The Ultimate Creamy Crock Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

Why This Chicken Tortilla Soup Is a Family Favorite

Tortilla soup is a classic Mexican soup made with a tomato or chicken base and it usually has ingredients like corn and beans. It’s such a flavorful, hearty meal, but this version takes it up a notch!

• Super easy. There is no sautéing, searing or browning. Just put everything in the crock pot, including the whole chicken breasts, and let it do its magic. 
• Rich and creamy. I love the addition of coconut milk for making this satisfying soup extra filling.
• Customizable. Typically, chicken tortilla soup is topped with cheese, avocado, jalapeños and/or tortilla strips, but you can come up with your own ideas too. My kids love choosing their toppings!

What You’ll Need

Let’s get started! Here’s what you’ll need for this crock pot chicken tortilla soup. Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.

• Chicken – I use boneless skinless chicken breasts to keep it easy.
• Low-sodium chicken broth – You can use bone broth for a little extra nutrition.
• Bay leaf – This infuses the soup with flavor.
• Onion and garlic – Savory aromatics that are staple ingredients for just about every soup recipe!
• Veggies – I use a zucchini and a yellow squash, but you could use all zucchini or all squash.
• Seasonings – Chipotle chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
• Diced fire-roasted tomatoes – These have a smoky flavor that works so well in this slow cooker chicken tortilla soup.
• Frozen corn – When it’s in season, you can use fresh corn cut off the cob, but I don’t recommend canned corn.
• Cilantro – Not a cilantro fan? You can omit it.
• Lime juice – I add some to the tortilla soup at the end of the cooking time and you can serve the soup with lime wedges for squeezing too.
• Coconut milk – You can’t really taste the coconut milk! It adds a slight sweetness to the soup, but that is balanced out by the acid from the lime juice and salt.

How to Make Chicken Tortilla Soup in a Crock Pot

Here’s how easy it is to make this soup!

• Add the ingredients. Place the chicken, onion, garlic, zucchini, squash, chipotle chili powder, smoked paprika, fire-roasted tomatoes, salt, pepper, and broth into the crock pot.
• Cook. Cover and cook on HIGH for 3 hours.
• Shred the chicken. Remove the chicken and shred it with two forks or dice it if you prefer cubes of chicken in your soup.
• Blend the coconut mixture. Blend one cup of broth with the coconut milk until fully combined.
• Finish the soup. Add the chicken, corn, lime juice, cilantro, and coconut mixture back to the crock pot; cook 15 minutes more on HIGH.
• Serve. Ladle into bowls and add your favorite toppings!

Tips and Variations

I’ve got a few more pointers to help you make sure this crock pot chicken tortilla soup turns out perfect for your family.

• Don’t add frozen chicken. One of the biggest no-no’s for slow cooking is adding frozen chicken to the crock pot! If your chicken is starting frozen, it must be thawed first for food safety.
• Adjust the heat. Reduce the chipotle powder for a milder soup or add jalapeños for garnish if you want an extra kick.
• Swap in chicken thighs. Chicken thighs work well if you prefer them and they’re nice if you don’t have time to closely monitor the soup because they don’t overcook easily.
• Add beans. Canned black beans or pinto beans make the soup heartier.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this crock pot chicken tortilla soup alongside Avocado Corn Salad, Mexican Chopped Salad, or chips and Avocado Salsa Verde. And don’t forget the margs! We love these Thyme Blackberry Margaritas.

How to Store and Reheat

• Refrigerator: Store leftover crock pot chicken tortilla soup in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days.
• Freezer: Freeze the soup for up to 3 months in an airtight container or freezer bag. If you’re making this soup for the purpose of freezing, leave out the cilantro and lime until reheating for best flavor.
• To reheat: Warm on the stovetop over medium heat or microwave individual servings in bowls.

More Favorite Crock Pot Recipes

• The Ultimate Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
• Crock Pot Corn & Potato Chowder
• Chipotle Beef Barbacoa Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
• Easy Crock Pot Chicken Curry