Sopita is a popular and simple Mexican soup recipe made using shell pasta, tomato sauce, and chicken broth. It is affordable, versatile, and so easy to make!
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Recipe Origins
Literally translated, “sopita” is Spanish for “little soup”. It is a popular recipe in Mexican homes with a popularity that matches Chicken Noodle Soup here in the United States.
It is a stock-based soup that is formed by cooking shell pasta in chicken broth and tomato sauce, and then topped with cheese (sometimes).
Many think that Sopita was invented in Spain. In the Spanish version, the pasta is added towards the end of the recipe to avoid the shells from getting soggy. In the Mexican version, the pasta is browned in oil before any liquid is added.
Other Names for Sopita
This recipe is called Mexican Sopita, but there are many other names to call this or similar recipes. You may also hear:
- Sopa de Conchas (if using pasta shells)
- Sopa de Fideo (if using Fideo or angel hair pasta)
- Sopita de Estrellas (if using star pasta)
- Sopa de Codos (if using elbow pasta)
Most of these recipes are made in exactly the same manner with the major difference just being the type of pasta used.
Why Make this Recipe
- Simple and Cozy: If you want a belly full of warm soup, this recipe is the way to go! It’s simple and easy to make with big rewards of a warm and cozy soup belly once you get to sit down to enjoy.
- Cheap: You can make this recipe using very affordable pantry staples, including pasta, 1 seasoning, oil, and tomato sauce. If you need to feed a lot of people while on a tight budget, this recipe is the way to go (you can even double it for the same cost!)
- Taste of Mexico: This is a popular recipe to make in Mexican and Mexican American families. I loved trying this new recipe to give me a taste of Mexico!
What Do I Need to Make this Recipe
Ingredients
Here is a visual overview of the ingredients in the recipe. Scroll down to the recipe at the bottom for quantities.
- Pasta: You can use many different types of pasta in this recipe. Most recipes call for using small shells, but I couldn’t find any so I used medium shells instead. You can also use star pasta.
- Tomato Sauce: Some recipes call for blending up fresh tomatoes and using the resulting juice, but I actually like the flavor of canned tomato sauce better for this recipe.
- Chicken Bouillon Powder: You can find chicken bouillon powder in the grocery store. I recommend the powder as opposed to the chicken bouillon cubes or the gel, because the powder dissolves best in the liquid. Some recipes call for the tomato flavored chicken bouillon. Either will work.
- Toppings: You can get lime juice or queso fresco as toppings for the individual bowls.
Tools
- Medium Pot: With lid
- Wooden Spoon
How to Make this Recipe
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Step 1: Toast the Pasta
In a medium-large pot, heat the oil to a medium high heat. Then add the uncooked pasta.
Stir the pasta until it toasts and turns brown, making sure to not let it burn.
Step 2: Boil the Pasta
Once the pasta is toasted, add 4 ½ cups of water, tomato sauce, and chicken bouillon powder. Stir to combine.
Cover the pasta and bring the water to a boil. Then boil the pasta for about 10-12 minutes or until it is cooked all the way through.
Step 3: Serve
Spoon the soup into a bowl, squeeze some fresh lime juice (optional) over the top, and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Some recipes add corn kernels or diced yellow onion into the sopa de conchas along with the dry pasta when you are toasting. You can add this or any extra vegetables that sound good (see below for more suggestions).
- If you are using smaller shells or a different shape of pasta, your cook time may differ. Check the back of the box for approximate cook time.
- For some extra protein, we like to add some cooked ground beef into the bowls with the sopa de conchas. It reminds us of one of our favorites, this Creamy Beef and Shells recipe.
Other Vegetable to Add
Most traditional sopa de conchas recipes don’t call for additional vegetables. BUT why should that stop you?! If you want to pack some extra veggies into your recipe, try choosing from one (or many) of these:
- Peas
- Zucchini
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Potatoes
- Bell Pepper
- Garlic Cloves
Other Additions to Sopa de Conchas
Most recipes for Sopita call for very similar ingredients, but there are a few outliers here or there. Some other things you can add are:
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Queso Fresco
- Hot Sauce
- Mexican Blended Cheese
- Chicken broth instead of water + chicken bouillon
Recipe FAQs
Sopita is a popular and easy recipe in Mexican and Mexican American cuisine. It is also eaten in Spain.
If you have leftovers, you can easily store them in an airtight container in the fridge! Leftovers will stay good for up to 5 days.
Because of the way this dish is made, you will notice that the shell pasta in the leftovers will easily suck up much of the extra broth.
This means that when you serve your dish the second time, you may need to add a bit more water and bouillon powder to the bowl in order to make the perfect soupy texture again.
You can reheat leftovers using either a microwave or in a pot on the stove.
Did you enjoy this Sopa de Conchas recipe? If so, check out these other recipes I picked out just for you:
- Chicken and Rice Soup Recipe
- Instant Pot French Onion Soup
- Chickpea Stew Recipe from Algeria
- Black Bean Soup from Guatemala
Sopita (Sopa de Conchas): Mexican Shells and Cheese
Equipment
- Medium Pot
- Wooden Spoon
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 ½ cups Medium shell pasta , 8 oz, (you can also use small shells)
- 4 ½ cups water
- ½ cup tomato sauce
- 2 ½ tbsp chicken bouillon powder
- 1 lime, optional for topping
- Queso Fresco, optional for topping (can substitute parmesan cheese if necessary)
Instructions
- In a medium-large pot, heat 3 tbsp vegetable oil to a medium high heat. Then add 2 ½ cups uncooked pasta.
- Stir the pasta until it toasts and turns brown, making sure to not let it burn.
- Once the pasta is toasted, add 4 ½ cups water, ½ cup tomato sauce, and 2 ½ tbsp chicken bouillon powder. Stir to combine.
- Cover the pasta and bring the water to a boil. Then boil the pasta for about 10-12 minutes or until it is cooked all the way through.
- Spoon the soup into a bowl, squeeze some fresh lime juice (optional) over the top, and enjoy!
Notes
- Pasta: You can use many different types of pasta in this recipe. Most recipes call for using small shells, but I couldn’t find any so I used medium shells instead. You can also use star pasta.
- Tomato Sauce: Some recipes call for blending up fresh tomatoes and using the resulting juice, but I actually like the flavor of canned tomato sauce better for this recipe.
- Chicken Bouillon Powder: You can find chicken bouillon powder in the grocery store. I recommend the powder as opposed to the chicken bouillon cubes or the gel, because the powder dissolves best in the liquid. Some recipes call for the tomato flavored chicken bouillon. Either will work.
- Toppings: You can get lime juice or queso fresco as toppings for the individual bowls.
- Some recipes add corn kernels or diced yellow onion into the pot along with the dry pasta when you are toasting. You can add this or any extra vegetables that sound good (see below for more suggestions).
- If you are using smaller shells or a different shape of pasta, your cook time may differ. Check the back of the box for approximate cook time.
- For some extra protein, we like to add some cooked ground beef into the bowls with the soup. It reminds us of one of our favorites, this Creamy Beef and Shells recipe.
Andrea McDermett says
I had this many times growing up, and I have also made it many times as an adult. I thought I would try perusing for a new recipe, and I’m really glad that I found this one. It’s flavorful and the starch with the tomato sauce thickened the liquid to a perfection. It was delicious.
The Foreign Fork says
Im so glad you loved it Andrea, and that it compares to what you had as a child!! Thank you for the review 🙂
Mora B says
Looks good and I’ll try it, but I’m from Spain and this is not at all a dish from Spain, I assure you. I have never heard of it or seen it anywhere.
Jennifer Palmer says
It’s from Mexico.
Matt says
This recipe is so simple and so delicious! I even added some ground beef when I made it and it was the perfect comfort meal!
The Foreign Fork says
So glad you liked it Matt 🙂 It sure is delicious!
Alexandria says
This recipe was so good! Very simple but is 100% a comfort food.