Description
This Spicy Chicken Tortilla Soup in the crockpot is a bold and comforting dish featuring tender shredded chicken, a rich tomato-based broth, and the perfect amount of spice. Ideal for busy weeknights, meal prepping, or feeding a crowd, this slow cooker soup is easy to make and customizable with a variety of delicious toppings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs chicken breasts or thighs
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
- 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
- 1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or canned)
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 jalapeño, diced
- 1 (4 oz) can green chilies
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 cup tortilla strips
- 1 avocado, sliced
- 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or queso fresco)
- 1/2 cup sour cream
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Chop onion, mince garlic, dice jalapeño, and rinse black beans.
- Layer in Crockpot: Place chicken at the bottom, then add diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, black beans, corn, onion, garlic, jalapeño, and green chilies.
- Season the Soup: Sprinkle in cumin, chili powder, paprika, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Pour in chicken broth and stir gently.
- Cook: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours until chicken is tender.
- Shred Chicken: Remove chicken, shred with two forks, and return to the crockpot. Stir in lime juice and chopped cilantro.
- Prepare Tortilla Strips: If making homemade strips, cut corn tortillas into thin strips and bake or fry until crispy.
- Serve: Ladle soup into bowls and top with tortilla strips, avocado, cheese, sour cream, and extra cilantro as desired.
Notes
- Mild Version: Reduce or omit jalapeño and green chilies.
- Protein Swap: Substitute with shredded pork, ground turkey, or tofu for a vegetarian option.
- Creamy Option: Stir in heavy cream or cream cheese for a richer texture.
- Extra Vegetables: Add bell peppers, zucchini, or carrots for added nutrition.
- Instant Pot Alternative: Reduce cooking time by using an Instant Pot.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours on low, 3-4 hours on high
- Category: soup
- Method: Slow Cookerspicy chicken tortilla soup, crockpot chicken soup, slow cooker tortilla soup, easy chicken soup, Mexican chicken soup
- Cuisine: mexican inspired