Panera Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe

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This Panera chicken tortilla soup recipe is easy, delicious, and healthy. This soup features a tasty tomato broth with fire-roasted corn, shredded chicken breast, fresh lime juice, black beans, peppers, onion, and spices.

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A bowl of copycat Panera chicken tortilla soup recipe topped with cheese, avocado, jalapeno, lime wedge, and cilantro. Another bowl, half of an avocado, and dish of cilantro in the background.

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Why You'll Love This Copycat Panera Chicken Tortilla Soup
Equipment
Ingredient Highlights
How to Make Panera Chicken Tortilla Soup
Variations & Substitutions
Pro Tips
Serving, Storing, & Making Ahead
Recipe FAQ
Other Recipes You May Like
Panera Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe

Why You'll Love This Copycat Panera Chicken Tortilla Soup

This recipe for panera chicken tortilla soup is extremely easy and doesn't take much time to prepare. It's the perfect recipe for busy weeknights when you don't want to spend hours in the kitchen.

Two bowls of copycat Panera chicken tortilla soup recipe topped with cheese, avocado, jalapeno, lime, and cilantro. Lime wedges and avocado around the bowls.

Equipment

Large pot - I recommend using at least a 5-quart pot to make sure everything in this recipe for panera chicken tortilla soup fits.
Plate with 2 forks OR stand mixer - I love using a stand mixer to shred chicken because it literally takes ~60 seconds! But you can use a plate and two forks to shred the chicken by hand.
Large heat-safe spoon - to mix the soup ingredients!

Ingredient Highlights

Full ingredients, measurements, and instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

ingredients to make Panera chicken tortilla soup recipe

O live oil - you just need a little olive oil to sear the chicken so it doesn't stick to the pot. You can use any neutral oil: olive oil, avocado oil, etc.!
Boneless skinless chicken breast - tender chicken breast shreds beautifully for this healthy chicken tortilla soup. It's a lean protein and helps to keep you satiated!
Yellow onion, bell pepper, jalapenos, garlic cloves - these fresh veggies add so much flavor, color, and texture to this soup! Plus lots of nutrients like fiber, vitamins, and minerals. You can add any pepper you like depending on your spice preference: green chilies, other chili peppers, habenero peppers, etc.!
Tomato paste - this, along with the fire-roasted tomatoes, gives this Panera chicken tortilla soup that classic red color and tomato flavor!
Seasonings - chili powder, cumin, paprika, and salt contribute a ton of flavor to this delicious soup. Cayenne pepper would also add another depth of flavor to this easy tortilla soup!
Chicken broth - you can use any flavor broth you like; I just prefer to use broth over plain water! I use unsalted and add my own salt to the soup. If you have/use salted, you may need to adjust the salt amount in the recipe!
Fire-roasted tomatoes - what's chicken tortilla soup without fire-roasted tomatoes?! Be sure to keep the tomato juice because it makes the broth extra delicious.
Fire-roasted corn - I love fire-roasted corn because of it's subtle charred flavor that goes perfectly with the fire-roasted tomatoes.
Black beans - a traditional ingredient in this tortilla chicken soup, black beans are full of plant-based protein and fiber making this a filling soup!
Fresh lime juice - the citric acid from the lime juice balances out the savory flavors from the other ingredients. I love the natural lime flavor but you can use lemon juice instead!
Fresh cilantro - chopped fresh cilantro is a sneaky ingredient that adds a burst of fresh flavor. You can omit it or use fresh chopped parsley instead!

How to Make Panera Chicken Tortilla Soup

seared chicken breast in a large stock pot to make chicken tortilla soup

1: Brown chicken in a large stock pot or dutch oven on the stove top.

seared chicken breast with peppers and onions to make chicken tortilla soup

2: Add onion, bell pepper, jalapeno pepper, garlic, tomato paste, and seasonings. Cook until soft and tender.

broth, veggies, and chicken breast to make Panera chicken tortilla soup recipe

3: Pour in broth, tomatoes (with the tomato juice!), drained corn, and drained beans. Bring to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes.

Chicken breast shredded on a plate to make a Panera chicken tortilla soup recipe

4: Remove the chicken breasts and shred on a plate with two forks or in a stand mixer.

Panera chicken tortilla soup recipe in a large stock pot with fresh cilantro on top

5: Place chicken back into the pot and stir in fresh lime juice and chopped cilantro. Cook another 5 minutes, serve, and enjoy!

Variations & Substitutions

I use jalapenos in this recipe, but you can use any pepper you want: poblano peppers, green chile, chili peppers, etc.
Similar to the peppers, you can use any type of bean in lieu of or in addition to black beans: kidney beans, red beans, etc.
If you want to make this soup really fast, you can use rotisserie chicken instead of raw chicken breast and skip a couple of steps!

Pro Tips

Don't skip the searing step with the chicken and veggies! Browning the meat and veggies gives so much flavor to this homemade chicken tortilla soup, it's a must.

A bowl of Panera chicken tortilla soup recipe topped with cheese, avocado, jalapeno, lime wedge, and cilantro. Another bowl, half of an avocado, and dish of cilantro in the background.

Serving, Storing, & Making Ahead

Serving

Store leftover panera chicken tortilla soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freezer for up to 2 months.

Storing

I recommend serving this healthy chicken tortilla soup with a squeeze of fresh lime juice, sprinkle of fresh cilantro, shredded low-fat cheddar or Mexican cheese blend, and sliced avocado with homemade tortilla chips or corn tortillas on the side or crunchy tortilla strips on top!

Making Ahead

This chicken tortilla soup recipe is the perfect recipe when you have a busy schedule and need a quick meal. Plus it keeps and reheats really well! I love making this when I know I'm not going to have a lot of time to cook but want a healthy, delicious meal ready in the fridge!

A bowl of healthy Panera chicken tortilla soup topped with cheese, avocado, jalapeno, lime wedge, and cilantro. Another bowl, half of an avocado, and dish of cilantro in the background.

Recipe FAQ

What does chicken tortilla soup contain?

Chicken tortilla soup usually contains beans of some sort, shredded chicken, corn, cilantro, peppers, and onion in a tomato-based broth. Each recipe will vary though!

Is chicken tortilla soup high in fiber?

This healthy chicken tortilla soup is a great way to include fiber into your diet. The veggies like peppers and onions, beans, and corn all provide fiber!

Is chicken tortilla soup high in calories?

The answer to this can be variable and dependent upon things like serving size, add-ons (sour cream, avocado, tortilla chips, etc.), and your personal needs.

Can you meal prep chicken tortilla soup?

Absolutely! This healthy chicken tortilla soup is a perfect meal prep recipe because you can make it in bulk and reheat it easily. It also freezes really well!

What can I use to thicken tortilla soup?

If you prefer a thicker tortilla soup, you can add a splash of whole milk or stir in some low-fat sour cream to make a creamy version. You can also make a quick slurry with corn starch and some water, and then stir that into the broth!

Can I make this chicken tortilla soup in the crockpot?

Absolutely! I love searing the chicken breast before cooking in the soup so I recommend doing that in a pan on the stovetop first followed by the veggies, and then transferring to a slow cooker with the remaining ingredients. You can cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 5-6! Then follow the recipe as-is.