Easy Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup – A SAHM’s Dump Dinner Chart 🥼
Disclaimer: I’m a former Pediatric Nurse Practitioner turned stay-at-home mom, but I am not your Nurse Practitioner. This is just my personal cooking and eating experience. Everyone’s needs are different, and ingredients/brands can change. Please always read labels carefully and talk with your own healthcare professional if you have dietary concerns. This is not medical advice.
Charting My Kitchen Case Report
I was headed out to lunch with a friend (she broke her hand, poor thing 💔), chatting on the phone with my sister about what to make for dinner. She casually drops this Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe in my lap—and since I was driving, I had to memorize it on the fly. Next time, I’ll ask her to text it because, let’s be honest, my brain doesn’t chart like it used to. 🙃
The good news? It was so simple, even I could remember it (well, except the peppers—oops).
🧾 Symptoms (aka Ingredients)
Here’s what landed in my Instant Pot, straight from my sister’s “dump dinner” playbook—with my own gluten- and dairy-free swaps:
2 lbs chicken breast (I used 1.7 lbs because that’s what I had)
1 can Rotel (always works for me)
1 can black beans, drained & rinsed (store brand—no issues before, but always check labels)
1 can diced tomatoes with juices
Frozen corn (half a bag; my sister insists it tastes better than canned and I agree)
4–6 cups chicken broth (I used Kirkland stock this time since I was out of homemade)
Taco seasoning (Ortega—my go-to for 10+ years)
(Forgot the bell peppers—oops, next time!)
Optional toppings:
Tortilla chips (we used Nuevo Leon Totopos 🫶), dairy-free cheese, avocado, or sour cream substitutes.
👀 Initial Examination
I first “examined” this recipe while driving—no notes, no chart, just memory. Pretty straightforward! Easy enough that even without my nurse brain at full capacity, I remembered everything but the peppers.
Verdict: low-stress, brain-break-free. ✅
🩺 Treatment Plan
Simple: dump, stir, cook.
Add all ingredients to the Instant Pot.
Drain & rinse beans (I didn’t want that extra liquid).
Stir gently.
Seal Instant Pot, set to Manual / High Pressure, 30 minutes.
Release naturally or quick-release—your call.
Done. Dinner charted. 👩⚕️🍲
⚠️ Side Effects
Needed a little more taco seasoning—added after cooking, and that did the trick.
Skipping the peppers wasn’t catastrophic, but I’ll definitely add them next time for flavor and nutrients.
Zero tummy troubles—aka no issues with my tissues (my personal allergy-friendly gold star ⭐).
📊 Prognosis
This one’s staying on my “approved” list. My family (husband + daughter) loved it, and it made enough for at least two full meals. Perfect for those nights when cooking motivation is on life support.
For us:
Next time I’ll use a little less broth.
Probably cut back the chicken (half of 1.7 lbs would’ve been plenty since my son’s away at college now).
Final chart note: Sinus rhythm ✅ —steady, comforting, reliable. Definitely making this again.
