Cozy Crockpot Chicken Tortilla Soup
A comforting and easy-to-make crockpot chicken tortilla soup featuring smoky chipotle, tender chicken, and fresh lime for a bright finish. Perfect for chilly nights and busy days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 to 6 hours (low) or 3 to 4 hours (high)
- Total Time: 5 hours 15 minutes to 6 hours 15 minutes (low) or 3 hours 15 minutes to 4 hours 15 minutes (high)
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with green chilies
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup frozen or canned corn, drained
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, minced
- 1 tablespoon adobo sauce from chipotle peppers
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Juice of 1 fresh lime
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional toppings: shredded sharp cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese, fresh cilantro chopped, crunchy tortilla strips or crushed tortilla chips, sour cream or Greek yogurt, diced avocado
Instructions
- Rinse and pat dry the chicken breasts or thighs. Dice the onion finely and mince the garlic cloves and chipotle peppers.
- Place the chicken at the bottom of the crockpot. Add diced tomatoes with green chilies, black beans, corn, onion, and garlic on top.
- Sprinkle cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper over the ingredients. Pour in the chicken broth, making sure everything is mostly submerged.
- Add the minced chipotle peppers and 1 tablespoon of adobo sauce. Adjust the amount based on desired spice level.
- Cook on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until chicken is cooked through.
- Remove the chicken pieces and shred them with two forks. Return shredded chicken to the crockpot and stir well.
- Squeeze the juice of one lime into the soup and stir to combine.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with extra salt, pepper, or spices if needed.
- Serve hot with optional toppings such as shredded cheese, cilantro, tortilla strips, sour cream, or avocado.
Notes
For richer flavor, brown the chicken in a skillet before adding to the crockpot. Avoid lifting the crockpot lid during cooking to maintain heat. Add tortilla strips just before serving to keep them crunchy. This recipe is flexible and can be adapted for vegetarian, low-carb, or spicier versions.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (approximatel
- Calories: 280
- Fiber: 8
- Protein: 30
Keywords: chicken tortilla soup, crockpot soup, slow cooker soup, comfort food, easy dinner, chipotle soup, healthy soup, gluten-free soup