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    Sopa de Conchas Recipe | Mexican Pasta Shell Soup

    Published: Jun 20, 2022 · Modified: Dec 27, 2024 · By: Brendan Cunningham

    Jump to Recipe

    This ultra comforting - and easy-to-make - sopa de conchas recipe features a rich, tangy tomato broth with tender pasta shells. Plus, it’s made with just a handful of simple budget-friendly ingredients and you can have it on the table in under 30 minutes!

    A white bowl filled with Mexican soup on top of a white plate. Behind it is another white bowl filled with the soup.

    Table of Contents

    • THE BEST SOPA DE CONCHAS
      • INGREDIENTS
        • CUSTOMIZING SOPA DE CONCHAS
      • HOW TO MAKE SOPA DE CONCHAS
        • STEP 1: COOKING THE PASTA
        • STEP 2: MAKING THE SOUP
      • WHAT TO EAT WITH SOPA DE CONCHAS
      • HOW TO STORE SOPA DE CONCHAS
      • WRAPPING IT ALL UP
    • Sopa de Conchas | Mexican Pasta Shell Soup
      • Ingredients
      • Instructions
      • Nutrition
      • Did you make this recipe?

    THE BEST SOPA DE CONCHAS

    Whenever I’m in the mood for something comforting, healthy, and delicious that won’t take a lot of time and effort to make, soup is definitely one of my go-to's.

    I mean, who doesn’t love a bowl of warm and hearty soup? Plus, bonus points if it comes with pasta mixed in!

    And, if you’re anything like me, then you simply can’t miss out on this sopa de conchas. It’s easily one of the best Mexican soups you can make.

    This silky, savory tomato soup with perfectly cooked pasta shells is one of those quick and easy recipes that will make even the picky eaters in the family happy - kind of like this vodka pasta and this Doritos casserole.

    Not to mention, to make this soup all you'll need is just 3 main ingredients and less than 30 minutes!

    How easy does that sound?!

    Sopa de conchas in a white bowl that is on top of a white plate on a grey counter. Behind it is another bowl of the soup.

    INGREDIENTS

    Now, as I just mentioned, a few simple ingredients are all you need to make this Mexican shell pasta soup.

    And if you don’t have these in your pantry already, I’m sure they’ll become instant household staples once you’ve tried this recipe!

    Here’s what you’ll need:

    • 2 Cups of medium-sized pasta shells 
    • 2 ½ Tablespoons of Knorr granulated chicken bouillon
    • ½ Cup Tomato Sauce
    • 5 Cups water 
    • 3 Tablespoons olive oil 
    • Chives, to serve

    By the way, I highly recommend picking up some Del Fuerte tomato sauce for this recipe. It’s a favorite in Mexican households and gives this soup a really authentic and homey flavor. Plus, you can use it to make the most amazing chicken empanadas.

    That being said, if you can’t find Del Fuerte, you can use any Mexican-style tomato sauce and it’ll come out just as fantastic!

    Mexican soup in a white bowl on top of a white plate.

    CUSTOMIZING SOPA DE CONCHAS

    Since this sopa de conchas recipe is so simple, you can switch it up however you want with ingredients you already have at home.

    Customize it with some herbs and spices, chopped veggies, or your choice of protein - whatever your heart desires! Cumin, cilantro, and queso fresco are a few great add-ons you can try.

    You can even replace the conchita shells with other pasta shapes. Using elbow macaroni transforms this recipe into sopa de coditos (elbow soup) and pasta stars turns into sopa de estrellitas (star soup).

    Pasta shells in a pot on top of a burner.

    HOW TO MAKE SOPA DE CONCHAS

    What sets this Mexican shell pasta soup apart from other pasta soups is that you lightly fry the pasta shells before adding the broth. It’s such a small extra step but really brings out the flavor of the pasta and makes this soup unlike any other in my opinion.

    After that, you just toss in the rest of your ingredients and simmer. It’s that simple!

    All told, it should only take you about 25 minutes to make this recipe - and more than half of that is hands-off time.

    So, now that you know the secret to this delicious soup recipe, let’s dive into the details.

    Sopa de conchas in a pot on top of a burner.

    STEP 1: COOKING THE PASTA

    First, take out a large pot, add the olive oil to it, and heat it over medium-high on the stove.

    Next, add the 2 cups of dry conchita shells to the pot of heated oil.

    Now, toast the pasta shells in the pot, making sure to stir constantly so they don’t burn. What we’re looking for here is a toasty golden brown color.

    Part of a pot filled with sopa de conchas.

    STEP 2: MAKING THE SOUP

    Once the pasta is golden brown, pour in the water followed by the granulated bouillon and the tomato sauce. Then, stir everything together until well-combined.

    Next, cover the pot and bring the soup to a gentle boil on medium-high heat for 10-12 minutes - or until the pasta is tender.

    At this point, you’ll want to take the pot off the heat to make sure the pasta doesn’t continue to cook.

    Finally, ladle the sopa de conchas into individual bowls and top with chives before serving. Enjoy!

    Sopa de conchas in a white bowl on top of a white plate. Behind it is part of a white bowl filled with the soup.

    WHAT TO EAT WITH SOPA DE CONCHAS

    This Mexican shell pasta soup is already pretty great on its own, but it's even better when served as part of a meal.

    Here are some of my favorite recipes to serve with sopa de conchas:

    • Garlic Bread
    • Instant Pot Bread
    • Biscuits
    • French Fries
    • Fried Yuca
    A white bowl with sopa de conchas in it.

    HOW TO STORE SOPA DE CONCHAS

    So, this sopa de conchas recipe makes 2 hearty servings. And of course, you can easily double or triple the recipe to serve a bigger group.

    If you want to save the extra Mexican soup for later, strain the pasta shells out of the broth and store the soup and pasta in two separate airtight containers (freezer safe ones if you’re planning to keep them longer). You can store them in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

    To reheat, bring the Mexican shell pasta soup to a boil then add the pasta shells and simmer until they’re warmed through.

    Alternatively, you can heat the broth up in the microwave (in a microwave-safe bowl) in 30-second increments until warm. Then, add in the pasta and heat for another 1 to 2 minutes or until the Mexican shell soup is fully warmed.

    Oh, and if you’re starting from frozen, let the soup and pasta thaw in the refrigerator for a day or two before reheating for the best texture and flavor.

    Sopa de conchas in part of a white bowl on top of a white plate.

    WRAPPING IT ALL UP

    Sopa de conchas is a staple throughout Mexico, and once you’ve tried this quick and easy recipe, I’m positive it’ll be a staple in your home too!

    This simple Mexican shell pasta soup has become one of my go-to recipes whenever I need a speedy and healthy main - or side dish - that’s sure to satisfy the family.

    And I love that it’s incredibly easy to customize, so I can always find new ways to switch it up.

    Well, I hope you love this sopa de conchas recipe as much as my family and I do. As always, be sure to let me know if you try it by leaving a comment below. I’d love to hear your thoughts!

    And don’t forget to check out our Youtube channel for more delicious recipes like this one.

    By the way, if you want to make another delicious Mexican soup recipe, you have to try this fideo soup or caldo de pollo next!

    Print

    Sopa de Conchas | Mexican Pasta Shell Soup

    A white bowl with sopa de conchas in it.
    Print Recipe

    ★★★★★

    5 from 19 reviews

    This ultra comforting and easy-to-make Mexican soup features a rich, tangy tomato broth with tender pasta shells. It’s made with just a handful of simple budget-friendly ingredients and is on the table in just under 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknight dinners!

    • Author: Joe Duff
    • Total Time: 25 minutes
    • Yield: 2 servings 1x
    • Category: Dinner
    • Method: Stovetop
    • Cuisine: Mexican

    Ingredients

    Scale

    2 Cups of medium-sized pasta shells 

    2 ½ Tablespoons of Knorr Granulated Chicken Bouillon

    ½ Cup Tomato Sauce (I used Del Fuerte)

    5 Cups water 

    3 Tablespoons olive oil

    Chives, to serve

    Instructions

    1. Heat a large pot to medium-high and pour in the olive oil.
    2. Pour the 2 cups of shells into the pot and continuously stir to prevent burning until they turn a golden brown color.
    3. Once you achieve a golden brown color, add in the water, granulated Knorr bouillon, and tomato sauce. Stir until combined. 
    4. Cover the pot and soft boil between 10-12 minutes (medium high heat).
    5. Turn off the heat and move the pot away from the heat source.
    6. Serve with chives on top and enjoy.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 serving
    • Calories: 326
    • Fat: 1
    • Carbohydrates: 67
    • Fiber: 4
    • Protein: 12

    Keywords: Sopa de conchas, How to make sopa de conchas, mexican soup recipe, sopa, sopa, sopita, conchas recipe, concha recipe, sopa recipe, shell soup, shell soup recipe, mexican shell soup recipe, tomato shell soup recipe, shell soup sopa recipe shells, Mexican soup, Mexican soups, how do you make sopa de conchas, mexican soup recipe easy,

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Danny

      March 13, 2022 at 12:42 pm

      This soup was yummmmmmmmmy!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Tammy

        March 15, 2022 at 12:21 pm

        5⭐️

        ★★★★★

        Reply
    2. Mel

      March 14, 2022 at 9:34 am

      My new favorite soup!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    3. Patty

      March 14, 2022 at 10:16 am

      So easy! I even had my 8 year old help me make it and she loved it.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    4. Amarie

      March 14, 2022 at 10:59 am

      Delicious and flavorful recipe!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    5. Kevina

      March 15, 2022 at 10:06 am

      Family loved it and they are picky!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    6. Kira

      March 15, 2022 at 7:50 pm

      I loaded it up with parmesan cheese and it was delicioso.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    7. Andie L.

      March 17, 2022 at 8:56 am

      It was simple to make.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    8. Sal

      March 18, 2022 at 9:43 am

      The garlic bread on the side to dip in the soup was a nice touch.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    9. Kaira

      March 20, 2022 at 12:18 pm

      This was seriously so good. I want to use gnocchi to make it next time. Very excited to try again!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    10. Sam

      March 22, 2022 at 11:22 am

      Very yummy soup!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    11. Maribell

      March 23, 2022 at 12:45 pm

      This is a cold curer!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    12. Antonia

      March 24, 2022 at 11:08 am

      Very authentic tasting and delicious.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    13. Annabell

      June 05, 2022 at 9:09 am

      So good!!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    14. Bella C.

      June 17, 2022 at 8:47 am

      One of the yummiest soups that I have ever made.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    15. Cale

      June 20, 2022 at 8:20 pm

      Simple soup that is also delicious in flavor.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    16. Jon

      June 20, 2022 at 10:54 pm

      This soup was crazy good.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    17. Ryan

      June 21, 2022 at 5:58 pm

      Souperb 😂

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    18. B

      June 22, 2022 at 8:16 am

      I ike dthis soup

      ★★★★★

      Reply

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