Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup
This chicken tortilla soup is a hearty, comforting dish made with tender shredded chicken, vegetables, and smoky chipotle peppers, simmered slowly to develop rich flavors. The soup has a thick, brothy consistency with a vibrant, slightly spicy profile and is topped with crunchy chips and melted cheese for texture contrast.
Equipment
- Slow cooker
- Chef’s knife
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts roughly chopped
- 1 cup diced tomatoes preferably with juice
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 2 cloves garlic cloves minced
- 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce chipotle peppers finely chopped for a smoky heat
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup corn chips for topping
- 1 cup shredded cheese cheddar or Monterey Jack
- Fresh cilantro for garnish
- Lime wedges for serving
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add chopped onion and sauté until translucent and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes. Transfer the sautéed onions to your slow cooker.
- Place the chopped chicken breasts into the slow cooker, then pour in the diced tomatoes with their juice, chicken broth, and add the minced garlic and chopped chipotle peppers. Sprinkle in the cumin and chili powder, then season with salt and pepper.
- Stir everything together gently to combine; this helps distribute the smoky heat evenly.
- Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on low for 4 hours, or until the chicken is tender and shredded easily with a fork. The house will fill with savory, smoky aromas.
- Once cooked, remove the chicken breasts and shred them with two forks until they are finely pulled apart. Return the shredded chicken to the soup and stir to incorporate.
- Taste the soup and adjust seasoning with more salt or chili powder if needed, then let it simmer uncovered for another 10 minutes to enhance the flavor and slightly thicken the broth.
- Just before serving, ladle the hot soup into bowls and top each with crushed corn chips, shredded cheese, a sprinkle of chopped cilantro, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice for brightness.
Notes
You can customize the spiciness by adjusting the amount of chipotle peppers. For extra richness, add a dollop of sour cream just before serving.