Instant Pot Chicken No-Tortilla Soup (Paleo, Whole30, Keto)
This instant pot chicken no-tortilla soup is quick and easy! It’s paleo, keto, whole30, and easy to modify for AIP.
What is Chicken Tortilla Soup?
Chicken tortilla soup is a warming and flavorful classic! It’s a chicken soup made with a broth and tomato base, jalapeno, chicken, beans, and is loaded with toppings like avocado, cheese, and of course, tortillas. It’s a fairly simple soup to make but packs a ton of flavor.
This chicken tortilla soup is made paleo and whole30 by omitting the beans, dairy, and leaving off the tortilla. Of course, you can still add tortillas if you want, but it’s just as tasty without it! It’s also made in the instant pot to make it even easier to prep, but it can also be made in the slow cooker if desired. This soup can also be made AIP and nightshade-free when following the modifications.
The Ingredients for Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Chicken Breast: You can also use boneless skinless thigh, but I think chicken breast works best for this soup.
- Avocado Oil: You can sub olive oil if you prefer.
- Zucchinis: Zucchini is a non-traditional ingredient for this recipe, but it adds more veggies and substance seeing as the recipe doesn’t use beans.
- Onion & Garlic Cloves
- Jalapeno: Omit for AIP.
- Chicken Broth
- Fire-Roasted Tomatoes: Sub nomato sauce for AIP.
- Salt & Black Pepper: Omit pepper for AIP.
- Oregano & Cumin: Omit cumin for AIP.
- Lime
- Cilantro & Avocados: The necessary toppings!
How to Make Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Cook the Vegetables: Set the instant pot to saute and add the avocado oil. Once heated, add the onion, jalapeno, and garlic. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until the onion is slightly translucent. Add the zucchini and saute for another 1-2 minutes to soften. Add the chicken breast.
- Combine the Broth & Seasonings: Pour in the broth, tomato, lime juice, and seasonings (reserving cilantro to serve) and stir well to combine.
- Cook & Serve: Hit “cancel” on the instant pot and place on the lid with the valve sealed. Set the instant pot to high pressure for 12 minutes. Allow to come to pressure and cook. Quick-release the pressure and carefully remove the lid. Serve topped with cilantro, avocado, and additional lime juice to taste.
How do you make this tortilla soup in the slow cooker?
Add all of the ingredients to the slow cooker and set to low for 6-8 hours. Remove the chicken and shred when cooked through. Serve topped with cilantro and avocado.
Can you still add tortillas?
For sure! I think adding something like Siete Tortilla Chips or plantain chips would be a great alternative.
How do you make this chicken tortilla soup nightshade-free?
- Swap tomato for nomato sauce
- Leave out the jalapeno
You’ll also love…
- Paleo Taco Salad
- Mexican Sweet Potato Chicken Poppers
- Freezer-Friendly Chicken Enchiladas
- Carne Asada
- One Pan Taco Skillet
Instant Pot Chicken No-Tortilla Soup (Paleo, Whole30, Keto)
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
This instant pot chicken no-tortilla soup is quick and easy! It’s paleo, keto, whole30, and easy to modify for AIP.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp avocado oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 jalapeno, diced and deseeded (omit for AIP)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 medium zucchinis, chopped (about 2 cups)
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 15 oz can fire roasted tomatoes (sub 2 cups nomato sauce for AIP)
- Juice of one lime
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper (omit for AIP)
- 1 tsp cumin (omit for AIP)
- 2 tsp oregano
- 1 lb chicken breast
- 2 tbsp cilantro
- 1–2 medium avocados, sliced
Instructions
- Set the instant pot to saute and add the avocado oil. Once heated, add the onion, jalapeno and garlic. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until the onion is slightly translucent.
- Add the zucchini and saute for another 1-2 minutes to soften.
- Pour in the broth, tomato, lime juice, chicken, and seasonings (reserving cilantro to serve) and stir well to combine.
- Hit “cancel” on the instant pot and place on the lid with the valve sealed. Set the instant pot to high pressure for 12 minutes.
- Allow to come to pressure and cook. Quick release the pressure and carefully remove the lid. Use a meat thermometer to enure the chicken is 165F. Set the instant pot to saute for longer if needed. Pull the chicken out and shred with two forks. Add back to the soup and stir.
- Serve topped with cilantro, avocado, and additional lime juice to taste.
Notes
To make in the slow cooker, add all of the ingredients to the slow cooker and set to low for 6-8 hours. Remove the chicken and shred when cooked through. Serve topped with cilantro and avocado.
All nutritional information are estimations and will vary. Estimations do not include optional ingredients.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 20
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Instant Pot
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Fat: 15.8g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 5.3g
- Protein: 28.5g
Keywords: tortilla soup
Recipe by Michelle, Unbound Wellness. Photos by Eat Love Eats
This post first appeared on Unbound Wellness in December 2019 and was updated in March 2021.
AIP
Low Carb
Paleo
Whole30
This looks great! I didn’t see when you add the chicken. It looks like it sits whole on top to be pulled back out once everything else is in?
Also I’ve not used canned tomatoes since I’ve successfully reintroduced fresh tomatoes. Do you have a brand you like? It seems like all I look at contain citric acid. I will use it if necessary but try to avoid citric acid if I can. Thanks!
The chicken gets added in with the broth and gets pulled out to be shredded at the end 🙂 Most canned goods like that will have a preservative, but fresh may work okay.
Thanks for the quick reply! This was so good! I made as is but left out jalapeños and it was still delicious. Thanks for yet another great recipe – I love every recipe of yours I’ve made! 🙂
★★★★★
This soup was so good!! I ate all of it over a couple of days. Not a fan of cilantro but added everything else. The lime juice really gives it a kick of flavor.
★★★★★
Yum, yum, yummmmmmm!!
This was so good, I’ve just had two bowls. Made it using your nomato sauce and I was skeptical, because other nomato sauce recipes have been distinctly underwhelming, but the soup came out wonderfully. It’s now on my favorites list.
¡Delicioso!
Question about nutrition on this recipe and others.
Does it include the toppings like avocado?
It does! Of course, it will always vary depending on the size of your ingredients.
Absolutely delicious. I like the heat and flavors from the jalapeno. The only thing missing from the instructions is “Add chicken to the pot” in step 3. I couldn’t find any fire roasted tomatoes at my store, so I just used canned diced tomatoes.
★★★★★
If I’m making this with leftover rotisserie chicken, what changes in cook time would you recommend?
I’d probably just make it on the stove so you can taste as you go 🙂 It would probably take 20-30 min on the stove.
This is an absolute favorite. Bright, addictive flavor. I could eat this every day. What would you suggest to make this vegan? Sub the chicken for what and then cook in the instant pot for how long?
★★★★★
I haven’t tried to do it without chicken but you can add more veggies of your choice! 🙂
So incredibly good! I followed all of the AIP modifications and it was fantastic. This was a satisfying comfort food that the whole family loved!
★★★★★
Yay! Thank you so much, Katie!!
Have you tried the new “Late July” tiger nut flour tortilla chips? They are delicious. They are, hands down, my favorite grain free tortilla chip.
Oh wow, no I haven’t! I’ve gotta check it out. Thank you!
Authentic.. my first recipe from unbound wellness!! Just made it today like in literally less than 15 min and very good! Being from South Texas this recipe taste just like the ones from here ! Very awesome !
★★★★★
Tasted delicious. I used nomato sauce to keep it AIP. The only thing I was sad about was the nice red color from the sauce was gone after pressure cooking the soup.
★★★★★
This is really good! Do NOT skip the avocado! It adds such a great taste to the soup that takes it over the top. Very flavorful. I didn’t use an instant pot & just cooked on the stove. Came out great!
★★★★★
Thank you!!