Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup (Printable)

Mexican-inspired soup with tender chicken, beans, corn, and vibrant spices made effortlessly in the Instant Pot.

# What You'll Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 1 lb 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 (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with juices

→ Beans

08 - 1 can (15 oz) black beans, 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, or 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 Steps:

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

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes like you simmered it for hours, but your Instant Pot handles the heavy lifting while you do literally anything else.
  • The flavor balance of spices and lime creates something bright and satisfying that even people who claim they don't like soup will ask for seconds.
  • One pot means minimal cleanup, which honestly might be the best part of weeknight cooking.
02 -
  • Don't skip the Sauté step at the beginning; that's where the flavor gets built, and rushing through it means a flat-tasting soup no matter how long it pressure cooks.
  • If your broth is already salty, taste before adding the full teaspoon of salt; you can always add more, but you can't take it out.
  • Natural pressure release matters because it keeps the chicken from becoming stringy and tough.
03 -
  • A pinch of smoked chipotle or a dash of hot sauce transforms this from comforting to craveable if you want more depth and smoke.
  • If you have fresh cilantro stems, throw them in while the soup cooks and fish them out before serving; they infuse without any bitterness.
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