Top view of a traditional pozole soup with various fresh garnishes, perfect for authentic Mexican cuisine enthusiasts.

Recipe Details

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Servings: 4-6 servings

Tortilla Soup

When Ray and Patsy traveled up to Michigan to visit his Aunt Norma, they knew they were in for good conversation, plenty of laughter, and whatever comforting meal she decided to make. Norma loved cooking for family, and during one visit she prepared her Tortilla Soup, a dish she enjoyed making when the weather turned cool. Ray wasn’t much of a soup person, but he appreciated the care she put into every meal and was happy to sit at her table and share whatever she served.

Patsy, on the other hand, took one spoonful and immediately fell in love with it. The warm broth, the spices, the tender chicken, and the crisp tortilla strips won her over instantly. Ray watched her enjoy it with a smile, glad to see how much it delighted her and touched that Norma had made something so special for their visit

By the end of the meal, Patsy was asking Norma for the recipe, and Ray was enjoying the moment — not because he’d suddenly become a soup fan, but because family, good food, and time together made the visit memorable. Norma’s Tortilla Soup became one of those stories they carried home with them, a reminder of how a simple meal can make a trip feel even more meaningful.

Ingredients

 
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 2 cans (14½ oz each) beef broth
  • 1 jar (16 oz) chunky salsa
  • 1 can (7 oz) whole kernel corn, undrained
  • 1 cup tortilla chips, crushed
  • 1 cup Mexican-style shredded cheese

 

Instructions

  1. Brown the ground beef in a large saucepan over medium heat and drain any excess fat. 
  2. Add the beef broth, chunky salsa, and corn. Stir well and bring the mixture to a boil. 
  3. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes, or until heated through.
  4. Ladle the soup into bowls and top with crushed tortilla chips and shredded cheese before serving.

Notes

  • For a chicken version, substitute ground chicken for the beef and chicken broth for the beef broth 
  • Customize with toppings such as sour cream, avocado, cilantro, or jalapeños

Serving Suggestions

Serve with warm cornbread, quesadillas, or a simple green salad for a complete meal

Chicken-Tortilla-Soup-5