Crock Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

The best Crock Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup that only takes 15 minutes to prepare! Made with tender shredded chicken, black beans, sweet corn, and fresh zucchini, this vegetable based tortilla soup recipe is both healthy and delicious. Makes for the perfect weeknight meal everyone will love!

Jump to:

• Why This Recipe Works
• Ingredients You'll Need
• Step-by-Step Recipe Instructions
• Expert Tips and FAQs
• Garnishes and Toppings
• More Soup Recipes
• Crock Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup
• Expert Tips

Soups that can be made with ingredients you already have in the pantry are simply the best. And let me tell you, crock pot soups make life so much easier because you just set it and forget it.

Tortilla soup comes from Mexico and can be made with either a chicken broth or tomato base. It usually contains ingredients like back beans, corn, tomatoes, and jalapenos. It's cooked, then simmered and topped with garnishes like shredded cheese, cilantro, and avocado.

Ingredients You'll Need

We're talking simple and healthy ingredients. Using cooked shredded chicken is a lifesaver and a timesaver. I always have at least 1 rotisserie chicken in my refrigerator because it's perfect for making recipes like my Instant Pot White Chicken Chili, Shredded Chicken Tacos, and this Chicken and Rice Casserole. I'm not big on spicy dishes, but I use one fresh jalapeno because it provides a lot of flavor. If you want a little kick, just add in some of the jalapeno seeds.

Step-by-Step Recipe Instructions

Start by pouring 1 Tablespoon of olive oil into a skillet. Turn the heat to medium-high. Finely chop the jalapeno, onion, and garlic and saute for 2-3 minutes.

Next, add in the chopped fresh zucchini and saute for another 2-3 minutes or until the vegetables are softened. Remove the skillet from the heat and set aside.

Now it's time to get out the crock pot and start adding the ingredients. Open the can of black beans and corn and rinse and drain. Add the chicken broth, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, black beans, and corn to the crock pot. Stir in the pre-cooked shredded chicken, sauteed vegetables, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper.

Stir to combine all the ingredients. Place the lid on the crock pot and cook on low for 2-3 hours. Once done, stir well and garnish with your favorite toppings.

Expert Tips and FAQs

• Storing & Freezing - Leftover soup stores extremely well. You can keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. It also freezes really well. Here's how you do it:
  • Once the soup has completely cooled, pour it into a freezer safe container. Try to not overfill the container because it will expand as it freezes. Or, you can use a gallon ziplock bag.
  • The soup will last for 3-4 months in the freezer.
  • To thaw, place the frozen soup container or bag in the refrigerator and let it naturally and slowly thaw. It will take about 8-12 hours to completely thaw in the fridge. Then, warm it up in the microwave or on the stove top.
• Stove Top Version - This tortilla soup can also easily be made on the stove top. I love pulling out my dutch oven and letting this soup cook. If you want to make a stove top version, follow the same directions listed above and instead of cooking in the crock pot, place all the ingredients in a large pot or dutch oven and let it cook on medium low heat covered for 2-3 hours.
• Flavored Olive Oil - When sauteing vegetables, I always use a flavored olive oil. In this recipe, I use a garlic flavored extra virgin olive oil.
• Zucchini - Never peel the zucchini. All the nutrients are in the green skin.
• Meatless - Not in the mood for meat? Leave it out and make it a tortilla soup.

Garnishes and Toppings

Top off this delicious soup with your favorite toppings! Here's some of my favorites:

• tortilla chips
• shredded cheese
• cilantro
• avocado
• sour cream
• fresh tomatoes

More Soup Recipes

If you’re craving soup, here are some other delicious recipes you will love. My Roasted Tomato Basil Soup is creamy and delicious...perfect for the cooler weather. Misty's Chili is also a big hit in my family. You can make chili in many different ways and this version is super unique and tasty! If you like Chinese food then try my Egg Drop Recipe. I've saved a lot of money learning how to make this Chinese soup at home. Craving veggies?  Try my Autumn Vegetable Beef Soup. It full of nutrition and hearty!

Update Notes: This post was originally published in November 2014 but was re-published with updated step-by-step instructions, pictures, and tips in February 2020.