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This creamy chicken tortilla soup is the perfect copycat recipe for the famous Max & Erma’s tortilla soup! Made with rotisserie chicken, tomatoes, cheese, and lots of spices.
I think you all know how much I love my Midwest recipes. They remind me of home and are cozy and delicious. What more could you want?
I have been so excited to share this copycat of Max & Erma’s tortilla soup with you all.
It’s a cheesy, creamy chicken tortilla soup that can be customized to add extra vegetables or even beans. So easy to make and packed full of Tex-Mex flavor.
I like to use shredded rotisserie chicken to keep it fast and easy, but you could also use cut-up leftover grilled chicken, canned chicken, or freshly roasted shredded chicken breast.
The perfect topping for this soup is homemade corn tortilla strips, but store-bought strips or corn chips are great toppers. I also added a sprinkle of cilantro because cilantro is my favorite.
Other tasty options are crumbed cotija cheese, shredded cheese, sliced avocado, or sour cream.
Ingredients needed
- Butter
- All-purpose flour
- Chicken stock
- Milk
- Velveeta cheese
- Rotel tomatoes
- Shredded chicken
- Chili powder
- Cumin
- Oregano
- Smoked paprika
- Kosher salt
How to make creamy chicken tortilla soup
The best part about Max & Erma’s tortilla soup recipe is that I can have it anytime! It’s so delicious and creamy and filled with cheesy flavor.
- In a soup pot, add your butter and melt.
- Sprinkle in the flour and whisk together until combined and frothy.
- Slowly whisk in the chicken stock until thoroughly combined and no flour chunks remain.
- Pour in the milk and whisk to combine.
- Stir in the shredded chicken, Velveeta cheese, diced tomatoes, and spiced.
- Simmer gently for 20 minutes until thick and creamy.
- Top with desired toppings and enjoy hot!
What is Max & Erma’s
Max & Erma’s is a casual sit-down chain restaurant founded in Columbus, Ohio. It’s one of those “cozy local restaurant” style of restaurants that pumps out delicious Midwest food.
It was very popular in the Midwest and East Coast in the 80’s and 90’s.
I’m pretty sure their tortilla soup is one of the most talked about recipes they dish out of their kitchen. It’s so cheesy and creamy!
My Pro Tips
Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe Tips
This soup is not fancy or traditional. Don’t skip on the Velveeta. It’s vital to the cheesy flavor and texture and won’t get oily or break. You can buy generic; ensure it’s labeled easy or fast melt cheese.
Use shredded rotisserie chicken to make things easy and fast. I’m using 2 cups, but you could add one more cup for an extra meaty soup.
If you love tomato flavor but don’t love tomato chunks, puree the Rotel diced tomatoes before adding.
Can’t find Rotel? You can use other canned diced tomatoes. I sometimes like using fire-roasted diced tomatoes to bring in a smokey flavor.
Top your soup with tortilla strips, corn chips, sour cream, shredded cheese, sliced avocado, or a sprinkling of cilantro.
More Tex-Mex soup
Max & Erma’s Tortilla Soup (Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup)
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups chicken stock
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 cups shredded chicken
- 10 ounces Velveeta cheese
- 1 (10 ounce) can Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- In your 5.5 quart soup pot add your butter and place over medium-high heat.
- When your butter is melted add the flour and whisk together until combined and froathy.
- Slowly pour in your chicken stock and whisk to combine. You should see no lumps of flour.
- Pour in your milk and stir to combine.
- Turn your heat down to medium-low and add in your shredded chicken, Velveeta cheese, Rotel diced tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, oregano, smoked paprika and kosher salt. Stir to combine.
- Gently simmer and stir to help melt the Velveeta cheese.
- Once melted, let the soup simmer for about 20 minutes or until creamy and thick. Don't let the soup boil or scorch. Stir it frequently.
- To serve, pour in a bowl and top with your desired toppings, such as tortilla strips, avocado, sour cream, or shredded cheese.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This soup was so good! I made this for my daughter and she said it’s a new favorite. Thanks for the recipe!
My MIL made this for the family last night and it was a huge hit. So creamy with just the right amount of spice. Crowd pleaser, will make this regularly!
I’m so glad you and the whole family enjoyed it Rebecca!