This nourishing bowl of chicken tortilla soup with hominy is brimming with Mexican flavors and packed with vitamins and minerals.

It’s always soup season in my house but I will admit, I get especially excited about soup season when the temps dip below freezing here in Michigan.

Recently I found myself with a roaster chicken and a bunch of veggies so I decided to make homemade bone broth which I eventually turned into a smoky, slightly-spicy Mexican Tortilla Soup to enjoy with my mom and sisters.

No time to make homemade broth? No worries – canned chicken broth works just as well. Since my outdoor walk-in cooler is still up and running I decided to make homemade. (You know you’re from Michigan when….)

To give the soup a southwestern kick, I added one of my favorite secret weapons: canned chipotle peppers in adobo. These smoky peppers can pack a punch so be sure to remove the seeds to keep the soup on the mild side.


Frequently asked questions:
What garnishes go will with chicken tortilla soup?
As with most dishes, it’s all about the garnishes. Be sure to top each warm bowl of Mexican Tortilla Soup with fresh cilantro, crushed tortilla chips and a squeeze of fresh lime juice for good measure. Diced avocado, jalapeños or plain yogurt wouldn’t hurt either.
Is this soup freezer friendly?
This soup is very freezer friendly and can last up to 3 months in the freezer.
Can this be placed in a slow cooker?
Yes. You could make this in a slow cooker. 6 hours on low would work. Be sure to use uncooked chicken.
Your spoon is waiting.

Mexican Chicken Tortilla Soup with Hominy
Ingredients
- 1 large onion (diced)
- 1 zucchini (diced)
- 1 red pepper (seeded and diced)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (minced)
- 2 tablespoons cumin
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 8 cups chicken broth (low sodium or homemade)
- 15 ounce can fire roasted diced tomatoes
- 15 ounce can hominy (drained and rinsed)
- 12 ounces cooked chicken breast (shredded)
- salt and pepper to taste
- 24 tortilla chips (lightly crushed)
- cilantro to serve
Instructions
- Heat a large soup pot over medium heat and spray with cooking spray. Sauté onion, zucchini and red peppers until softened, 5-6 minutes.
- Add garlic, chipotle peppers, cumin and smoked paprika and cook another 2 minutes.
- Stir in chicken broth, diced tomatoes, hominy and cooked chicken. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Bring soup to a boil then reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes. Garnish with crushed tortilla chips and fresh cilantro to serve.
Notes
Is this soup freezer friendly?
This soup is very freezer friendly and can last up to 3 months in the freezer.Could this be made in a slow cooker?
Yes. 6 hours in low would work. Be sure to use uncooked chicken.Nutrition
Interested in more warm and hearty soup recipes? Check out my Pinterest board!
Soup is great but for someone watching their diet, how much is in one serving (I see it says 6 but doesn’t say the amount like 6 – 1 cup servings). Also, does the nutrition information include the tortilla chips? Meanwhile, just love this soup!!
Hey Mari! Serving size is 2 cups and yes it includes tortilla chips. enjoy!!
We like lots of heat and flavor and this did not disappoint. I was afraid it wouldn’t be spicy enough for my husband so I added an extra chipotle (don’t leave these out, they make it all work) and 2 diced Jalapeños. Didn’t need them though. I also threw in about half a pound of hot breakfast sausage. That gave it another layer of texture that was perfect. Highly recommend.
Great idea to add more chipotle!!
Just made this for dinner, it is soooo good! The chipotles in adobo really are the magic ingredient. I will be making this recipe often!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!! The chipotles in adobo are the secret to so many great dishes!!
I wish your recipes were in microdata or hrecipe so they could be imported to several recipe apps.
Thanks
I’m confused by the “2 in” chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. 2 in? I winged it and it’s yummy.
Apologies – it should just say “2 chipotle peppers” :) I changed it. So glad you enjoyed!
Yes to all the toppings! Soup has just GOT to have lots of stuff on top. Your walk-in cooler looks a lot like my walk-in cooler this winter. And you know what, I’m not sad to see it go! Bring on summer!
I am seriously all about the toppings hahaha!!!
I plan on eating soup even when it IS 90F, so you can keep it coming! Love the Mexican infusion into this – my favorite!
haha you and me both!!
I can taste those Mexican flavours through the images. Looks divine.
I love adding hominy in soups! And like you I could eat soup all year long. This looks great. I am dying over your walk in cooker picture, that is hysterical!!! Love it!
hahahah You must be dying!!! Isn’t that funny? We use it a good 6 months of the year!! LOL
Love those canned chili peppers, I’m using them in a recipe today, they just have so much flavor! With the wishy washy weather that’s been happening here (hot one day, cold the next) soup is still a constant in my meal planning! Looks awesome!
I could eat soup like this every single week, it just never gets old!
Um, here in Chicago, our back entryway is our walk in cooler. All beverages and desserts I don’t need to see every time I open the fridge stay out there all winter. Um, I love hominy and this spicy brothy-ness!!! Cumin and paprika are totally my favorite warm up spices.
haha I love the walk-in closet!!
Chicken soup is one of my favorites and I love that you added hominy to it.
Any chance you could make this in the slow cooker? If so, how long do you think I should put it on low and I would put the chicken in uncooked. Please let me know when you have a free moment. :)
You totally could… 6 hours on Low should be fine!! Uncooked chicken. :)
Soup is *always* in season for me, because the office building’s air conditioning is always up a little too high for me (or the heat is down too low). Easy, tasty (but temporary) fix = soup for lunch.
YES!! It’s always in season for me too :)
Looks so yummy!! I love mexican food the best!!
I absolutely love hominy in soups! I put up a pozole today. So good and this looks absolutely sensational! And beautiful!
No way!! I love pozole!! Going to check that out.. I could eat Mexican soups every day!
one of my favorites! I really need to use hominy more often! Can’t wait to see you on Thursday!
I am counting down the minutes until our embrace!!
I have a serious love for tortilla soup. Yours looks amazing!
Oooh I love chipotles in adobo. I’m all about soups when it’s a rainy spring day, which we have plenty of around here. This would also be fun for Cinco de Mayo in a few weeks!
I seriously love chipotle in adobo too!!!