Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken Soup tastes like chicken enchiladas – but takes a lot less effort! Sensational slow cooker soup that’s quick to prepare yet loaded with flavour. 10 minutes prep with lots of can opening, and a good amount of spices for a hit of Mexican flavour.
Hearty, chunky, healthy, totally delicious!
Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken Soup
This is a soup that is particularly fantastic to make in the slow cooker. Cooking it low and slow lets the chicken breast cook gently until it’s tender and shreddable, the beans and corn absorb the heavenly spice flavours in the Mexican flavoured soup broth, and the tomatoes break down to thicken the soup.
After tossing the shredded chicken back in, there’s nothing required to be done to finish it off before serving other than grabbing a few toppings. Shredded cheese, dollop of sour cream or yogurt plus a sprinkle of fresh coriander/cilantro at a minimum.
Bonus points if you add avocado and some crunchy corn chips for dunking!
What you need
Here’s what you need for this Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken Soup. Lots of cans and lots of spices you probably already have!
In this particular recipe, chicken breast is the ideal cut. It takes 6 to 8 hours to cook until it’s easily shreddable, the same time the broth requires for the flavours to come together and thicken.
How to make Mexican Chicken Soup
This is a soup that’s ideal for making in the slow cooker. Sauté the garlic, onion and capsicum/bell peppers, then just put everything in the slow cooker and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, or on high for 4 to 5 hours. The chicken breast will be tender and easily shreddable, the beans will have soaked up all the flavour from the spices, and the soup thickened.
To finish it off, just shred the chicken, toss it back in then serve!
This soup is the chicken version of the popular Beef Taco Soup. Quick and easy, hearty and exploding with Taco flavours!
Mexican Chicken Soup Toppings!
Toppings are not optional – they’re essential! Toppings take a tasty soup over the top to OMG this is so delish!
In my world, the bare minimum is cheese, sour cream, coriander/cilantro and a squeeze of fresh lime.
But if you add a little bit of diced avocado and corn chips for dunking, it will catapult this into another stratosphere of deliciousness.
And to think it’s so quick and easy to make!!! – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
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Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken Soup
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion , diced (brown, white, yellow)
- 1 red capsicum/bell pepper , large, diced
- 3 cloves garlic , minced
- 3 cups (750ml) chicken broth/stock , low sodium
- 800g / 28 oz canned black beans, drained (2 cans, or other beans, Note 1)
- 800g / 28 oz canned corn, drained (2 cans, or 500g/1lb frozen or fresh corn)
- 800g / 28oz crushed canned tomato OR 700g tomato passata (Note 2)
- 500g / 1 lb chicken breast
Spices
- 1 tbsp dried oregano
- 2 tsp cumin powder
- 2 tsp paprika powder
- 1 tsp each onion powder and garlic powder (or 2 tsp of one of them)
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper (optional, adjust spiciness)
- 1 tsp each salt + black pepper
Toppings
- Shredded cheese (recommended)
- Sour cream or yogurt (recommended)
- Coriander/cilantro (recommended)
- Lime wedges (recommended)
- Avocado, diced
- Corn chips or tortillas , for dunking
Instructions
- Heat the oil over medium heat in a large skillet and sauté the onion, capsicum/bell pepper and garlic for 5 minutes until translucent.
- Add a splash of chicken broth, bring to simmer then tip it all into the slow cooker. (Instant Pot: Do Step 1 & 2 on saute function).
- Add remaining chicken broth, Spices, corn, bean and tomato. Give it a good stir, then add chicken and push down to submerge.
- Slow cook for 6 to 8 hours on LOW. (Or pressure cooker 25 minutes on high, see Note for stove).
- Remove chicken onto plate, shred with 2 forks. Return into slow cooker, give it a good stir. Check if it needs more salt or pepper.
- Ladle into bowls and serve with Toppings of choice!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Originally published May 2014. Updated January 2019 with new photos and new recipe video!
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Life of Dozer
Dozer’s discovered his favourite room in our new home…the PANTRY! Lots of ideas for redesigning this storage space but Dozer doesn’t care – he’s just excited to be in such close proximity to so much FOOD.
(Actually, he is strictly prohibited from entering the pantry, I just let him in for a peek 😂)
This is an epic recipe – so much more than a soup. it’s not work/effort but the elapsed time it takes means it needs to deliver on flavour to be worthwhile, and man it delivers.
Really elevated by toppings too, especially a squeeze of lime.
I’m so glad you think so Paul, I love a set and forget recipe with minimal effort involved!! N x
This was the best soup…
the flavors were just right for me… I used my home made chicken bone broth… no salt added along with corn black beans and tomatoes…was easy to add hot sauce for those who wanted it spicier…add toppings and a full meal was had…along with fresh tortillas….Yum
Perfection Edy!!!
Your Mexican Chicken Soup is my new favorite recipe. Wish I had photographed it. It’s truly amazing. Plus, so easy to make. Many thanks.
Wahoo, I’m so happy you enjoyed it!!!
This was sooooo good!! I will definitely be making it again. Thank you, Nagi, for all your awesome recipes! You feel like a friend…😀
I’m so glad you loved it Serena ❤️
I felt like something different for dinner last night so I decided to give this a go.
It was delicious,
It was a bit thinner than I thought it would be but the flavour was great, I did make a slight alteration, I added about 3 tsp of sugar just to cut the acidity of the tomato and added a bit of cream to the mix as well at the end.
I don’t like the flavour of coriander so did use it, I also forgot to buy a lime. But added the cheese and sour cream.
Highly recommend having tortillas great for dipping into the soup.
Hi David, yes I find the tinned tomatoes here are quite bitter and I always need to balance it with a little sugar! Tortillas are a must!
On my ‘to try list’ once winter rolls around again – but with a long slow stovetop simmer (I hate slow cookers with a passion, I truly think everything comes out tasting the same!!!)
I know I know! But this wont disappoint!!!
I know darn well it wouldn’t – it’s your recipe so it’s guaranteed to be epic. I don’t even own a slow cooker and not going to buy one, even at $12.00 from Countdown, lololol
So good to know the love heart button.
Is this very spicy? I’m glad your have chickpeas, blackbeans in your recipes. Look forward to a recipe that needs canned mixed 4 beans. As it’s sitting in the cupboard waiting for it to be cooked up and freeze in meals, Cheers.
Hi El, you can use it in this recipe – it will be great! If ou want to cut back on spice, reduce or omit the cayenne 🙂
Sounds all good. Good to know about the spice advice. Look forward to make this twice one in black beans and one in mixed beans. Thanks Nagi!
I made this soup Saturday with some small modifications. I added a can of chopped mild green chilis instead of the cayenne. I used red kidney beans as we were out of black beans. Okay but not nearly as good. And I diced the chicken to cut down cooking time, as I was on a tight schedule. It turned out to be VERY good.
I’m so happy you enjoyed it David!
Perfect football food!
I’m so glad you loved it Amy!
Absolutely delicious, even better the day after. Next time I think I will serve over rice for some extra yummy! Thank you Nagi, I love your recipes!
Perfect for a cold Scottish winters night.
A meal in its self
Absolutely delicious…
Thanks you Nagi.
All the best.
Phil
Yes definitely Phil! I’m so glad you enjoyed it – N x
Nagi, another great recipe! I made it last night. My consistency (via a slow cooker) was thinner than I usually like it so I added a bit of masa (corn flour) that I had on hand and that did the trick. Adding cilantro and lime juice is a definite! They make the soup taste so clean and healthy. It was a great way to start into the new year.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Windy, that’s the best compliment!!
Nagi,
I am making this soup tomorrow and cannot wait to come home from work with very little effort in preparation!!
I have a question and it may be ridiculous but bare with me. Is there any way to save my recipes that I use from your sight? I have been copying and pasting to my notes.
Love your recipes and checking up on cute Dozer.
Thanks
Jenifer
Hi Jenifer, you can use the favourites function on my website – you’ll see a little heart and if you click it, it will save to a folder for you for easy access. N x
My late daughter in law – she passed away with brain cancer – used to make a dish she called ‘Burnt Chicken’. Apparently it’s a Philippine dish, but I never got the recipe from her.
Would you know of it and could you put up a recipe?
Thanks in advance
Hi Barbara, sorry to hear of your daughter in law, sounds like she was a great cook! Feel free to pop any requests on my recipe request page – I have a list I’m working through ❤️
Hi Nagi,
Quick question why do you add onion powder and garlic powder in with the other spices when you are also using the real thing? I dont have onion and garlic powder and dont really want to buy it specially, can I just up the quantities of the real stuff?
Hi Scott, I like to use it to boost the flavours – I use onion and garlic powder in a lot of my recipes, but if you don’t want to buy it, you can easily sub by using more garlic and onion – N x
The soup looks great and it is perfect timing for cold weather here in the Pacific Northwest. I’ve been thinking about you with all the news on the fires lately. Hope you are safe!
I am safe – on the coast and far enough away from the fires. Thanks for thinking of me – N x
Hello Dozer’s Mom😊,
Scrumptious looking soup, Perfect choice for a snowy day in Canada!
Will the Instant Pot’s slow cooking function work in this recipe?
Hi Amy! Absolutely 100% yes 🙂 The Instant Pot slow cooker function is just like a normal slow cooker. In fact, if you have an Instant Pot, you can by pass sautéing in a skillet and do it in the Instant Pot! N x
Hi Nagi! Love your blog and your delicious recipes. Can you make the slow cooker Mexican chicken soup in an insta-pot? Thanks.
Hi Christine! Absolutely. The Instant Pot slow cooker function is just like a normal slow cooker. In fact, if you have an Instant Pot, you can by pass sautéing in a skillet and do it in the Instant Pot! N x
Think this would freeze well?
Absolutely! I should have put that in. It is 100% perfect for freezing. N x
Hi Nagi
Just wondering how you and your family are doing with the wildfires in Australia. Praying for your country.
Thank you for thinking of us Donna. I am lucky to be located away from the fires, I am about 5 minutes drive from the closest forest which, luckily, is not affect by the fires. The large ones you are seeing on the news are about 1 hour drive from me – in all directions. They are everywhere, it is horrifying. 🙁 N x
Hi!
I cannot wait to make this!
For the corn, is it a total of 28 grams or two cans of 28 grams each?
Thanks,
Can this soup be made with a rotisserie chicken?
Absolutely! Cook per recipe without chicken then add in shredded rotisserie chicken 🙂 N x