Start by cooking your chicken. I like to use chicken tenderloins, put them in the air fryer on top of some foil, and douse with half of the seasoning packet. I cook for 350 degrees for about 12 minutes, flipping the tenderloin over halfway through. You could also bake the seasoned chicken in the oven at 350 for about 20 minutes or use leftover rotisserie chicken and increase the amount of seasoning in your soup.
Once the chicken is fully cooked, you'll either shred it or chop it to get small, diced pieces. This is easiest when the meat is still warm.
Heat soup pot over medium-low heat. Add diced onions and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes.
Once the onion is fully cooked, add corn, black beans, tomatoes, chicken, and the second half of seasoning packet to the soup pot.
Add in the broth and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Taste your soup and add any remaining spices as desired.
While soup is boiling, begin to wash and prepare your desired toppings. I like jalapenos and scallions, both of which should be rinsed off and then sliced thinly. You might like to add fresh cilantro, avocado, or lime wedges.
Serve soup hot, with desired toppings. I like mine as a truly loaded tortilla soup with shredded cheddar jack cheese to allow the cheese to melt into the soup, then add a dollop of sour cream, five or six jalapeno slices, a half a handful of crushed tortilla chips, and sprinkle with scallions.