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Close overhead shot of crock pot chicken tortilla soup
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5 from 37 votes

Crock Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

An easy and healthy chicken tortilla soup that can be made in the Instant Pot (pressure cooker), in a slow cooker, or on the stovetop!
Course Dinner
Cuisine American, Mexican
Keyword chicken tortilla soup, crock pot chicken tortilla soup, crockpot chicken tortilla soup, slow cooker chicken tortilla soup, tortilla soup
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 12 cups
Calories 121kcal
Author Blair Lonergan

Ingredients

  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 3-4 cups cooked, shredded chicken (the meat from about 1 large rotisserie chicken) (or sub with 1 ½ - 2 lbs. uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs)
  • 2 cups frozen corn
  • 1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 (4.5 oz) can diced green chilies
  • 1 cup salsa
  • 1 cup diced onion
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
  • Bag of tortilla chips
  • Optional garnish for serving: shredded cheddar cheese, sliced green onions, lime, cilantro, sliced avocado, sour cream

Instructions

SLOW COOKER INSTRUCTIONS:

  • Combine chicken broth, chicken, corn, diced tomatoes, black beans, green chilies, salsa, onion, garlic powder, cumin, and taco seasoning in slow cooker.
    Sprinkling taco seasoning into a slow cooker
  • Cook on low for 3-4 hours or on high for 1 ½ - 2 hours. Crumble a handful of tortilla chips and place in bottom of individual bowls.
    Crushing tortilla chips in a bowl
  • Ladle soup over chips and garnish with desired toppings.
    Square side shot of two bowls of crock pot chicken tortilla soup on a dinner table

Note: If using raw chicken breasts, you will need to increase the cooking time to 4-6 hours on LOW or 2-3 hours on HIGH. At the end of cooking, shred or chop the chicken breasts, return to the pot, and serve.

    INSTANT POT INSTRUCTIONS:

    • If using uncooked chicken breasts, start by cutting the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
    • Turn instant pot on sauté setting and add 2 tablespoons olive oil. Once heated, add the chicken and cook, stirring often, for 3 minutes.
    • Note: If you’re starting with cooked chicken, you can skip the first step and just add the chicken to the Instant Pot with the rest of the ingredients.
    • Turn off instant pot.
    • Add the chicken broth, corn, diced tomatoes, black beans, green chilies, salsa, onion, garlic powder, cumin, and taco seasoning to the pot with the chicken. Stir well.
    • Seal the Instant Pot lid and turn the valve to sealing. Pressure cook on high pressure for 6 minutes.
    • Allow the Instant Pot to naturally release for 2 minutes (by leaving it off after it finishes cooking). Then, carefully do a quick pressure release by using a towel or potholder to carefully turn the valve to venting to release the steam and pressure.
    • Crumble a handful of tortilla chips and place in bottom of individual bowls. Ladle soup over chips and garnish with desired toppings.

    STOVETOP INSTRUCTIONS:

    • If using uncooked chicken, start by heating 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add diced chicken and cook, stirring regularly, just until chicken is browned (it doesn’t need to be cooked through).
    • Note: If you’re starting with diced, cooked chicken, you can skip the first step and just add the chicken to the pot with the rest of the ingredients.
    • Add the chicken broth, corn, diced tomatoes, black beans, green chilies, salsa, onion, garlic powder, cumin, and taco seasoning to the pot with the chicken. Stir well.
    • Bring to a boil. Once boiling, cover the pot and reduce heat to a low simmer.
    • Let soup simmer for about 20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
    • Crumble a handful of tortilla chips and place in bottom of individual bowls. Ladle soup over chips and garnish with desired toppings.

    Video

    Notes

    • Make it Spicy: This particular recipe is pretty mild, since I’m serving my soup to young kids. If you want it spicier, add an extra tablespoon of taco seasoning, use spicy salsa, add diced jalapeño, or season with hot sauce at the end.
    • Use the meat from a store-bought rotisserie chicken for quicker prep.
    • Add a squeeze of fresh lime juice at the very end for a bright, acidic touch.
    • Use crushed tortilla chips or strips of flour tortillas to thicken the soup when you ladle it into the individual bowls.
    • Add diced sweet bell peppers to the soup for even more veggies.
    • For a more zesty taste, use rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies instead of the plain diced tomatoes.
    • Turn it into slow cooker chicken enchilada soup by replacing the salsa with an equal amount of enchilada sauce.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cup | Calories: 121kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 12.8g | Fat: 0.9g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 22.8mg | Sodium: 500.8mg | Fiber: 3.2g | Sugar: 3.6g