How to Cook Tortilla Soup (Healthy Soup for a family)

Tortilla Soup

This Mexican-inspired chicken, tomato, and bean soup practically cook itself. I pile the ingredients into a slow cooker while I'm off doing far more glamorous things (like working, picking up dry cleaning, or dropping off a forgotten lunch at school!). My weekday cheat is to use tortilla chips instead of fresh tortillas. My favorite kind is the better-for-you baked white tortilla chips with a hint of lime, but any kind will do. If I'm feeling fancy, I'll add cubed avocado and sour cream before serving. If you have leftover cooked rice in the fridge, a spoonful of the soup is a nice touch, and for a less spicy flavor remove the jalapeno seeds and ribs

Ingredients

·         3 chicken thighs, skin removed

·         10-ounce can diced tomatoes with green chilies 

·         1 1/2 cups cooked black beans

·         1 1/2 cups chicken broth

·         1 1/2 cups water

·         1 yellow onion, finely chopped

·         3 garlic cloves, finely minced

·         1 jalapeno, finely chopped

·         1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

·         1/2 teaspoon chili powder

·         Juice of 1/2 lemon

·         20 tortilla chips

·         3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro

·         1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Directions

Place the chicken, tomatoes (and juices), beans, broth, water, onion, garlic, jalapeno, cumin, and chili powder in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for 3 to 4 hours or on low for 6 to 8 hours. 

Uncover the slow cooker and use tongs to remove the chicken from the pot. Once cool enough to handle, remove the meat from the bones and shred, then return the meat to the pot. Stir in the lemon juice. Crumble a few tortilla chips into each bowl and cover with some soup. Serve sprinkled with cilantro and grated cheese. 

Per serving: Calories: 275; Total Fat: 8 grams; Saturated Fat: 4 grams; Protein: 22 grams; Total carbohydrates: 29 grams; Sugar: 7 grams; Fiber: 6 grams; Cholesterol: 56 milligrams; Sodium: 364 milligrams