Whole30 Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla-Less Soup (Paleo)
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This Whole30 Instant Pot chicken tortilla-less soup is full of flavor and so easy to make! Super quick and filling, this Mexican soup is creamy, spicy, and low carb.
What Makes This Recipe So Good
- It’s crazy easy – throw (almost) everything in the Instant Pot, cook for about 18 minutes, dice your chicken, then add the remaining ingredients. You’ll have a complete meal on the table in no time, and with very little effort!
- It’s creamy, filling, and spicy, making it a great one-dish meal and perfect for cold weather. You can even meal prep this Mexican soup ahead of a busy week! I love having access to this delicious soup for a quick lunch.
- It’s also low carb and keto-friendly, with only 8 grams of net carbs per serving! This Whole30 Instant Pot chicken tortilla-less soup fits a variety of diets. It’s just about as healthy as a soup can get!
Key Ingredients
Chipotle Pepper Powder – I have unfortunately yet to find Whole30 compliant chipotle peppers. Therefore, we use chipotle pepper powder to give this soup a hint of that signature flavor. However, if you’re not on a Whole30, you can simply replace the powder with 2 chipotle peppers in adobo, plus 2 teaspoons of the adobo sauce. Also, feel free to include as much or as little chipotle as you’d like based on your spice preference.
Full-Fat Coconut Milk – The coconut milk gives this Whole30 Instant Pot chicken tortilla-less soup an irresistibly creamy texture and flavor! If you’re not a fan of coconut, don’t worry, the flavor barely shines through in this tasty recipe. Also, be sure to use a full-fat coconut milk for that thick, velvety texture!
Chef’s Tips
- If not on a Whole30, feel free to add some shredded cheese in there if you’d like! You can also enjoy this with a side of tortilla chips for a tasty crunch.
- Get creative with this recipe and make it your own! Stir in some spinach, kale, or chard for extra greens. You can even replace the chicken with about a pound of browned and drained ground beef!
- If you have a coconut allergy, replace the coconut milk with cashew cream. To do this, blend 1 cup of raw cashews with 3/4 cup water in a high-speed blender until smooth. This coconut-free option is also Whole30 compliant!
Other Recipes You’ll Love
- Mexican Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes (Instant Pot, Whole30, Paleo)
- Whole30 Breakfast Tacos
- Healthy Zuppa Toscana (Whole30, Paleo, Dairy Free)
- Paleo Lime Bars (Gluten Free, Dairy Free)
- Instant Pot Bone Broth That Gels (Whole30 Bone Broth)
- 3 Ingredient Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Chicken
- Whole30 White Chicken Chili
- Healthy Chicken Tostadas
- Whole30 Tzatziki (Paleo, Keto, Dairy Free)
- Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole with Eggs and Sausage (Whole30, Dairy Free, Gluten Free)
- Instant Pot Chicken Carnitas
- Whole30 Gyro Meatballs
Whole30 Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla-Less Soup
Ingredients
For the Soup
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts about 1 ½ pounds
- 1 ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 10-ounce cans tomatoes with green chiles
- 1 14.5-ounce can chicken broth Whole30-compliant
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1-3 teaspoons chipotle pepper powder 1 teaspoon for mild, 3 teaspoons for hot
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 zucchinis chopped or cut into ½-inch half moons
- 1 14-ounce can full-fat coconut milk or coconut cream whisked until smooth
For the Garnish
- fresh avocado slices
- red onions sliced thin
- fresh cilantro chopped
- coconut cream
- lime juice
- shredded cheese if not paleo or on Whole30
- tortilla strips if not paleo or on Whole30
Equipment
- Instant Pot
Instructions
- Sprinkle boneless skinless chicken breasts with salt. Add the chicken breasts to the Instant Pot. Add the remaining ingredients in order, through zucchini.
- Secure the lid on the pot. Cook at high pressure for 18 minutes. Allow the pressure to naturally release for ten minutes, then use the manual release. Pull out the chicken breasts and add coconut milk. Switch Instant Pot to Sauté mode and stir to combine.
- Dice or shred chicken, then return it to the soup. Serve hot, topped with garnishes of choice.
Notes
- Slow Cooker Method: If you don’t have an Instant Pot, you can make this Whole30 chicken tortilla-less soup in the slow cooker. Add all ingredients, except coconut milk, in order listed. Cook on low heat for 7 hours or on high heat for 4 hours. Remove chicken breasts and dice. Stir in coconut milk, then return chicken to slow cooker. Serve with garnishes.
Video
Nutrition Information
Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.
Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.
To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.
Gillian Rowe says
Family fave for a few years now! It’s seriously so easy and delicious! Thank you!!
Savannah | 40 Aprons Team says
Yay, so glad to hear that!
Kerri says
Just made it for Cinco de Mayo! It is delish! I subbed in crushed tomatoes and a small can of chopped chilis so it came out a little more like a creamy tomato base. I also added in a few chopped fresh jalapeños. My mom said the spices were perfect! I used a bag of frozen mixed veggies just cuz that’s what I like in soup. The chicken was already cut thin and just fell apart into savory shreds! I will be making this again!
Cheryl Malik says
Oooh, sounds delicious! Thanks for the review and tips!
Sally says
Oh wow. This is surprisingly good in every way! It’s on the master list now. We puréed the broth. Thank you!
Cheryl Malik says
So glad you loved it!
Ashley says
I love this soup so much. I make it in the slow cooker and it comes out perfect. I have frozen it and it reheats really well (the zucchini loses it’s form a bit but I don’t mind at all, SO tasty!!). I also add black beans when I reheat it. Thanks for this awesome recipe!
Cheryl Malik says
Thanks for the five stars! I’m glad you loved it.
anna says
can you add potatoes to it? For whole 30 my husband likes things hearty. How much time would you add to the instant pot if you add some large diced potatoes?
Jordan says
What is the serving size?
Cheryl Malik says
We would say a traditional serving size would be between eight to ten ounces.
Julie says
hi – love this recipe! have recently given up meat, so I am wondering if you know how long I should cook this sans meat?
Savannah | 40 Aprons Team says
Nine minutes should be plenty of time!
Beth V. says
This recipe is amazing. I’ve made is several times, exactly as written, and it’s been a hit regardless who I serve it to. Since my family is not following Whole 30 or Keto, we eat the soup with rice (on occasion) — simply delish!!
Ashleigh says
I have made this soup many times and tweak it often to what I have in the frig. Last night I had frozen chicken breasts, frozen cauliflower rice and baby bell peppers. I added 4 extra minutes to the cooking b/c my chicken was frozen (but make sure you separate the breasts so they cook evenly if they are frozen together). I added everything in the recipe and instead of zucchini, added in my frozen cauliflower (12oz bag) and roughly chopped bell peppers (1/2 cup). I also only had a 28oz can of fire roasted tomatoes and veggie stock. It all worked out beautifully. After it cooked I pulled out the chicken to shred and then immersion blended the chunky stuff then I added in 1/2 & 1/2 (maybe 1/4 cup) at the end b/c we have some people that don’t like coconut. Anyway, this recipe is a winner and is so flexible. Thanks for making easy one pot meals! Life saver!
Julie says
Thanks for mentioning that you added 4 minutes when using frozen chicken breasts. I was wandering through the comments to find the answer to that exact question. I’ve made and loved it before with fresh chicken breasts.
Anna Claire | 40 Aprons Team says
No problem!
Katie O'Brien says
Absolutely delicious!! I didn’t have chipotle powder so used a teaspoon of cayenne instead. Incredibly easy and tasty.