Name: Qdoba Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 1
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: Leftover Cooked Chicken; 1 Can Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes; 1 White Onion; 2 Dried Peppers (Pasilla Negra Or Pasilla Ancho Chile) or Canned Chipotles Adobo; 5 Garlic Cloves; 8 Cups Broth, Stock, Or Water; Salt; Olive Or Vegetable Oil; Garnishes:; Lime Wedges; Guacamole Or Sliced Avocado; Tortilla Chips; Sour Cream; Shredded Cheese; 1 tsp Mexican Oregano (if you don't have use coriander or cumin seeds instead); Corn tortilla; Cutting board; knife; Blender; Strainer; Pot or Dutch oven; Ladle

Jump to Recipe

You know that cozy, comforting feeling you get when you take that first sip of a hot, homemade soup? That’s exactly what the popular Qdoba Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe delivers. This flavor-packed dish has been a personal favorite of mine ever since I first tried it at the restaurant.

This Qdoba Chicken Tortilla Soup is a Mexican-inspired wonder. It has a zesty tomato broth that is full of real chilies and spices. Soft chopped chicken, hearty black beans, and sweet corn come together to make a satisfying mix of tastes and textures. This tortilla soup is unique because of the fresh toppings like sour cream, queso, avocado, and crispy tortilla strips. You can also choose to add sour cream or queso for extra taste.

Whether you want to have a cozy meal or a taste of Mexican cuisine, this delicious and healthy Qdoba Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe is sure to hit the spot just like our basil soup and loaded potato soup.

Why Is This Qdoba Chicken Tortilla Soup Popular?

QDOBA’s signature soup is this chicken tortilla soup. It is a seasonal menu item, so it’s not available year-round. But it’s a popular choice when it is available, and for good reason! The flavor and creaminess of this soup makes it so tasty. But the true lure is the personalized toppings, which includes crispy tortilla strips for crunch, creamy avocado for richness, and tart lime for zing.

How To Make Qdoba Chicken Tortilla Soup

You can’t have this soup all the time in QDOBA restaurants as this is their seasonal item. But why wait!! Let’s get to our chicken, grab these ingredients and prepare the copycat recipe of QDOBA Chicken Tortilla Soup.

Ingredients

Leftover Cooked Chicken
1 Can Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes
1 White Onion
2 Dried Peppers (Pasilla Negra Or Pasilla Ancho Chile) or Canned Chipotles Adobo
5 Garlic Cloves
8 Cups Broth, Stock, Or Water
Salt
Olive Or Vegetable Oil
Garnishes:
Lime Wedges
Guacamole Or Sliced Avocado
Tortilla Chips
Sour Cream
Shredded Cheese

Optional:

1 tsp Mexican Oregano (if you don’t have use coriander or cumin seeds instead)
Corn tortilla

Kitchen Tools:

Cutting board
knife
Blender
Strainer
Pot or Dutch oven
Ladle

Step by Step Recipe Instructions

Step 01: Prep Aromatics

Take the white onion and cut into 2 pieces and take off its outside skins. Then chop it and slice into rough pieces because we are going to blend it so it doesn’t have to be perfect.

After that, break off the top of the chillies and Cut into roughly 1-inch pieces. Smash the peeled garlic cloves to add that too. Keep the chili seeds for adding heat flavor.

Step 02: Cook Aromatics

In a pan, cook the chopped onions until they’re browned and halfway caramelized. Then add the chillies, smashed garlic and stir for about 1 minute. This will increase the taste and flavor of our tortilla soup.

Char Tortilla (Optional): If desired, char a corn tortilla by placing it directly over an open flame on my stovetop or using the broiler to add a smoky flavor.

Step 3: Blend Ingredients

In that mean time, add sliced tomatoes, that charred corn tortilla, mexican oregano, salt for taste and Transfer the cooked onions, chilies, and garlic to a blender. Now add chicken stock into that and Blend everything until smooth. But if you don’t have chicken stocks or make it vegan just use vegetable stocks or water.

Step 4: Frying The Paste

Return the pot to the stove and add 2 more tsp oil to heat medium over. Now using a medium-mesh strainer, strain the puree/blended paste directly into the pan.

Step 5: Simmer Soup and add Chicken

Simmer and stir the tortilla soup paste frequently to avoid burning or sticking to the pan on medium-high heat. When the paste starts bubbling, add the remaining chicken stock and Leftover Cooked Chicken. Let the soup for a while to cook and let’s make toppings for our chicken tortilla soup.

Step 6: Prepare Soup Toppings and Serve

Take a soup bowl, Add shredded cheese to the bottom, a little bit of sour cream, guacamole or sliced avocado. Garnish with fresh cilantro and stack tortilla pieces on top. If desired, Serve with lime wedges on the side for an extra zing.

Make Vegan Version of This Qdoba Chicken Tortilla Soup

To make a vegan version of this tortilla soup, just add vegetable stock or only water instead of chicken stock. That’s it. You have your own vegan Qdoba Tortilla Soup. You can also add black beans or any beans to make the soup more detectable and tasty.

Special Tips From The Chef

Use white onion to make this tortilla soup instead of using red or brown onions. Red onion or brown onion is more likely to be eaten raw with salads or as toppings. White onion will make the soup taste like a real mexican tortilla soup.
Must use the corn tortillas which will add a corn flavor. This is exactly what QDOBA uses to make the soup taste amazing. If you don’t have corn tortillas that’s completely fine.
Fresher toppings like avocado, cilantro, lime add brightness. You can customize these toppings with your favorite ones.

What To Serve With This Qdoba Chicken Tortilla Soup

You can enjoy Qdoba Chicken Tortilla Soup with a whole lunch meal or here are few of my serving suggestion to enjoy this soup with:

Sides:

Warm Tortillas – For dipping into the delicious soup and absorbing every last bit.
Crispy Tostada Shells – Crumbled over the soup, they provide a contrasted crunch.
Mexican Rice or Brown Rice – A traditional side dish that soaks up the soupy flavor while providing heartiness.
Refried Beans – These creamy, flavorful beans are a protein-rich complement.

Salads:

Simple green salad with lime vinaigrette
Southwestern black bean and corn salad

Drinks:

Horchata (sweet cinnamon rice milk)
Agua frescas (fruit water beverages)
Mexican beers like Corona or Modelo

Desserts:

Churros with chocolate sauce
Flan or arroz con leche (rice pudding)

Can You Freeze or Store Qdoba Chicken Tortilla Soup

This Qdoba Chicken Tortilla Soup is best enjoyed fresh for the perfect flavor and texture. While leftovers can be frozen in airtight containers for up to three months, their quality will deteriorate. I recommend cooking just enough for one dinner to fully enjoy the bright flavors and textures of the fresh garnishes and toppings. For an authentic Qdoba taste, serve it scorching hot immediately after preparation.

FAQs

How Spicy Is This Tortilla Soup?

It has a nice kick thanks to the chiles, but it’s not overwhelmingly spicy. The spice level is definitely customizable though – either scale back on the amount of chiles or remove the seeds to tame the heat. And let’s not forget the power of cooling toppings like avocado, cheese, and sour cream.

What Are Some Good Substitutions For The Dried Chiles?

If you can’t find dried pasilla or ancho chiles, chipotle chiles in adobo sauce from a can work great. Or you can use chili powder or red pepper flakes to taste for some smoky heat.

Can I Make This Soup Vegetarian or Vegan?

Absolutely! Simply omit the chicken and use vegetable broth instead of chicken stock. Load up on extra beans, veggies, and plant-based toppings for a hearty and flavorful meat-free version.

Qdoba Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Make tasty Qdoba Chicken Tortilla Soup at home with this easy copycat recipe. Flavorful chicken, tomatoes. Top with avocado, cheese, tortilla chips. Simple steps for famous Mexican soup taste anytime.