Today, we’re going to make an easy Chicken Tortilla Soup that literally comes together in 10 minutes—start to finish! This recipe is what I like to call a Pantry Challenge meal because you probably already have everything in your pantry that you will need to make this soup!
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Table of Contents
Dinner Time in the Traditional Foods Kitchen
When you are making the transition from a processed foods kitchen to a traditional foods kitchen, sometimes (OK – maybe often!) preparing dinner can seem daunting. Did I remember to defrost the chicken? Is the bone broth ready? Have the beans been soaked? So on and so forth.
On days when you may be feeling a little overwhelmed, turning to your pantry to make a simple, yet nutritious, meal can be a lifesaver!
Yes, Opening a Can Is OK!
We all know that keeping a well-stocked pantry is essential. As you make the transition to traditional foods, you will want to stock your pantry with whole food items. And it’s OK if the foods that you stock in your pantry are in cans from your grocery store. These canned items are wonderful back-ups when you simply don’t have the time to prepare these foods in the traditional way. Real food is real food, even when you take a few short-cuts.
Canned Beans, canned vegetables, and canned meats mean that you can literally have a meal on the table in minutes. This easy Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe provides an excellent example of how you can pull together your pantry items. And knowing that you are able to prepare a quick meal like this means that you are less likely to go through a fast-food drive-through. Your easy and nutritious meal is a success to be celebrated on your traditional foods journey!
More Easy Dinner Ideas
Now that you’ve learned how to make a 10-Minute Chicken Tortilla Soup, here are a few more quick and easy dinner ideas that are not only delicious, they’re nutritious!
Download Your Free 36-Page Pantry List
For an extensive list of the traditional foods you can make and purchase to stock your pantry, be sure to download my free 36-page Traditional Foods Pantry List. This comprehensive eBook is full of links to recipe videos, helpful articles, and more!
And if you’re looking for a printed book full of my traditional foods recipes to show you how to create a traditional foods kitchen, be sure to order your copy of my new bestselling book, The Modern Pioneer Cookbook.
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The Modern Pioneer Cookbook
Seasonal ingredients, traditional techniques, and nourishing recipes. Over 85 traditional, from-scratch recipes! Discover for yourself how you can use simple ingredients and traditional techniques to cook the modern pioneer way.
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Are you looking for more traditional foods videos? If so, I invite you to join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy. Members of this optional paid YouTube community get access to exclusive videos and other members-only perks. Plus, your YouTube comments include a special members-only badge.
Kitchen Academy Videos
Does Eating Food in a Specific Order Fight Disease?
Research suggests that the order in which we eat our food may significantly impact our health and ability to fight disease.
Why I Created The Modern Pioneer Cookbook Curriculum
I chat about why it was important for me to create this comprehensive curriculum for students in grades K-12.
Taking a Sneak Peek at Upcoming Recipes on Mary’s Nest
I share upcoming recipes and what I have planned for my Mary’s Nest YouTube channel in 2024.
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I look forward to having you join me in my Texas Hill Country Kitchen!
Chicken Tortilla Soup
Equipment
- Large Soup Pot
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Ghee, or other cooking fat or oil
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Cumin, ground
- 1 teaspoon Coriander, ground
- 1 teaspoon Fine ground sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Freshly ground black pepper
- 2-3 cups Shredded chicken
- 2 cans Black beans Store-bought cans, or 2 pints home-canned, or approximately 4 cups soaked beans.
- 1 can Corn Store-bought can or 1 pint home-canned, or 2 cups fresh or frozen corn.
- 2 cups Salsa
- 6 cups Water, or Chicken Broth, Stock, or Bone Broth
- tomato paste, optional
Instructions
- Put ghee into soup pot set on medium heat. Once melted, add in spices, salt, and pepper. Stir to mix.
- Add garlic and saute for 1 minute.
- Add chicken and mix well to coat with spices.
- Add beans, corn, salsa, and mix well.
- Add water or broth and stir.
- Bring up to a boil, then turn down to medium and allow soup to heat through.
- Serve in bowls and top with sour cream, grated cheese, tortilla chips, and avocado, if desired.
Video
Notes
Shop for items used in this blog post or video
Favorite Soup Making Supplies
Favorite Kitchen Supplies
- Favorite Aprons
- Spice Grinder
- Countertop Burner (On my kitchen island in many recipe videos.)
- Handheld Vacuum Sealing System
- Vacuum Lids
- Whisk
- Silica Gel Packets (Helps keep moisture from building up in your mix)
- Cast Iron Dutch Oven
- 8-Quart Slow-Cooker
- Fat Separator (Clever kitchen device to help you decant bone broth)
- Flour Sack Towels
- pH Strips (Helps you check on the acidity of your vinegar)
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I just tried this recipe for my family and it was delicious! I had to make a few subs because what I had on hand was a little different. I used 1 can of beans that had 3 beans, red bean, pinto and black bean, and I used 1 can of garbanzo beans. I didn’t have any corriander so I used Mexican oregano and cilantro.
I didn’t have a can of corn so I used a small bag of mixed frozen veggies. Corn, peas, carrots and green beans. Everyone in my family enjoyed it, thank you so much for the recipe! The sour cream in the soup was a wonderful idea! I will be making this again!
Hi Aaron, So happy to hear this!! Love, Mary
I have tried this in my home but seems like I am having difficulty adjusting the salt. Can you share any tips to apply salt perfectly?
Hi Paul, Thank you so much for your comment. Hmmm…adjusting the salt. That really comes down to personal taste. I would start with a very small amount – maybe no more than a 1/4 teaspoon and then increase it in 1/4 teaspoon increments, tasting the soup each time until you get the perfect taste you are looking for.
Do you enjoy making traditional foods? If so, I have a playlist of some of my videos titled “Mastering the Basics of Traditional Nutrient Dense Foods Cooking”. It’s a series of 15 detailed videos that covers How to Make Bone Broth, Cultured Dairy, Ferments, Sourdough Starter (my foolproof stater), Sourdough Bread, Soaked and Sprouted Nuts and Beans, and How to Soak and Sprout Grains to Make your own Sprouted Flour at Home. You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkRuW3pBo2U3b4eu0QraZReKlGzA11h3y And please share the playlist with any other folks you think might be interested in learning about these types of things. I’m passionate about the book Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon (of the Weston A Price Foundation) and want to help as many people as I can learn how to make Traditional “Nutrient Dense” Foods.
Please let me know if you have any questions. I’m so happy to help! And I’m SO glad you’re here!! Love and God Bless, Mary❤️😘❤️
PS – Do you know about our FB group? It’s called Mary’s Nest Modern Pioneers. Come join us! We have a lot of fun chatting about Traditional Foods: https://www.facebook.com/groups/171869080205145/?source_id=210509998974645