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Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup (Easy Recipe)

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Posted by:

Erin Lynch

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Updated:

April 8, 2025

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5 from 13 votes

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Instant pot chicken tortilla soup pinterest image.
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This is the BEST Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup! It tastes like it’s been cooking all day, but it only takes minutes in your electric pressure cooker. 

Overhead close up of bowl of Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup topped with avocado, tortilla chips and sour cream.

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Table of Contents

  • Ingredient notes
  • How to make it
  • Topping ideas
  • How to make ahead + store
  • What to serve with it
  • Erin’s wine pairings
  • Full Recipe

Don’t have an Instant Pot? You can also make this Chicken Tortilla Soup in the slow cooker.

I love this Instant Pot Tortilla Soup so much.

Mainly for the toppings!

But also because it’s one of those soup recipes that’s super easy to throw together at the last minute with minimal effort.

For years now, I’ve been making this Chicken Tortilla Soup in the slow cooker. But, I thought it was finally time to adapt it for the Instant Pot!

Reader

Love



5 stars
This is the best chicken tortilla soup recipe ever! My husband and I love how practical and tasty it is. Thank you for sharing!

–

Brenda

Ingredient notes

  • Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts – You can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs if you prefer.
  • Chicken Broth – Or homemade bone broth.
  • Canned Beans – Or, have you tried making Instant Pot black beans? They turn out super flavorful and can be made in under an hour with no soaking!
  • Canned Tomatoes – I prefer to use crushed tomatoes in this recipe.
  • Olive Oil
  • Tomato Paste
  • Onion
  • Jalapeno + Bell Pepper – Or, swap in a can of green chiles.
  • Lime Juice
  • Mexican Spices – Cilantro, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder and cayenne. Or, you can swap out these spices for some homemade taco seasoning.

How to make it

  1. Saute the onion: Turn your instant pot to SAUTE and add the olive oil. Once hot, add the minced onion and cook 3 minutes, until softened.
  2. Add remaining ingredients: Hit CANCEL and add the chicken, broth, beans, tomatoes, jalapenos, bell pepper, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder and cayenne. Stir to combine, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
  3. Cook: Hit MANUAL to cook at high pressure for 7 minutes. It will take about 10 minutes for the pressure to build then the countdown timer will begin.
  4. Release pressure: Once the time is up, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes before releasing any remaining pressure by turning the valve to the venting position.
  5. Shred chicken: Remove the chicken and shred with two forks.
  6. Season + enjoy: Return the chicken to the pot and stir in lime juice and cilantro. Season with salt. Serve, topped with desired toppings and enjoy!
Chicken tortilla soup after cooking in instant pot.
Hand holding bowl of Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup topped with avocado, tortilla chips and sour cream.

Topping ideas

  • Crunchy tortilla strips
  • Cheddar cheese
  • Sour cream or Greek yogurt
  • Avocado
  • Cilantro
  • Sliced jalapenos
  • Hot sauce

I love serving this Chicken Tortilla Soup at parties since everyone can customize their own bowl of soup. I like mine topped with greek yogurt, jalapenos, and cilantro. My husband loves these crunchy tortilla strips and lots of shredded cheese.

If you’d like to make this Instant Pot Tortilla Soup vegetarian-friendly, you could swap out the chicken with an extra can of black beans, instant pot black beans, or some frozen corn kernels.

How to make ahead + store

Store any leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Or, portion the soup into freezer bags and freeze for up to three months.

Hand holding bowl of Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup topped with avocado, tortilla chips and sour cream.

What to serve with it

To round out the meal, pair your bowl of instapot tortilla soup with one of these easy side dishes:

  • Air Fryer Quesadillas
  • Easy Guacamole with baked tortilla chips
  • Instant Pot Mexican Rice
  • Instant Pot Refried Beans or Black Beans
  • Mexican Street Corn Salad
  • Corn Queso Dip
  • Vinegar Slaw
  • More → 20+ best sides for chicken tortilla soup
  • To finish things off → Try one of these 25+ Mexican Desserts

Erin’s wine pairings

  • Look for lighter-bodied, fruit-focused reds like Beaujolais or Grenache.
  • Alternatively, a Malbec or Tempranillo will be a bit heavier, but compliment the smoky-spicy flavors in this soup.
Overhead close up of bowl of Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup topped with avocado, tortilla chips and sour cream.

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Don’t have an Instant Pot? You can also make this Chicken Tortilla Soup in the slow cooker.

Did you try this instant pot tortilla soup recipe?

If you loved this pressure cooker chicken tortilla soup I would appreciate it so much if you would give this recipe a star review! Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.

For more great Platings and Pairings recipes, be sure to follow me on  Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest and Facebook.

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Hand holding bowl of Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup topped with avocado, tortilla chips and sour cream.

Full Recipe

Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

This is the BEST Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup! It tastes like it’s been cooking all day, but it only takes minutes in your electric pressure cooker. 
5 from 13 votes
Print Pin
Serves 6 people
Created by Platings and Pairings
Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
Cook Time: 7 minutes mins
Time for pressure to build & release: 20 minutes mins
Total Time: 40 minutes mins

Equipment

  • Instant Pot

Ingredients

  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large onion (minced)
  • 1 pound chicken breast
  • 4 cups bone broth or chicken stock
  • 1 15-ounce can black beans (drained and rinsed)
  • 1 15-ounce can pinto beans (drained and rinsed)
  • 1 cup canned crushed tomatoes
  • 2 jalapenos (chopped (seeds and veins removed))
  • 1 bell pepper (chopped)
  • 1 lime (juiced)
  • 4 Tablespoons fresh cilantro
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • Salt to taste

Toppings:

  • Shredded Cheese
  • Tortilla Strips
  • Avocado
  • Greek yogurt or sour cream

Instructions

  • Turn instant pot to SAUTE and add olive oil. Once hot, add onion and cook 3 minutes.
  • Hit CANCEL and add the chicken, broth, beans, tomatoes, jalapenos, bell pepper, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder and cayenne. Stir to combine, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
  • Hit MANUAL to cook at high pressure for 7 minutes. It will take about 10 minutes for the pressure to build then the countdown timer will begin.
  • Once the time is up, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes before releasing any remaining pressure.
  • Remove the chicken and shred with two forks. Return to pot and stir in lime juice and cilantro. Season with salt. Serve, topped with desired toppings.

Notes

How to make ahead & store
  • Store any leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Or, portion the soup into freezer bags and freeze for up to three months.

Nutrition

Calories: 347kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 53mg | Sodium: 1070mg | Potassium: 1242mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1215IU | Vitamin C: 45.5mg | Calcium: 101mg | Iron: 4.6mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!

 This post was originally published in 2019. It was updated in 2024 to add new information. The instant pot chicken tortilla soup recipe remains the same. Enjoy!

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5 from 13 votes (10 ratings without comment)

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14 responses

  1. Pech
    March 8, 2019

    The best thing about tortilla soup is all the toppings so everyone can make it their own! This looks great!

    Reply
    1. Erin
      March 11, 2019

      I totally agree Pech!

      Reply
  2. Jenni LeBaron
    March 8, 2019

    I love chicken tortilla soup and your recipe looks absolutely scrumptious! And you can’t forget the cheese! It’s nice to know that Cabbot is a certified B corp!

    Reply
    1. Erin
      March 11, 2019

      Thanks Jenni!

      Reply
  3. N Steele
    March 12, 2019

    You omitted the salsa verde in your recipe directions. I assume it goes in with the broth and aromatics go in?

    Reply
    1. Erin
      March 13, 2019

      So sorry about that! Yes, you can add it in when the broth goes in. I decided to leave it out of the final recipe, along with the tomato paste, but I forgot to leave it off of the recipe ingredients. It will still taste amazing in there though. The recipe has been updated. Thank you so much for the heads up.

      Reply
      1. Sheri
        January 5, 2022

        5 stars
        The recipe with the 1/2 c salsa verde and 3T tomato paste in there is great – I’ll continue including both! It’s delicious!

        Reply
  4. monica
    April 15, 2019

    Hi there! I am going to make this tonight. How long should I cook if the chicken is frozen?

    Reply
    1. Erin
      April 15, 2019

      Hi Monica – I would increase the cook time to 12 minutes for frozen chicken breasts. Just be sure they’re not stuck together. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  5. Brenda
    November 8, 2019

    5 stars
    This is the best chicken tortilla soup recipe ever! My husband and I love how practical and tasty it is. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
    1. Erin
      November 11, 2019

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it Brenda!

      Reply
  6. Mariah
    January 6, 2020

    This looks delicious! If I were to use chicken thighs instead of breasts, should I increase the cooking time?

    Reply
    1. Erin
      January 6, 2020

      Hi Mariah – Cook time will remain the same. Enjoy!

      Reply
  7. Carol
    March 31, 2024

    5 stars
    Only had diced tomatoes, but I added a can of Mexican Stewed Tomatoes, great flavor addition. Delicious, will repeat this way.

    Reply

Hi, I’m Erin!

Can I pour you a glass of wine? Let’s have some fun in the kitchen! Maybe some pasta? A juicy steak? I’ve got loads of yummy, easy recipes for you! Because cooking should feel as comfy as your favorite yoga pants. ♥

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