Wondering what to serve with chicken tortilla soup for a fulfilling Mexican meal? Here, you’ll find easy and exciting sides for chicken tortilla soup (including some dips, drinks, and desserts).
Why Share?
Chicken tortilla soup is similar to having a taco in a bowl of soup form. It’s one of the ultimate comfort foods and can serve as a main dish or its own meal.
For those who’d rather enjoy it as the main course (as to the only course), I’m sharing side dishes and accompaniments to turn chicken tortilla soup into a meal.
These great options include some homemade traditional Mexican cuisine as well as some fun, inspired twists.
What Is Chicken Tortilla Soup?
Chicken tortilla soup is a classic Mexican dish that includes shredded chicken, broth, and other ingredients. You can have it as a main meal or serve it with a delicious side dish.
The main ingredients for chicken tortilla soup are:
- Shredded chicken: you can use fresh or leftover rotisserie chicken, chicken thighs, and chicken breasts.
- Chicken broth
- Black beans
- Tomatoes
- Corn Kernels
- Crunchy Tortilla strips
Toppings For Chicken Tortilla Soup
You can elevate your favorite chicken tortilla soup recipe with a range of your favorite toppings. Some popular options to add fresh flavors are:
- A Dollop of Sour Cream
- Fresh Cilantro
- Pickled Red Onions
- Avocado Slices
- Tortilla strips
- Lime wedges
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Sliced or diced jalapeno
Other Chicken Dinner Side Dish Collections:
- What To Serve With Chicken and Waffles
- What to Serve with Chicken Marsala: Best Sides to Make a Meal
- What To Serve With Chicken Pot Pie: Best Sides Dishes
Below are side dishes for chicken Mexican tortilla soup:
What to Serve with Chicken Tortilla Soup
Use this collection of the best side dishes for chicken tortilla soup to add some more flavor and variety to your menu. From black bean salsa to frozen berry margarita, serve your chicken tortilla soup with any of these sides, appetizers and drinks to enjoy nostalgic Mexican food flavors.
Chips & Dips
If you don't know what to serve with chicken tortilla soup as an appetizer, add your favorite tortilla chips to any of these dips, and you're good to go.
Keto 7 Layer Taco Dip
Pair up this meaty and vegetable-filled dip with chips for the ultimate appetizer. It comes together in about 20 minutes.
Best Keto Guacamole
This guacamole uses 7 simple ingredients like sea salt, ripe avocados, and lime juice. The best part is that it only takes about 10 minutes to make. This is a great option to enjoy with corn tortillas or as a topping for your soup.
Black Bean Salsa
This simple appetizer takes 10 minutes to prepare and requires a handful of basic ingredients.
Smoked Salsa
This easy recipe uses fire-roasted tomatoes and other smoked vegetables. Perfect for those who have a smoker and want a fresher and more flavorful smoked salsa option than the ones available from the grocery store.
Pico de Gallo
It's healthy, colorful, and effortlessly delicious. Pico de gallo uses 6 simple ingredients.
Other Appetizers
If you need more options for meal starters, below are easy-to-make dishes you can consider apart from the chips and dip:
Tex Mex Flautas
Make restaurant-style flautas at home in less than 20 minutes using a handful of ingredients–simply the best!
Easy Mexican Deviled Eggs
Mexican deviled eggs are a worthy appetizer–delicious, low-carb, and gluten-free. They’ll be ready in under 30 minutes. You can make these ahead and store them in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Breads
Various breads make great sides for chicken tortilla soup. From golden brown cornbread to flour tortillas, below are easy recipes you can add to your menu:
Air Fryer Cornbread
This Southern side dish takes less than 30 minutes from prep to plate and uses just 6 ingredients.
Jiffy Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread
If you’re looking for an easy and quick way to make Mexican cornbread, this is it. You’ll use a jiffy corn muffin mix and 6 other ingredients.
Mexican Molletes
Mexican molletes will turn your chicken tortilla soup into a perfect Mexican cuisine. They are cheesy, filling, and delightful.
Crusty Mexican Bolillo Bread
Soft on the inside and crunchy on the outside Mexican bolillo bread is addictively delicious.
Best Vegan Flour Tortillas
Pair chicken tortilla soup with this 5-ingredient vegan flour tortilla and enjoy a delightful North Mexican dish.
Rice & Beans
Rice and beans are easy fixes whenever you don’t know what to serve with chicken tortilla soup. Below are some regular recipes and low-carb side dish variations you can try:
Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice
Cook and enjoy fluffy restaurant-style Chipotle Mexican rice at home using 7 main ingredients. It comes together in about 30 minutes.
Keto Spanish Cauliflower Rice
This Spanish-inspired cauliflower rice is a hit if you’re looking for easy, quick, and toothsome side dishes for chicken tortilla soup.
Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice
If you want cilantro lime rice minus the extra carbs in the restaurant dish, here’s an equally flavorful low-carb variation.
Slow Cooker Mexican Beans & Brown Rice
Slow cooker beans and rice is a hands-off side dish that goes well with most main dishes. It’s easy to make and packed with bold flavors.
Slow Cooker Black Beans
Slow cooker beans are easy to prep and cook with a handful of ingredients. These are delicious and a perfect accompaniment for chicken tortilla soup.
Instant Pot Mexican Style Beans
Bring restaurant yumminess right into your home with this instant pot Mexican-style bean dish. Easy and ridiculously delicious!
Easy Crockpot Borracho Beans
Quit asking what to serve with chicken tortilla soup and make this drop-dead delicious beer, bacon, and beans combo.
Salads & Vegetables
Serve chicken tortilla soup with salads or vegetables for a more filling and healthy meal. Below are some amazing options, from stuffed baked plantains to Mexican street corn salad.
Stuffed Baked Plantains
Full of meaty, vegetable, and cheesy flavors, stuffed baked plantains are the perfect comfort side for chicken tortilla soup.
Kelewele or Aloco (Spicy Fried Plantains)
Nothing beats spicy, tender, crunchy plantains baked and served with chicken tortilla soup. This West African dish is easy and flavor-packed.
Fresh Corn Salad
Fresh corn salad is easy to make, healthy, and the ultimate crowd-pleaser for cookouts and small gatherings.
Air Fryer Corn On The Cob (In Foil)
You need 3 simple ingredients and about 15 minutes to make delicious corn on the cob. Easy and quick!
Mexican Street Corn Salad
Consider this salad if you need easy Mexican side dishes for chicken tortilla soup. It’s creamy and full of fresh vegetable flavors.
Creamy Mexican Coleslaw
This creamy Mexican slaw will do if you only have 15 minutes to whip up a healthy and delicious side for a summer cookout.
Drinks
When considering what to serve with chicken tortilla soup, the drinks below deserve a place on your menu. Sample various margarita recipes and a Mexican rice drink.
Frozen Berry Margarita
Rejuvenate your soul with a vibrant 7-ingredient frozen berry margarita, perfect for an adult party or weeknight dinner refreshments.
Paloma
Complete your chicken tortilla soup meal with this classic Paloma cocktail. It requires just 5 ingredients and 5 minutes to get done.
Triple Citrus Frozen Margarita
A triple citrus frozen margarita is your go-to drink if you’re having some adult friends over for a summer party. It’s easy to make and the ultimate crowd pleaser.
Simple 321 Margarita (With Spicy Option)
Tantalize your tastebuds with a simple Mexican-style margarita. This drink is always a hit whether you make it plain or spicy.
Frozen Virgin Strawberry Margarita
This virgin margarita is alcohol-free and packed with blended fruit flavors for the whole family to enjoy. It’s easy to make and super refreshing.
Homemade Horchata de Arroz (Mexican Rice Drink)
Make copycat Horchata de Arroz and enjoy this smooth, refreshing drink from the comfort of your home.
Desserts
When choosing a dessert, consider one that ties everything together to make your meal memorable. Sample these and choose what works for you:
Mexican S'mores
Made with just 4 ingredients, Mexican S’ mores will blow your tastebuds away. They come together in under 10 minutes.
Tres Leches Cake
Here’s something for your sweet tooth—a creamy, melt-in-the-mouth cake that will leave your tastebuds craving more.
Mexican Rice Pudding (Arroz con Leche)
This Mexican rice pudding is overwhelmingly tasty, yet it uses less than 10 simple ingredients. You can serve it cold or hot.
Mexican Fruit Salad
An assorted fruit salad is a perfect way to survive summer days while adding essential nutrients to your body. This one will be ready in 15 minutes.
Easy Air Fryer Churros
Make and enjoy these Mexican treats without deep frying. Air-fried churros are crunchy, healthier, and super tasty.
FAQs
You eat chicken tortilla soup with a spoon because it’s liquid-based. Some people also use things like flour tortillas to soak it up.
Chicken tortilla soup gets its name from the main ingredients like chicken and tortilla chips or strips.