Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup (Printable)

Flavorful Mexican-inspired soup with tender chicken, beans, and vegetables simmered to perfection in the Instant Pot.

# What You'll Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and diced
06 - 1 cup corn kernels, fresh or frozen
07 - 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes with juices

→ Beans

08 - 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed

→ Liquids and Seasonings

09 - 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
10 - 1 tablespoon tomato paste
11 - Juice of 1 lime
12 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
13 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
14 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
15 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
16 - 1 teaspoon salt
17 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

→ Optional Toppings

18 - Tortilla strips or chips
19 - Sliced avocado
20 - Chopped fresh cilantro
21 - Shredded cheese
22 - Sour cream
23 - Lime wedges

# How to Make It:

01 - Set the Instant Pot to Sauté mode. Add a splash of oil, then sauté the onion, garlic, and bell pepper for 2 to 3 minutes until softened. Stir in the tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
02 - Add the chicken, diced tomatoes with juices, black beans, corn, and chicken broth. Stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients.
03 - Secure the lid and ensure the valve is set to Sealing. Set to Pressure Cook on High for 10 minutes.
04 - Allow a natural pressure release for 5 minutes, then carefully quick-release any remaining pressure.
05 - Remove the chicken and shred with two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the pot.
06 - Stir in lime juice. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
07 - Ladle soup into bowls and top with tortilla strips, avocado, cilantro, cheese, sour cream, and lime as desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It feels like you spent all day simmering when it actually took less than an hour.
  • You can toss in almost any leftover veggie and it still tastes like a masterpiece.
02 -
  • A quick release too early can result in tough chicken so let it rest for five minutes.
  • If your broth looks thin a few crushed tortilla chips stirred in will thicken it perfectly.
03 -
  • Freeze leftover tomato paste in tablespoon dollops so you always have some ready.
  • Rinsing the beans thoroughly prevents the soup from becoming murky or overly salty.
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