Crock-pot Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe - Freezer Friendly (2024)

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Published: January 11, 2014Updated: February 24, 2024Author: Jenn Laughlin

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My friends and family can’t get enough of this crock-pot chicken tortilla soup. This slow cooker soup is healthy, freezer-friendly, and full of flavor!

Crock-pot Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe - Freezer Friendly (1)

As promised, here is the recipe that launched a thousand requests: my crockpot chicken tortilla soup!

Every time I make it my friendsrave that it’s the best they’ve ever had and promptly demand the recipe. Naturally I had to finally post itforthem, and share the deliciousness with you too!

tortilla soup for everyone!

Though this is a slow cooker recipe, can absolutely belt this one out on your stove top if you’re hungry and in a hurry!

I, however, am a serial slow cooker-er (pretend that works) and crazy for my crock-pot!

Here are a few awesome options if you’re still in the market for one. Plus once you own one you can make myCrock-Pot Loaded Baked Potato SoupandSlow Cooker Black Beansand before you know it you’ll be just as obsessed with them as I am!

Crock-pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

This tasty crockpot chicken tortilla soup recipe yields one 6 quart slow cooker full of deliciousness! Scarf some now, stock your freezer for later, or feel free to halve the recipe for a smaller amount of soup.

Crock-pot Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe - Freezer Friendly (2)

Crock-pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

My friends and family can’t get enough of this crock-pot chicken tortilla soup. It’s the best! This slow cooker soup is healthy, easy, freezer-friendly and full of veggies.

Recipe yields 6-8 servings.

5 from 44 votes

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Course: Main Dish, Soup

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: Crock-pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 6 hours hours

Total Time: 6 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 servings

Author: Jenn Laughlin – Peas and Crayons

Ingredients

  • 6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth (or chicken broth)
  • 1 cup canned crushed tomatoes
  • 1/4-1/2 cup tomatillo salsa verde
  • 3 TBSP tomato paste
  • 2 TBSP olive oil
  • 3 cups black beans (cooked or canned)
  • 1-2 cups pinto beans (cooked or canned)
  • 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 4 small corn tortillas (torn into small pieces)
  • 2 small onions (2 cups chopped)
  • 2 jalapeños (seeds and stem removed)
  • 1 large bell pepper
  • ½ lime, juiced
  • 2-4 TBSP fresh cilantro
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • ½ tsp cayenne pepper
  • salt, to taste (amount added will vary on sodium content of broth + tomatoes/beans)

TASTY TOPPINGS:

  • greek yogurt or sour cream (I add lime zest to mine for extra oomph!)
  • shredded mexican cheese blend
  • tortilla chips
  • chopped red onion
  • chopped green onion
  • fresh cilantro
  • sliced jalapeños
  • pico de gallo
  • guacamole or sliced avocado

Instructions

  • Essentially you’re going to toss everything in and walk away, but because I like to explain the methods to my madness I’ll go into a bit more detail for ya:

  • Turn your slow cooker to high and add broth, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomatillo salsa, beans and chicken breasts, whole.

  • Next dice your bell pepper, jalapeno, and onion and tear your corn tortilla into small pieces before tossing them into the pot as well. The corn tortillas help the soup to thicken a bit and also act as noodles!

  • Add your seasonings, fresh cilantro, olive oil, and lime juice + cover.

  • Within a few hours the chicken breasts should be juicy and perfectly cooked, if you happen to be around, feel free to scoop them out with tongs or a fork, place them on a cutting board, and chop each breast into six large pieces. Now it’ll shred oh-so-easily! Use two forks to create pulled/shredded chicken and add it back to your slow cooker. If you aren’t home yet you can complete this step once you return. No worries!

  • The soup will simmer away on high for four-six hours [total time] and make your kitchen smell absolutely divine.

  • Steal a taste towards the end and add any extra spices or add-ins that float your boat. I typically add a little extra chili and garlic powder and a little fiery cayenne depending on my mood. You may want to add salt or might find that there was enough in your beans/tomatoes/broth to start and leave it as is! Since I add crushed tortilla chips to my final product I only add a pinch of salt to the entire pot. The chips add it in at the end and create the perfect ratio for me! As noted above you can add more broth or keep the soup nice and chunky. I love mine super-hearty so I can attack it with the tortilla chips and a small mountain of grated cheese and scoop up the soup nacho-style. Hot soup, melty cheese, and crunchy tortilla chips… I’m swooning again just thinking about it. Clearly it’s time to make another pot!

Notes

If using canned beans,simply drain and rinse and you’re ready to go!

For a brothier soup,keep a bit of extra vegetable or chicken broth on hand to add towards the end.

Nutrition facts below are an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. Values calculated before toppings, feel free to top this soup with all your favorite extras!

Nutrition

Calories: 361kcal, Carbohydrates: 49g, Protein: 25g, Fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 36mg, Sodium: 1209mg, Potassium: 1017mg, Fiber: 13g, Sugar: 8g, Vitamin A: 1660IU, Vitamin C: 41.9mg, Calcium: 83mg, Iron: 4.1mg

Did you make this recipe?I want to see! Tag @peasandcrayons on Instagram and Facebook!

If you get a chance to try this crock-pot chicken tortilla soup, let me know!Leave some love in the comment form below or tag your photos with @peasandcrayons on Instagram so I can happy dance over your tasty creation!

special diets and swaps

Vegetarian? Skip the chicken and load up on lots of extra beans and veggies for a tasty vegetarian version of this soup. Just be sure to amp up the seasonings so you don’t sacrifice flavor. Easy peasy!

Corn makes a great add-in as well if you’re a fan.

Check out my lentil tortilla soupfor an option that is gloriously vegetarian and can be made in the Instant Pot, slow cooker, or stove top. It can also be made vegan too!

Crock-pot Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe - Freezer Friendly (3)

tortilla soup tips and tricks

Depending on the chaos-factor of your lifestyle, you can prep the chopped ingredients and measure everything out ahead of time and store it in the fridge until you’re ready to fire up the slow cooker, or simply whip the entire thing up on the fly.

I cook a huge batch of beans in the slow cooker early on in the weekso I can make this crock-pot chicken tortilla soup along with a few other favorites. It’s a lifesaver!

The great thing about slow cooker soups, especially this chicken tortilla soup, is how flexible it is!

I use the recipe to empty out my crisper drawer on a regular basis and love how it can rescue veggies that are about to wind up a forgotten mess in the back of my fridge.

The crock-pot chicken tortilla soup recipe above is the all-time favorite combination of ingredients and the one my friends and family go ape over!

no crock pot? no problem!

To make this crock-pot chicken tortilla soup on the stove top, you’ll want to boil the chicken breasts in the broth. Chop and shred once tender, then return to the pot to add the remainder of your ingredients. You’ll want to simmer it for a while to cook the onions and peppers to tender perfection or you can choose to sauté them on the side and then add them to your pot of yum.

Top with your choice of toppings and dig in! This soup tastes great right away and even better the following day.

leftovers for the win!

It’s crazy how much I look forward to the leftovers!

You can keep the soup in an airtight container in your fridge for up to four days or stash it away in the freezer for a later date.

Crock-pot Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe - Freezer Friendly (4)

you’ve got to try this chicken tortilla soup!

It’s so flipping good that I think a need a bigger crock-pot!

Though it makes a metric ton, there never seems to be enough leftover to freeze because it’s alwaysdevoured within two days of making it.

I may have even had a bowl for breakfast tomorrow morning.

Eggs are so last week.

Peas and Crayons is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliated sites at no cost to readers.

Crock-pot Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe - Freezer Friendly (5)

About The Author:

Jenn Laughlin

Hi! I’m Jenn and I’m here to help you eat your veggies! It'll be fun, painless, and pretty darn delicious as I teach you to plan your meals around fresh, seasonal produce with a little help from healthy freezer and pantry staples.

Learn More

Crock-pot Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe - Freezer Friendly (2024)

FAQs

What's in Chick-fil-A chicken tortilla soup? ›

The Chicken Tortilla Soup is a hearty, seasonal Chick-fil-A® favorite that features shredded chicken breast and beans in a creamy base with a blend of vegetables and spices, served with Seasoned Tortilla Strips.

Why is it called chicken tortilla soup? ›

It's hard to pinpoint exactly the origin of tortilla soup, but it is generally attributed to Central Mexico and especially popular in Mexico City, where it was possibly born in the nearby state of Tlaxcala (which in Nahuatl means “land of the corn” or “place where tortillas abound”).

What is a chicken tortilla made of? ›

Chicken tortilla soup actually is an authentic Mexican dish. The traditional soup is made with chicken broth, tomatoes, garlic, onion, chiles, and fried tortilla strips. There are also variations of the soup, like ones that include beans.

How long does tortilla soup last in the fridge? ›

Storage Instructions

This easy tortilla soup will keep airtight in the fridge for 5 to 7 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months. Extra tortilla strips will keep in airtight at room temp for up to 5 days.

Is the chicken tortilla soup good for you when you're sick? ›

Chicken tortilla soup is low in calories but high in flavor. The amino acid cysteine, contained in the chicken in this powerful soup, loosens secretions, thinning out mucus and promoting coughing, which is needed to clear your nose and throat.

What country is tortilla soup from? ›

Although the exact origin of tortilla soup is unknown, it is known that it comes from the Mexico City area in Mexico. Traditional tortilla soup is made with chicken broth combined with roasted tomatoes, onion, garlic, chiles and tortillas, cut into strips and fried.

Why is my tortilla soup watery? ›

Keep Simmering

Sometimes all your soup needs is a little more time on the stove. Allow your chicken tortilla soup to simmer uncovered for an extended period. The heat will help evaporate some of the liquid, naturally thickening the soup.

What is the difference between broth and a soup? ›

So to recap and for a quick rule-of-thumb, stock is made with cleaned animal bones. Broth uses bones with meat still on them, or meat alone. And soup is made from either broth or stock, and has other ingredients added to it for texture and flavour.

Can you cook raw chicken in soup? ›

You can cook the chicken at a high-enough temperature to kill bacteria by turning up the heat on the broth, but for a much safer and tastier method, brown your chicken first. Browning or searing the chicken in a separate pan is not only far more foolproof, but adds richness and extra umami to your soup.

How to thicken up tortilla soup? ›

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute. For the best results, never add flour or cornstarch directly to your soup. If you do, it will clump up on top. Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool.

How do you tone down chicken tortilla soup? ›

Add Some Starches

The easiest way to tone down a spicy dish is to serve a smaller portion with plenty of rice, bread, potatoes, pasta, or plain starch to counter the heat. For soups and stews, raw and starchy vegetables like potatoes or carrots work well.

Which is the common accompaniment for soups? ›

Common soup garnishes: chopped vegetables (such as chopped broccoli on broccoli soup, not random veggies), shredded or grated cheese, croutons or crackers, tortilla strips, chopped herbs, freshly ground black pepper, herb oil and extra virgin olive oil. The most common soup accompaniment is buttered bread.

What are the two sides to a tortilla? ›

With a corn tortilla, “you'll notice one side is thicker — that's the side where you're supposed to hold — while the other one looks more delicate and where you put in ingredients,” says Gustavo Arellano.

What can you eat with soup besides crackers? ›

Whether it's a fresh salad, a crunchy breadstick or slice of crostini, these side dishes will complete your meal. Recipes like Kale Salad with Balsamic & Parmesan and Homemade Breadsticks with Chard are delicious and work well with chowders, stews and more.

References

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