Home / Recipes / Chicken

Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup

Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup is a super easy, veggie-filled, and nourishing slow cooker soup recipe that is all about the toppings!

Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup with a swirl of sour cream topped with cilantro and avocado. There are tortilla chips and a striped towel in the background.

 I have been all about the comforting, healthy, and easy meals, like this Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup.  In the middle of winter, I just need warm comfort food like this.  Couldn't we all use a big bowl of this crock pot tortilla soup?! Not only is this soup comforting, but it is jam packed with vegetables unlike any other tortilla soup recipe!

This Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup is everything I love about soups - warm, filling, and lots of toppings!  I mean, what's soup without the toppings? I can't have chili without cheese, sour cream, green onions, and cornbread. I can't have chicken rice soup without crushed saltines. And I definitely can't have potato soup without bacon, shredded cheese, and green onions.

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • Easy - this recipe is super easy to put together - just roughly chop up some veggies and throw 'em all in the slow cooker!
  • Slow Cooked All Day - the slow cooker does all of the work for you!
  • Nutritious - this chicken tortilla soup is somewhat unlike other tortilla soups, in that it is JAM PACKED with vegetables! The veggies get pureed in with the broth for a luscious and flavorful broth that is simply perfect for tortilla soup.

Ingredients

Bone-in Skin-on Chicken Breasts - I like to use the bone-in and skin-on for this soup to add flavor to the soup. You can certainly use boneless and skinless chicken breasts if you'd prefer.

Vegetables - carrots, celery, medium onion, sweet potatoes are packed in this soup.

Spices - chili powder, cumin, paprika, and optional cayenne pepper.

Garlic - LOTS of garlic! This is a trick I learned on Instagram and wow - the flavor from the garlic is amazing.

Chicken Broth - this soup is thickened by puréing the vegetables, but still requires quite a bit of chicken broth!

Diced Green Chiles - I love the flavor that diced green chiles add to this soup!

Crushed Tomatoes - tomatoes add flavor, color, and acidity to the soup!

Toppings - I like topping this soup with fresh cilantro, avocado, crushed tortilla chips, and sour cream or Greek yogurt! Other ideas are diced green onion, a squeeze of fresh lime juice, hot sauce, and cheddar cheese.

Variations

Chicken Thighs - you can definitely use chicken thighs or boneless skinless chicken breasts instead of bone-in skin-on breasts if you prefer.

Diced Tomatoes - instead of crushed tomatoes, you can use diced or even whole tomatoes if you want, as they will be pureed regardless. You can also use fire-roasted tomatoes for additional flavor, which I have done a few times!

Homemade Tortilla Strips - you can fry up your own tortilla strips in oil instead of using tortilla chips.

Taco Seasoning - if you want a shortcut, you can just use a packet of taco seasoning instead of the individual spices. I have made this using Siete taco seasoning.

Low Sodium Chicken Broth - feel free to use low sodium broth or chicken bouillon and water in place of the chicken broth.

Corn - you can add 1-2 cups of frozen corn when you add the beans, if you'd like more texture.

Jalapeno - add 1-2 diced jalapeños to the soup for some spice!

Step by Step Instructions

Photo 1. To a large slow cooker, add the chicken, onion, bell pepper, carrots, celery, and sweet potato.

Photo 2. Top with the spices, crushed tomatoes, and garlic.

Photo 3. Add the broth.

Photo 4. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4 hours.

Photo 5. Remove the chicken from the soup.

Photo 6. Transfer to a bowl, remove the skin and bones, and shred the chicken with two forks.

Photo 7. Without the chicken in the broth, puree using an immersion blender or transfer the soup to a blender and puree.

Photo 8. Add the beans and shredded chicken to the pureed soup and stir well to combine.

Expert Tips

Leftovers - Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

Freeze - you can freeze the cooked soup in an airtight container or mason jar for up to 3 months.

Reheat - to reheat leftovers, you can microwave in a microwave-safe bowl or on the stovetop.

Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup with a swirl of sour cream topped with cilantro and avocado. There are tortilla chips and a striped towel in the background.

Recipe FAQS

Can this be made into a freezer meal?

Yes! Simply add all of the ingredients except the black beans into a freezer-safe bag and freeze. I would also recommend adding chicken bouillon instead of broth and then add water once you add the ingredients to the slow cooker. Thaw the freezer bag overnight and follow the same instructions as in the recipe card once you are ready to cook.

What is chicken tortilla soup made of?

Chicken tortilla soup is traditionally made with chicken, Mexican spices like chili powder and cumin, vegetables and broth.

What are the best toppings for tortilla soup?

The best toppings are tortilla strips, cilantro, avocado, sour cream, and cheese.

Can chicken tortilla soup be vegetarian?

Definitely. Simply omit the chicken and add 1-2 more cans of beans. You can also do a variety of beans like pinto and black beans.

Other Soup Recipes to Consider

If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, or take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #greensnchocolate.

Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup

Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup

Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup is a super easy recipe that is all about the toppings! The crispy homemade tortilla strips on top absolutely make this perfect weeknight crock pot tortilla soup!
Print Pin Rate
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Mexican
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 6 hours
Total Time: 6 hours 25 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 251kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 white onion diced
  • 1 red bell pepper stem and seeds removed, diced
  • 4 celery stalks cut into 1" chunks
  • 4 carrots cut into 1" chunks
  • 2 small sweet potatoes peeled and cut into 1" chunks
  • 10-15 cloves garlic
  • 1.5 lbs bone-in skin-on chicken breasts
  • 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
  • 8 ounces diced green chiles we used mild
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon cumin
  • ¼-1 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional, if you like heat
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 8 cups chicken broth plus more depending on how thick/thin you prefer your soup
  • 1 can black beans

Toppings

  • cilantro, avocado, green onion, sour cream/Greek yogurt, tortilla chips/strips

Instructions

  • In a large slow cooker, add the onion, bell pepper, carrots, celery, sweet potato, garlic, chicken, crushed tomatoes, green chiles, chili powder, cumin, cayenne (if using), salt, and broth.
  • Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4 hours.
  • Once cooked, remove the chicken and shred.
  • With the chicken still out of the slow cooker, puree the soup. I use a hand immersion blender to puree the soup directly in the slow cooker. Alternately, you can transfer the soup to a blender and puree.
  • Return the chicken to the slow cooker along with the beans.
  • Ladle into bowls and serve with fresh cilantro, diced avocado, sour cream/Greek yogurt, and tortilla chips/strips.

Nutrition

Calories: 251kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 1523mg | Potassium: 909mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 14229IU | Vitamin C: 43mg | Calcium: 110mg | Iron: 4mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @greensnchocolate to let me know!
Need more ideas?Find all of my recipe pins @greenschocolate

1 Comment
Join The Conversation
Want More?

Get fast, fresh, and easy recipes delivered right to your inbox.

More


Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




  1. I'm with you! Soups with LOTS of toppings are the absolute best! This sounds delicious!!

    I haven't watched it... but I keep hearing more and more... hmmmm. haha