This is for my friend Jennifer, who wanted the recipe. This is ridiculously easy, and I got the idea from Ashley, the fabulous gal in charge of the sample booth at Trader Joe’s. I really need to have a whole blog post about my neighborhood Trader Joe’s. Stay tuned.
Ashley
I had always wanted to make chicken tortilla soup, but hadn’t found a recipe I liked. When I tried the sample for this at Trader Joe’s, I loved it, and asked for the recipe. Well, here’s the crazy part. It only has five ingredients, and they might just be things you have handy. This is the perfect meal to throw in the crock pot in the morning before getting to your day.
I feel like apologizing for the simplicity here, but let’s get serious. I’m a mom of two school-aged children, I run my own business, I teach at the gym, and I have LOTS of hobbies. I need more easy recipes. All you need is some tortilla chips, a can of black beans (drained), a 32oz container of chicken broth, a jar of your favorite salsa, and a pound or so of chicken pieces – I use four boneless skinless chicken thighs because it’s easy – no bones or skin to mess with! Dump everything except the tortilla chips in your crock pot and set it for 6 hours on low. The tortilla chips are for later. Oh, and if you use the same salsa that I use, save the jar.
So you can make a fall candle holder with leaves from your neighborhood, like this.
But I will tell you how to make this another time. Suffice it to say that Mod Podge is my friend. Back to the soup! After the six hours or so, pull out the chicken and shred it.
Put it back in and make sure everything is nice and hot.
You don’t want to put the tortilla chips in the soup, but rather, crush them and put them on top once you have served it. It’s really optional though. You can eat it without the chips if you like, but then, it’s not really chicken tortilla soup, is it?
So, here’s where you can get creative. Serve this soup with crushed tortilla chips, shredded cheese, fresh cilantro, sour cream, avocado slices – all these things can be done in a matter of minutes. I usually only have chips and cheese handy at any given moment though, so for simple and delicious, just the tortilla chips, and cheese if you like. Enjoy!
and everything nice 
I get a little freaked out by how stringy and gloopy cheese gets when you invite it into a hot bowl — I imagine the other ingredients all suddenly rolling their eyes and muttering “oh no, here comes the cheese – say goodbye to healthy boundaries”. But this soup is so good that I love it just as it is, out of the pot. Cilantro only makes a good thing more festive, so yes please. I don’t love soggy chips, but they do add a nice flavor. Also, the fact that this is so easy for you is surprising to me but it doesn’t make me any less grateful when you serve up a bowl of CTS.
Good thing I put the cheese on the side! Glad you like it, dear husband :).
I can’t wait to try this! Just my speed…😂 Also, LOVE that you got the idea from your friend at TJs. Elisa and I were running this morning and she was telling me about your friend at the U Dist library. We were talking about how wonderfully welcoming you are of people and it’s not surprising that you have friends EVERYwhere.
Kelly, you are so sweet, and I can definitely say the same thing about you! Let me know what you think of the soup if you end up making it :).
My family gives this five stars! Wonderfully simple but soooo delicious. Thank you for this!
Yay Olivia!!! I’m so glad you all liked it! Love you!