Chicken Tortilla Soup (Gluten and Dairy Free)

Chicken tortilla soup can be easily made without the most common allergens if you make sure ingredients don't contain hidden allergens. This soup is quick and easy to prepare, so it is a staple in our regular meal rotation.

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Chicken tortilla soup is one of my favorite soups. I love the combination of flavors and the toppings that go so well with it (hello, diced avocados!)

I also love how easy it is to make allergy-friendly without any substitutes. Sure, many chicken tortilla soups are topped with cheese and sour cream (no-no's for those of us avoiding dairy), but this soup is still delicious without them.

Ingredient notes

Chicken

I like to cut corners wherever I can to make meals quick and easy. Protein, like chicken, tends to be the most time-consuming portion of a meal. Here are some convenient options for the chicken in this soup.

Canned chicken: This is my least favorite option because I don't like the taste or texture of canned chicken. With that said, you can save a lot of time (and space in your refrigerator/freezer) with the canned variety. Use a ten-ounce can if going this route.

Rotisserie chicken: This is another very convenient option (all you have to do is cut up the chicken into bite-sized pieces) that tastes better than canned. Just be sure to get a rotisserie chicken that doesn't have allergens you're avoiding. The most common allergens I see in rotisserie chickens are wheat/gluten and soy. Just be sure to read those labels carefully!

Leftover chicken: A meal planning tip I tell people often is, when cooking meat, cook extra to use for another dish. I will often grill four pounds of chicken breasts at a time and use them for a couple of different dinners that week and then freeze enough for another meal. It's so great to have this kind of stuff in the freezer for those nights when you don't know what to make, haven't thawed anything out, or don't have much time!

Use leftover chicken taco filling: Slow cooker chicken tacos are the simplest thing to make, and the leftovers are perfect for this soup!

To make it, combine 1 pound of chicken breasts, 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning, and one 16-ounce jar of salsa in a slow cooker.  Cook it on low for 8 hours or until the chicken pulls apart.

You can skip the cumin and chili powder when using these leftovers, as the chicken is already seasoned!

Black beans

Canned: The easiest option for black beans is canned. I always have several cans of black beans in my pantry for tacos, soups, and salads. To reduce the sodium, I drain them in a colander and rinse them well.

Instant pot: Sometimes, I am out of canned beans (gasp!) In that case, I turn to my trusty Instant Pot. Did you know you can make black beans in an Instant Pot in less than an hour? It's true!

To make them:

1. Rinse 1 cup of beans
2. Add them along with 3 cups of water to the Instant Pot
3. Pressure cook on high for 30 minutes
4. Let the pressure release naturally (takes about 20 minutes)

Voila! Black beans cooked perfectly - even better than canned! Add 1 ½ cups to the soup (or more if you'd like) and freeze the leftovers for another batch of soup.

Chicken broth

Some broth contains wheat/gluten, so it's important to read labels carefully if you have a wheat allergy or intolerance. You can use any of the following options:

Bouillon granules - I use this most often because it takes less room in my pantry, and I can mix up as much as I need. Orrington Farms makes a variety of bouillon granule options - all of them are gluten free.

Chicken stock in a carton - Using stock is more convenient (no mixing like the granules). Kitchen Basics and Swanson are two brands that are allergy-friendly and gluten free.

Homemade stock - Making your own stock is obviously not a quick process but it makes for a really great soup! When I buy a rotisserie chicken, I usually make stock with the leftover chicken bones. I use my Instant Pot but you can also do this on the stove top.

Serving suggestions

There's so many good things to put on chicken tortilla soup! Here are our favorites:

• Diced avocado
• Cilantro
• Dairy free cheese
• Dairy free sour cream
• Tortilla strips - To make them, cut corn tortillas into thin strips (I use a pizza cutter). Toss them in a tablespoon or two of extra virgin olive oil, a teaspoon of lime juice, and 1 teaspoon of salt. Bake in a 375 degree F oven for 15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. YUMMY!

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