If you love Mexican flavors and easy recipes, you’re sure to love this easy low carb keto chicken tortilla soup recipe! This healthy soup is made with vegetables and chicken, and then everyone can add their own toppings. And who doesn’t love toppings?! (You can also use the same toppings for taco soup, which has similar flavors but is made with beef.) If you’re putting out a Mexican spread, be sure to also include queso dip, avocado salsa (or guacamole), 7 layer taco dip, and fresh tomato salsa. And of course, don’t forget the skinny margaritas!
Ingredients You’ll Need
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for keto diet chicken tortilla soup, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
Olive Oil – For sauteing. Avocado oil will also work.Garlic – Use fresh garlic for the most potent flavor, or jarred for convenience. Onion – I used white onion, but you could also use yellow onion.Bell Peppers – Pick any color you like! I opted for a mix of yellow, green, and red bell pepper for color and flavor dimension.Jalapeno – This adds some heat to the soup. Feel free to omit it if you don’t like spice. You could also use green chiles for a milder heat. Chicken Broth – Chicken broth is best for any chicken soup, including this one, but technically any broth (beef or vegetable) would also work. For richer flavor and a nutrient boost, use homemade bone broth instead.Diced Tomatoes – I like using fire roasted tomatoes in this Mexican-style soup, but you can use any canned diced tomatoes. Chicken Breast – I prefer to use organic chicken for best flavor and nutrition (get them delivered right to your door), but any chicken breast will work. You could also use chicken thighs, but they may take a little longer to cook. If you have some already cooked shredded chicken to use up, you can also use that instead of raw chicken.Spices – The basics are cumin, chili powder, sea salt, and black pepper. If you like, smoked paprika and cayenne pepper also make nice additions.
And don’t forget about the add-ins after you cook the soup — see the best keto tortilla soup toppings below!
How To Make Keto Chicken Tortilla Soup
This section shows how to make keto tortilla soup, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
Saute veggies. Heat oil in dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add garlic, onion, and bell peppers. Saute the veggies until the onion is translucent and bell peppers have softened.
Cook chicken. Add diced jalapeno, chicken broth, fire roasted tomatoes, chicken breast, sea salt, black pepper, cumin, and chili powder. Bring to a boil, then simmer over medium heat until the chicken is cooked through.
Shred chicken. Remove the chicken from the pot and shred it with two forks. Stir the shredded chicken back into the soup and simmer for a few minutes.
Serve. Your easy keto chicken tortilla soup is ready! Ladle it into bowls and add toppings as desired.
Low Carb Toppings To Add
Keto Tortilla Chips – These add crunch and the “tortilla” piece of this low carb tortilla soup. Shredded Cheese – I used Monterey jack cheese, but you could also use sharp cheddar or a Mexican blend. Avocado – Slice the avocado like I have or dice.Sour Cream – Be sure to use full fat. (Yes, sour cream is keto!) Cilantro – Roughly chop fresh cilantro. Feel free to omit if you’re not a fan.Lime – A squeeze of fresh lime juice brightens up the flavor of the soup when serving.
Is chicken tortilla soup keto?
Traditional chicken tortilla soup is not keto friendly, as it contains corn and black beans, and is topped with tortilla strips. To make this recipe keto friendly, we’re skipping the corn and beans, and using keto tortilla chips as a crunchy topping.
How many carbs are in chicken tortilla soup?
The carbs in chicken tortilla soup will vary, based on recipe and ingredients. Traditional tortilla soup can have 40 grams of carbohydrates! This version has just 10 grams net carbs per serving — WITH toppings included — and is filling enough to be a meal.
Is chicken tortilla soup spicy?
This chicken tortilla soup has a mild heat, but you can add more jalapeno and/or more chili powder for more spice. If you want it less spicy, omit the jalapeno.
Can you make it in the Crock Pot or Instant Pot?
Yes, both will work!
Slow cooker instructions: Feel free to take a shortcut by just dumping all the ingredients (not including toppings, of course) into your Crock Pot and cook for 5-6 hours on Low or 2.5-3 hours on High, until the chicken shreds easily. However, it will taste better if you still take the time to saute the veggies before adding to the slow cooker.Pressure cooker instructions: Cook the veggies in the Instant Pot using the Saute setting. Add remaining ingredients and cook on High pressure for 10 minutes. Release the pressure, shred the chicken, and proceed with toppings as usual.
Storage Instructions
Store: Keep leftover soup without toppings in the fridge for 3-4 days.Reheat: Reheat soup gently in a saucepan on the stove or in the microwave.Freeze: Cool completely, then store without toppings in an airtight container in the freezer for 2-3 months. Thaw before reheating.
More Keto Soup Recipes
If you like this easy low carb chicken tortilla soup, you might also like some of these other easy keto soup recipes:
Keto ChiliBroccoli Cheese SoupKeto GumboLow Carb RamenKeto Beef Stew
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