Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup: The Cozy, Flavor-Packed Dinner Your Family Will Love

There’s nothing more comforting than a bowl of hot soup — especially when it’s filled with bold flavors, tender shredded chicken, hearty vegetables, and crunchy toppings. Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup is the perfect combination of convenience and deliciousness, giving you a richly seasoned, restaurant-quality meal with almost no effort. Just toss everything into the slow cooker and let it work its magic.

This recipe is designed for busy families, meal preppers, soup lovers, and anyone who wants a filling, satisfying dinner that requires minimal time in the kitchen. With smoky spices, vibrant tomatoes, savory broth, sweet corn, and creamy beans, every spoonful is loaded with flavor. And the best part? You can customize your toppings to make every bowl different — crunchy tortilla strips, fresh avocado, melty cheese, or bright lime juice.

Whether you’re cooking for a crowd, preparing meals for the week, or throwing together a weeknight dinner, this Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup belongs in your rotation.

Why This Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup Is the Ultimate Comfort Meal

1. Throw-it-all-in Convenience

Simply add your ingredients to the slow cooker and walk away. There’s no sautéing required unless you want extra flavor depth.

2. Amazing Leftovers

The flavors deepen on day two, making this ideal for meal prep.

3. Family-Friendly

Kids and adults love the slightly smoky, mildly spicy broth that can be customized to taste.

4. Nutritious and Balanced

Packed with protein, fiber, and vitamins from beans, vegetables, and lean chicken.

5. Restaurant-Level Flavor at Home

The slow-cooked broth develops richness that tastes like it simmered on the stovetop for hours — because it did!

Ingredients

For the Soup

• 1 ½ lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with green chiles
• 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup corn (frozen or canned)
• 1 small onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
• 1 tbsp lime juice (added after cooking)

Toppings

• Crispy tortilla strips
• Diced avocado
• Shredded cheese
• Fresh cilantro
• Lime wedges
• Sour cream
• Jalapeño slices

Instructions

1. Add Everything to the Slow Cooker:
   Place chicken breasts at the bottom. Add tomatoes, beans, corn, onion, garlic, broth, and all seasonings.
2. Cook on Low or High:
   Cook on LOW for 6–7 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours.
3. Shred the Chicken:
   Remove chicken, shred with two forks, and return to the slow cooker.
4. Add Lime Juice:
   Stir in fresh lime juice to brighten the flavor.
5. Prepare Tortilla Strips (Optional):
   Lightly pan-fry or air fry thin tortilla slices until crisp.
6. Serve:
   Ladle into bowls and top with tortilla strips, avocado, cheese, cilantro, or your favorite toppings.

Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup

A warm, flavorful slow-cooked chicken tortilla soup loaded with vegetables, tender shredded chicken, and bold seasonings.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 6 hours hrs

Total Time 6 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Servings: 6 bowls

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: American, Mexican

Calories: 280

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Soup

• 1.5 lbs chicken breasts
• 14.5 oz diced tomatoes with green chiles 1 can
• 15 oz black beans drained and rinsed
• 1 cup corn frozen or canned
• 1 onion diced
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp salt
• 0.5 tsp black pepper
• 0.25 tsp cayenne pepper optional
• 1 tbsp lime juice added at the end

Toppings

• tortilla strips
• avocado diced
• shredded cheese
• cilantro chopped

Equipment

• Slow cooker
• Mixing bowls
• Cutting board
• Knife

Method

 

1. Add chicken, tomatoes, beans, corn, onion, garlic, broth, and seasonings to the slow cooker.
2. Cover and cook on LOW 6–7 hours or HIGH 3–4 hours.
3. Remove chicken, shred with two forks, and return it to the slow cooker.
4. Stir in lime juice and adjust seasoning to taste.
5. Serve hot with tortilla strips, avocado, cheese, and cilantro.

Notes

Add extra broth to adjust consistency or increase spice level with more cayenne.

Expert Tips for the Best Tortilla Soup

• Use smoked paprika: It enhances the depth and warmth of the broth.
• Add chipotle peppers in adobo for a smoky kick.
• Thicken the soup by blending a small portion of it and adding it back in.
• Make it creamy by stirring in ¼ cup heavy cream or Greek yogurt.
• Add rice or quinoa for a heartier meal.

Variations

1. Slow Cooker Creamy Tortilla Soup

Add cream cheese during the final 30 minutes. It melts into a rich, creamy broth.

2. Vegetarian Tortilla Soup

Replace chicken with extra beans, zucchini, or chickpeas.

3. Spicy Tortilla Soup

Increase cayenne, add jalapeños, or mix in hot sauce.

4. Rotisserie Chicken Shortcut

Add shredded rotisserie chicken during the last 30 minutes of cooking instead of raw chicken.

How to Serve Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup

• With warm flour or corn tortillas
• Over rice for a burrito-bowl style dinner
• With a toppings bar for parties or game day
• With cornbread or a crisp green salad

This soup is filling enough to serve as a full meal, but its versatility makes it perfect for customizing to your taste.

Storage & Meal Prep

• Refrigerator: Keeps 4–5 days
• Freezer: Up to 3 months
• Reheating: Warm on stovetop or microwave. Add extra broth if needed.