Description
A hearty, budget-friendly, and easy-to-make slow cooker chicken tortilla soup that is perfect for busy weeknights. It uses simple pantry staples and is customizable for spice levels and dietary preferences.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 16 oz jar medium or mild salsa
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend (for topping)
- 1 bag crushed tortilla chips (for topping)
- 1 large avocado, diced (for topping)
- Sour cream (for serving)
- Fresh cilantro, chopped (optional, for topping)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Lime juice (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- Prep the chicken: If using raw thighs, rinse, pat dry, and cut into large chunks. If using rotisserie chicken, shred it and set aside.
- Dump everything in: Add diced onion, minced garlic, cumin, and chili powder to the bottom of the slow cooker. Add chicken broth, salsa, chicken thighs, black beans, and corn. Stir gently to combine.
- Cook: Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours until chicken is tender.
- Shred the chicken: Remove chicken from the pot and shred using two forks. Discard any fat or skin. Stir shredded chicken back into the soup.
- Season and serve: Taste and add salt, pepper, or lime juice if needed. Ladle into bowls and top with shredded cheese, crushed tortilla chips, diced avocado, sour cream, and cilantro.
Notes
Rinsing canned beans removes excess sodium and improves flavor. For a thicker soup, mash some beans against the side of the pot. Do not freeze toppings like avocado and sour cream; add them fresh when serving. Chicken breasts can be used but may dry out if overcooked.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl with toppings
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 6
- Protein: 22
Keywords: slow cooker, chicken tortilla soup, easy dinner, budget meal, family recipe, crockpot, Mexican food, healthy soup