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Cozy Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup: Easy One-Pot Meal

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This cozy slow cooker chicken tortilla soup is smoky, just a little spicy, deeply savory, and the kind of soup that gets better the longer it sits. It’s the perfect hands-off meal after just ten minutes of prep.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1–2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) fire-roasted diced tomatoes
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup frozen corn kernels
  • 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts
  • Juice of 1 large lime
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Tortilla chips or strips (for serving)
  • 1 avocado, diced (for serving)
  • Fresh cilantro, chopped (for serving)
  • Crumbled queso fresco or shredded Monterey Jack cheese (for serving)
  • Lime wedges (for serving)
  • Sour cream or Mexican crema (optional, for serving)

Instructions

  1. Bloom the spices: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent—about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Then add the cumin, smoked paprika, minced chipotle pepper, and dried oregano. Stir constantly for 30 to 60 seconds until the spices smell toasted and deeply aromatic.
  2. Transfer the onion-spice mixture to the slow cooker.
  3. Add the liquids and canned goods: Pour in the chicken broth, fire-roasted diced tomatoes (with their juices), drained black beans, and frozen corn. Stir everything together.
  4. Add the chicken: Nestle the chicken thighs or breasts into the liquid. Season with 1 teaspoon of salt and a few cracks of black pepper.
  5. Cook low and slow: Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours.
  6. Shred the chicken: Remove the chicken pieces, shred with two forks, and return to the slow cooker. Stir into the broth.
  7. Finish with lime juice: Squeeze the juice of one large lime into the soup and stir. Taste and adjust salt, pepper, or heat level.
  8. Let it rest (optional): Turn the slow cooker to warm and let the soup sit for 15 to 20 minutes before serving.

Notes

Do not skip blooming the spices—it unlocks deep flavor. Use low-sodium broth and rinse canned beans to control salt. For a thicker soup, mash some black beans against the side of the slow cooker. The soup improves overnight and freezes well.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker chicken tortilla soup, chicken tortilla soup, tortilla soup, slow cooker soup, Mexican soup, one-pot meal

Find it online: https://cookluma.com/cozy-slow-cooker-chicken-tortilla-soup-easy-one-pot-meal/