Chicken tortilla soup, or sopa de tortilla, is a traditional Mexican comfort food that dates back to the colonial era when leftover tortillas were repurposed into a hearty broth. It reflects the Mexican principle of "cocina de aprovechamiento" – using every ingredient fully – and is often served at family gatherings and festive occasions.

In central Mexico, the soup is often made with a clear chicken broth, roasted tomatoes, and thin tortilla strips. In the Yucatán, it may include achiote and orange juice for a slightly sweet flavor. Coastal versions sometimes add seafood or use a richer, creamier base.

It is typically served hot in deep bowls, topped with crispy tortilla strips, a drizzle of crema, diced avocado, crumbled queso fresco, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime. Some families also add sliced radishes or pickled onions for extra crunch.

While enjoyed year‑round, chicken tortilla soup is especially popular during cooler evenings, family reunions, and holiday gatherings such as Día de los Muertos and Christmas Eve, where warm, comforting dishes are prized.

The combination of smoky charred vegetables, a long‑simmered chicken broth, and crunchy tortilla strips creates a balance of textures and flavors—smoky, bright, spicy, and creamy—that epitomizes Mexican comfort food.

Common errors include over‑cooking the chicken so it becomes dry, skipping the long simmer which results in a thin broth, and adding the tortilla strips too early, causing them to lose their crunch.

Charred vegetables add a deep, smoky flavor and a subtle bitterness that a plain tomato base lacks. The high heat caramelizes sugars, enhancing the overall complexity of the soup.

Yes. The broth and shredded chicken can be prepared up to two days in advance and stored separately in the refrigerator. Reheat gently, add fresh lime juice and toppings just before serving.

The broth should be clear amber with a slight sheen, the chicken pieces tender and moist, and the tortilla strips golden‑brown and crisp. The final garnish adds creamy avocado green, white crema, and red cilantro flecks.

The soup is ready when the broth has reduced slightly, the flavors have melded (taste for balance of salt, acidity, and heat), and the chicken is tender enough to shred easily. A quick spoon test should reveal a silky mouthfeel.

The YouTube channel Food Wishes, hosted by Chef John, specializes in approachable, step‑by‑step cooking tutorials that blend humor with clear culinary techniques, covering a wide range of cuisines and classic comfort foods.

Food Wishes focuses on simplifying traditional Mexican dishes for the home cook, often providing shortcuts like oven‑baked tortilla strips and offering detailed explanations of each technique, whereas many Mexican channels emphasize authentic, sometimes labor‑intensive methods.