Ready for an easy, flavorful soup that practically makes itself? This Spicy Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup combines simple ingredients in the slow cooker for a warming, slightly spicy bowl perfect for Cinco de Mayo or any night you want comfort with a kick.
I prefer using the slow cooker for true “set it and forget it” meals like pot roast or lasagna, so I developed this recipe to cook everything together with no fuss. It yields tender shredded chicken and a bright, well-seasoned broth with minimal hands-on time.
Why I love slow cooker chicken recipes
Cooking chicken in the slow cooker lets it absorb all the spices and aromatics while remaining moist and tender. The result is a rich broth and effortless shredding. If the spice level is too high, a dollop of sour cream or a milder crema tones it down.
This soup is flexible: add black beans, extra vegetables, or roasted peppers to suit your family’s tastes. We kept it simple and loved the bold flavors—topped with tortilla chips and cheese it becomes even more satisfying.
No slow cooker? No problem. You can easily make this on the stovetop; instructions are included below for a quick conversion.
How to make this Spicy Chicken Tortilla Soup in the Slow Cooker
Making this soup is straightforward. Add all ingredients except the lime juice to the slow cooker, stir, and cook. In a 6-quart slow cooker combine the chicken breasts, chicken stock, chopped onion, minced garlic, diced tomatoes with green chiles, chopped jalapeno, frozen corn, and the spices.
Stir, cover, and cook on low for about 3 hours. Check the internal temperature of the chicken and cook up to another hour if necessary; chicken is done at 165°F (74°C). Remove the chicken, shred it with two forks, then return the shredded meat to the broth. Stir in lime juice and salt to taste, then serve hot.
Garnish with toppings like tortilla chips, shredded cheese, avocado, cilantro, and a drizzle of chipotle crema or sour cream for creaminess and balance.
Cooking this Spicy Chicken Tortilla Soup on the Stovetop
To make the soup on the stove, combine all ingredients except the lime juice in a large pot. Bring to a boil, then simmer for about 15–20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Remove and shred the chicken, return it to the pot, stir in lime juice and salt, and serve.
How long to cook chicken in the slow cooker
I cook chicken breasts on low for about 3 hours until no longer pink; depending on breast size or your slow cooker model, it may take 3–4 hours. Always verify doneness with a meat thermometer—165°F is the safe internal temperature.
How to make Crema
For a spicy crema, whisk together sour cream, lime juice, a splash of milk, salt, and chopped canned chipotle peppers until smooth. If you prefer mild, omit the chipotles and use plain sour cream.
Top the soup with crushed tortilla chips, avocado, shredded cheese, cilantro, hot sauce, or extra lime wedges as desired. Enjoy!
Spicy Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup
This chicken tortilla soup cooks to perfection in a few hours in the slow cooker. Prep time is about 5 minutes and cook time is roughly 3 hours.
Ingredients
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable stock
- 1–1.5 lb chicken breasts
- 2 (10.5 oz) cans diced tomatoes with green chiles (Rotel or similar)
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 1 jalapeno, diced
- 1.5 Tbsp chili powder
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp oregano
- Juice of 2 limes
- Kosher salt to taste (about 2 tsp)
Equipment
- Slow cooker (or large pot for stovetop)
Method
- Add onion, garlic, stock, chicken, diced tomatoes with chiles, corn, jalapeno, chili powder, cumin, and oregano to a 6-quart slow cooker. Stir to combine.
- Cook on low for 3–4 hours, until the chicken reaches 165°F and is cooked through.
- Remove chicken, shred with two forks, and return shredded chicken to the slow cooker.
- Stir in lime juice and salt to taste.
- Serve hot and garnish with tortilla strips or chips, avocado, cheese, cilantro, tomato, and optional chipotle crema.
- In a bowl, mix sour cream, chopped canned chipotle peppers, a splash of milk, lime juice, and salt until smooth. Adjust heat by adding or omitting chipotle.
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More recipes to try
Easy Homemade Flour Tortillas
Turkey Chorizo Mexican Chili
Air Fryer Fajita Stuffed & Smothered Chicken
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