Paleo Chicken Tortilla Soup

This was a chilly October week, complete with a couple inches of snow, to my dismay.  But that means it was a perfect week for another soup recipe!  One of my favorites is Chicken Tortilla Soup because it can be pretty hearty AND is super delicious.  I have previously made a really yummy recipe from my idol, Pioneer Woman, and I decided to make a Paleo version of that.  You can find other Paleo versions, but this was so tasty to begin with, I knew it would be great.  The biggest change was just omitting the black beans and of course using Paleo tortilla chips instead of your typical tortillas.  Other than that, the flavors were great and this turned out amazing!  Here is what I did:

Paleo Chicken Tortilla Soup
(serves 6-8)

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 T olive oil
• 1-1/2 t cumin
• 1 t chili powder
• 1/2 t garlic powder
• 1/2 t sea salt
• 1 T olive oil (additional)
• 1 c diced onion
• 1/2 c diced bell pepper (colors of choice)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can Rotel tomatoes and green chilies
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 4 c (32 oz) chicken stock/broth
• 3 T tomato paste
• 2 c hot water
• 1 recipe Paleo tortilla chips
• Garnishes: diced avocado, cilantro

Preparation
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Mix cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, and salt.  Drizzle 1 T olive oil on chicken breasts, then sprinkle some of the spice mix all over both sides.  Set aside the rest of the mix.  Place chicken breasts on a foil-lined baking sheet, and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until cooked through.  Once it is out of the oven, use two forks to shred chicken and set aside.

Heat 1 T olive oil in a large stock pot over medium high heat. Add onions, peppers, and garlic. Stir to cook for a minute or so, then add the rest of the spice mix. Stir to combine, then add shredded chicken and stir.

Pour in Rotel, diced tomatoes, chicken stock, tomato paste, and water. Bring to a boil (you may have to crank up the heat a bit), then reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer uncovered for anywhere from 20 to 45 minutes (the longer the better). Be sure to check seasonings and adjust as needed (you may need to add more salt or chili powder).

Turn off heat just before serving.  Break up a handful of your Paleo tortilla chips and gently stir them in.  Ladle into bowls, then top with your garnishes!

I served this soup with the rest of the tortilla chips and guacamole and we had a little fiesta on a chilly night.  It was fabulous!

This makes a LOT, and since there were only 2 of us, I had a lot leftover.  You can keep it in the fridge for a few days, but I also poured about half the soup into freezer bags to freeze for a future meal.  It will freeze well for a few weeks, and now we have another delicious meal ready to heat and eat!  If you love traditional Chicken Tortilla Soup, you will definitely love this one.  Enjoy!