Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup (Printable Version)

Flavorful Mexican-inspired soup with tender chicken, beans, and vegetables simmered in spices. Ready in 35 minutes.

# 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 diced tomatoes with juice, 14.5 ounces

→ Beans

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

→ Liquids

09 - 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
10 - 1 tablespoon tomato paste
11 - Juice of 1 lime

→ Spices and Seasonings

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, adjusted to taste
17 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

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

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The whole thing comes together in under 40 minutes, which means weeknight dinners suddenly feel less stressful.
  • It's naturally gluten-free, packed with protein, and feels indulgent even though it's actually pretty good for you.
  • You can customize the toppings endlessly, so everyone at the table gets exactly what they want.
02 -
  • Don't skip the natural pressure release—quick-releasing immediately can make the chicken stringy and tough instead of tender.
  • Always add lime juice at the end, never during cooking, because heat mellows and kills that bright citrus punch that makes everything sing.
  • Rinsing canned beans removes excess sodium and starch, which keeps the broth clear and prevents the soup from becoming gummy.
03 -
  • If you want extra depth without much effort, add a smoked chipotle chili or a small dash of hot sauce right before serving—it rounds out the flavor without making it spicy.
  • Leftover soup tastes even better the next day because all the flavors have had time to get to know each other, so don't hesitate to make this ahead.
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