When I saw that Costco was selling a twin pack of Kirkland chicken tortilla soup it brought back a flood of memories from when I was a kid and our family lived in El Paso, Texas.
It was crazy times back then. My dad spent his evenings running poblano peppers across the border from Juarez while my mom spent her days selling homemade tamales from the back of a brown Toyota Corolla hatchback.
Anyhow, I have a thing for chicken tortilla soup.
Keep reading and we will cover:
- How to Heat the Soup
- Calories, Nutrition and Gluten Information
- Is the Soup any Good?
- How Long Does the Soup Last?
How to Heat the Soup
The packaging gives two methods for heating the soup: Stovetop and Microwave.
For best results they suggest pouring the contents of one of the tubs into a saucepan and heating on the stove on medium high heat. Stir the soup frequently and heat until the soup is hot. This should take about 5-6 minutes.
Alternatively you can pull pack the plastic wrap on one of the tubs by about an inch and microwave on high for five minutes. After five minutes, completely remove the film, stir and heat for another minute.
Calories, Nutrition and Gluten Information
You get two tubs of soup, each weighing two pounds (four pounds total). Between the two tubs their are seven servings (1 cup per serving).
The calories and nutritional information for a single serving are:
- Calories: 120
- Fat: 3.5g (4% DV)
- Cholesterol: 30mg (10% DV)
- Sodium: 780mg (34% DV)
- Carbohydrates: 13g (5% DV)
- Protein: 11g
This soup is labeled as Gluten Free.
Taste Test!
The soup has all of the flavors you would expect from a chicken tortilla soup. There is plenty of chicken base with lots of tomatoes, corn, onions and poblano peppers.
The ingredient list shows that the soup uses white corn masa and some amount of actual tortilla chips to deliver the tortilla flavors but I think this is the weakest part of the soup.
For my second bowl I ended up adding a handful of crushed blue corn tortilla chips and a tablespoon of cilantro lime crema sauce which made the soup just about perfect.
I would call the soup only mildly spicy but I have seen other call it as a medium spice level.
Kicked Up Kirkland Chicken Tortilla Soup
Ingredients
- 32 oz Kirkland Chicken Tortilla Soup
- 1 cup Tortilla Chips, Crushed Blue corn chips are great!
- 3 tbsp Don Pancho Cilantro Lime Crema Sauce from Costco
Instructions
- Peel back the plastic film on the soup container and microwave on High for 2.5 minutes.
- Stir the soup and microwave for on High for another 2.5 minutes.
- Remove the container from the microwave but be careful as it is full of HOT liquid.
- Stir in the crushed tortilla chips and crema.
- Serve the soup in bowls with a garnish of sliced avocado if desired.
If the Costco product doesn’t sound like what you are looking for then you can always make you own by following this great recipe from Food Network.
What to Serve With the Soup?
The soup would be great when served as part of a Southwest Dinner along with some tamales or mini tacos! Heck, you could even serve it along with Costco’s Street Taco Kit to make a feast.
Below are a few ideas for both Traditional and Non-Traditional items to serve with the soup for your consideration 🙂
Traditional Items to Serve:
Whole Tortilla Chips are a classic accompaniment to this soup. They add a crunchy texture along with a salty and slightly earthy flavor that enhances the overall taste of the soup.
Avocado, diced or sliced, is a popular topping for the soup. The creamy and buttery texture of avocado adds a contrast and complements the Mexican-inspired flavors of the spicy and tangy soup. And, why not…because every day is a great day to eat avocados!
Freshly squeezed lime juice adds a burst of citrusy tang to the soup, balancing the flavors and enhancing the overall taste. You can also give those avocado slices a little squirt of lime juice to keep them from turning brown
Chopped cilantro is a common garnish for the soup that adds a burst of brightness and enhances its overall freshness and complexity. It also adds a pop of color to the dish.
Non-traditional Items to Serve:
Queso Fresco is a tasty Mexican crumbly cheese is a great addition to Chicken Tortilla Soup. Its mild and creamy flavor complements the spicy and tangy flavors of the soup, and its crumbly texture adds a contrast to the smoothness of the soup.
Adding some roasted corn kernels to the soup can add a touch of sweetness and smokiness to the dish. The caramelized flavors of roasted corn add depth and complexity, creating an interesting twist to the traditional flavors.
Tangy and slightly sweet pickled red onions can add a burst of flavor to the dish. The onions bring a crunchy element that complements the smoothness of the soup and also adds a pop of color.
Adding some chipotle peppers in adobo sauce to the soup can add a smoky and spicy kick to the dish. The adobo sauce adds depth and complexity to the soup, while the chipotle peppers bring a smoky and spicy flavor that complements the chicken and tomato base.
How Long Does the Soup Last?
You get four pounds of soup in two tubs but you don’t have to eat it all at once 🙂
The soup will last about three months when the unopened container is kept in the refrigerator. There is an expiration date printed on the back of the packaging to let you know exactly how long the soup is good for.
Once the soup has been opened it should be consumed within three days.
Price and Location of the Soup
You can find the soup in the refrigerated coolers by the deli section of the warehouse.
The soup is Item Number 9929 and costs $8.49 for two containers with each holding 32 ounces of soup.
Overall this is a pretty decent price for a pretty decent product.
Chicken Tortilla Soup: There is an expiration of date of 09-20-22. How long after this date is the unopened soup good for that has been refrigerated?