a tomato broth. Wegmans also offers take-home containers of refrigerated chicken tortilla soup made with pulled chicken, tomatoes, corn, and peppers.

Gelson’s Markets – This upscale Southern California chain sells ready-to-heat chicken tortilla soup in their deli section. It’s packed with chicken, veggies, beans, chili peppers, and bold Mexican seasonings. Gelson’s soup just requires reheating before serving.

Grocery Store Frozen Foods

For an easy shortcut, check your grocery store’s frozen food aisle for prepared frozen chicken tortilla soup. Popular options include:

• Amy’s Organic Chicken Tortilla Soup
• Cedarlane Certified Organic Chicken Tortilla Soup
• Soup Supreme Chicken Tortilla Soup
• Marketside Chicken Tortilla Soup
• Mrs. T’s Chicken Tortilla Soup

These frozen soups just need stove-top heating or microwaving before enjoying. They make a quick, convenient meal but may not taste as fresh as refrigerated or homemade.

Making Homemade Chicken Tortilla Soup

For the best flavor and control over ingredients, many people opt to make chicken tortilla soup from scratch at home. You can find countless recipes online from cooking sites like AllRecipes, Food Network, and Serious Eats. Most recipes include similar key ingredients but with customizable spice levels and garnishes.

Homemade chicken tortilla soup takes some time but active cooking is minimal. Start with simmering chicken broth seasoned with cumin, garlic, and chili powder. Cook shredded chicken breast, then add vegetables like corn, tomatoes, peppers, and onions. Finish with lime juice and cilantro. Top individual portions with crushed tortilla chips, shredded cheese, avocado, and other desired garnishes.

With a homemade batch, you can tweak the spices to your taste and control the quality of the ingredients. Make a big pot to have easy leftovers for several days. Homemade chicken tortilla soup also makes a great gift – portion it into jars to share with friends and family.

Tips for the Best Chicken Tortilla Soup

• Use both white and dark chicken meat for well-rounded flavor. Dark meat offers richer taste.

• Simmer the soup at least 15 minutes so flavors infuse into the broth.

• Add corn cobs and lime rinds when simmering for extra corn and lime flavor, then remove them.

• Use pepper varieties like Anaheim, poblano, and chipotle for varying degrees of heat.

• Garnish with cabbage, radishes, cilantro, avocado, lime wedges, and Mexican crema or queso fresco for flavor and texture.

• For creaminess without the cream, puree some of the soup before serving or swirl in Greek yogurt.

• For convenience, make the soup in a slow cooker or Instant Pot.

• Top with freshly fried tortilla strips rather than bagged strips for maximum crunch.

• For spicier soup, use all or part bone broth instead of plain chicken broth.

Something for Everyone

From fast casual chains to supermarket shelves to your own kitchen, there are abundant options for where to find delicious chicken tortilla soup these days. With its bold, comforting flavors and hearty ingredients, this Mexican soup satisfies a craving for something savory and soothing. Whip up a batch or bowl to enjoy for lunch or dinner any time of year.