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This simple Crockpot Spicy Chicken Tortilla Soup is the perfect bowl of wholesome, filling soup to warm up to on the coldest of days. Made easily with a mix of chicken, spices, red enchilada sauce, broth, and cilantro. Mix in rice and top each bowl off with plenty of cheddar cheese, lime, and avocado. And of course, plenty of salty tortilla chips. The toppings are key!
If there’s a soup I make on repeat every single winter, it’s my chicken tortilla soup recipe. Everyone, including my dad, who is not typically someone who enjoys soup, loves this easy dinner.
It’s actually one of the very first soups I ever made back when I started cooking in middle school. All I had on hand were a couple of cans of enchilada sauce, chicken broth, and chicken. I threw the ingredients into the crockpot and let everything slow cook with a touch of cumin too.
I had rice in the fridge at the time, so I added that to my soup base just before serving. Ever since then, I simply cannot make tortilla soup without rice. It creates the perfect bowl along with all those tortilla strips on top too!
I obviously don’t make tortilla soup the traditional way, but this still hits all the same flavor notes and it’s so delicious!
Plus I absolutely love that I can throw everything into the crockpot in the morning, no searing chicken or anything, and come home to a delicious dinner at night. That’s so easy, right? So I adore this recipe and I’m excitedly revisiting it for everyone today!
Details
All you need for this is an onion, some jalapeños, garlic, chicken, enchilada sauce, seasonings, rice, and chips. Layer the onion, jalapeños, and garlic in the crockpot. Then add the chicken, the enchilada sauce, and broth. Cover and cook!
It really is that easy. Shred the chicken once done cooking. From here you can either stir the rice into the soup or add the rice to bowls and ladle soup over the rice.
Either or, it’s delicious.
If it’s easier for you, you can also make this in the instant pot or on the stove in a dutch oven. I added directions for both.
And most importantly, the toppings.
I layer a thick layer of shredded sharp cheddar cheese, a dollop of Greek yogurt or sour cream, and then sliced avocado. Then sprinkle on lots of fresh cilantro and green onions. Oh, and it’s definitely optional, but I love to do a quick mango salsa and add that on top as well. It’s so delicious!
A wonderful soup to warm up with!
Looking for other warming winter dinners? Here are a few ideas:
Better For You Chicken and Spinach Ramen
Creamy Butternut Squash Butter Chicken
30 Minute Spicy Indian Butter Chicken
Coconut Milk Braised Black Pepper Chicken
Coconut Sweet Potato Lentil Soup with Rice
Lastly, if you make this Crockpot Spicy Chicken Tortilla Soup be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Crockpot Spicy Chicken Tortilla Soup
Servings: 6 servings
Calories Per Serving: 281 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 2 jalapeños, seeded and chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 2-3 teaspoons taco seasoning
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 3 cups red enchilada sauce
- 3-4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1-2 cups cooked white or brown rice
- juice of 1 lime
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- tortilla chips, for serving
- yogurt, shredded cheddar, avocado, mango salsa, and green onion, for serving
Instructions
Crockpot
- 1. In the bowl of your crockpot, layer the onion, jalapeños, and garlic. Add the chicken, cumin, taco seasoning, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Pour over the enchilada sauce and 3 cups of broth. 2. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 4-6 hours. Shred the chicken using two forks. Stir in the rice, cilantro, and lime juice. 3. Ladle the soup into bowls and top with tortilla chips. Then finish as desired with a dollop of yogurt, cheese, green onions, mango, and cilantro. Enjoy!
Stove-Top
- 1. In a large soup pot, cook the onion, jalapeños, and garlic with 2 tablespoons olive oil for 5 minutes. Add the chicken, cumin, taco seasoning, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Pour over the enchilada sauce and 3 cups of broth. 2. Set over medium heat and bring to a simmer, cook 15 minutes, until the chicken is cooked. Shred the chicken using two forks. Stir in the rice, cilantro, and lime juice. 3. Ladle the soup into bowls and top with tortilla chips. Then finish as desired with a dollop of yogurt, cheese, green onions, mango, and cilantro. Enjoy!
Instant Pot
- 1. In the bowl of your instant pot, layer the onion, jalapeños, and garlic. Add the chicken, cumin, taco seasoning, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Pour over the enchilada sauce and 3 cups of broth. 2. Seal the lid and cook on high pressure for 10 minutes. Release the steam. Shred the chicken using two forks. Stir in the rice, cilantro, and lime juice. 3. Ladle the soup into bowls and top with tortilla chips. Then finish as desired with a dollop of yogurt, cheese, green onions, mango, and cilantro. Enjoy!
This post was originally published on February 8, 2023
Wow! Your tortilla soup is awesome!! I just made it on stovetop in my dutch oven. Delicious and authentic…I am Latina and can tell you, this taste jst as good as my mom’s.
Thank you! I am so happy to hear that!
This is hands down the easiest and best tasting Chicken Tortilla Soup I’ve ever had, thank you!
I am so happy you love this! thank you Melissa!
Made this last night for the family and served it up on a cold and rainy late October evening. I loved it as did my family. Added sour cream, tortilla chips, cilantro, avocado and rice. Will definitely make it again- which says a lot! Thanks, HBH, for helping me make a simply and delicious meal for my family.
Ooo this soup sounds amazing on a night like that! I am so glad you all enjoyed this Beth! Thank you!
Hi,
Do the chicken breasts go into the crock pot raw or cooked?
New to crock pot.
TY!
The chicken goes into the crockpot raw. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Hope you love the soup!
Thank you for this delicious recipe!!!
I made it and my boyfriend couldn’t stop raving about it. He said it was “definitely the best tortilla soup ever.”
I happened to have a ripe mango in the fridge and I’m SO glad I followed your recipe on that, it’s amazing.
But seriously, the combination of the soup with the mango, avocado, yogurt and cheese (i used pepper jack) is just out of this world. Can’t wait to make this again 🙂
So so glad you and your boyfriend enjoyed this recipe! Thank you Melissa!
Tieghan, I stumbled across your blog a few days ago and now I am obsessed with your crockpot recipes! I am not really a cook but I am looking to become more of one, and I thought that perhaps an easy gateway for me to do so would be to try cooking using the crockpot that my mom gave me a few years ago. Most crockpot recipes I’ve found seem really boring and bland, but I can’t wait to try this one and the one for butter chicken (drool!). Thank you for inspiring me with your beautiful photography, stylish design (I adore the font that comes up in the search box!), and easy-to-follow recipes like this one. Please keep the simple recipes coming for folks like me 🙂
YES!! I love crockpot recipes so much!
This is one of my favorites so I hope you’ll love it! So happy I could bring some inspiration to you!
Thanks so much Jeanette!
Just picked up all the ingredients..im so excited to try this recipe!!
Yay, hope you love it Jenn!
Looks delish ?? & I love avocado.It can still be cold here in NC in march this soup will hit the spot.
Perfect! So happy you like it, thanks Steve!
I made this yesterday and it was EXACTLY the soup I had been craving! I made my own enchilada sauce, and it was perfect. For a recipe to be so delicious and so easy to make, it definitely has a place in frequent rotation in my kitchen. Thank you!
That is SO awesome to hear Tenley! Thank you so much!
Hi there!
Do you have an good brands to recommend for red enchilada sauce? Or perhaps a good homemade recipe version?
Thanks!
Hey Ella! I love this simple homemade recipe: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/61727/ten-minute-enchilada-sauce/
Simply perfect! I LOVE tortilla soup 🙂
You and me both! Thanks Jennifer hope you love it!
Tortilla soup is always delicious, love that this one is so easily made in the slow cooker!
Thanks Gina, in love with slow cooker recipes!
Made it last night, so damn good and so damn easy!=) Can’t wait to make it again!
So happy you liked it! Thanks Gabi!
Yummm! thanks for the recipe. It looks amazing and comforting! Just what I was looking for!
About 6-8 pancakes. Hope you love these! 🙂
So happy you liked it Marianne! Thank you (:
Love that this is a crockpot recipe Tieghan. I just got a new one and I’m cooking in it all the time lately, so this recipe will definitely be added to my list. Love Mom’s idea to add some rice! Mom’s know best, right?!
Ah yes! Nothings better than crockpot recipes, especially in a new one. They really do know best (: