Description
Max & Erma’s Tortilla Soup is a creamy, comforting chicken tortilla soup featuring shredded chicken, Velveeta cheese, and a medley of spices simmered to perfection. This rich and flavorful soup blends a smooth cheese base with diced tomatoes and green chilies for a mildly spicy kick, making it a perfect dish for a cozy meal.
Ingredients
Soup Base
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups chicken stock
- 1 cup whole milk
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups shredded chicken
- 10 ounces Velveeta cheese
- 1 (10 ounce) can Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies
Spices
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Melt Butter: In your 5.5 quart soup pot, add the unsalted butter and place it over medium-high heat until fully melted.
- Create Roux: Add the all-purpose flour to the melted butter and whisk continuously until the mixture is combined and frothy to form a roux.
- Add Chicken Stock: Slowly pour in the chicken stock while whisking to create a smooth mixture with no lumps.
- Pour in Milk: Stir in the whole milk to blend thoroughly with the stock and roux base.
- Add Main Ingredients and Spices: Reduce heat to medium-low, then add shredded chicken, Velveeta cheese, Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies, chili powder, cumin, oregano, smoked paprika, and kosher salt. Stir to combine all ingredients.
- Simmer and Melt Cheese: Gently simmer the soup while stirring frequently to help melt the Velveeta cheese evenly.
- Thicken Soup: Allow the soup to simmer for about 20 minutes until it becomes creamy and thick. Make sure the soup does not boil or scorch by stirring often.
- Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls and top with your choice of toppings such as tortilla strips, avocado, sour cream, or shredded cheese.
Notes
- Be careful not to let the soup boil to prevent cheese from separating or the soup scorching on the bottom.
- Stir frequently during simmering to ensure even melting and avoid lumps.
- Adjust spice levels by adding more chili powder or diced green chilies for extra heat.
- For a thicker soup, let it simmer longer; for a thinner consistency, add more chicken stock.
- This soup pairs well with fresh tortilla strips or crispy tortilla chips for added texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
