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Home Soups

Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken Soup

By:Nagi
Published:10 Jan '20Updated:28 Sep '21
163 Comments
Recipe v Video v Dozer v

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 being cooked in a slow cooker

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!

Close up of corn chip being inked into Mexican Chicken Soup

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.

Ingredients for Mexican Soup with Chicken

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!

How to make Mexican Soup with chicken

This soup is the chicken version of the popular Beef Taco Soup. Quick and easy, hearty and exploding with Taco flavours!

Mexican Chicken Soup in a bowl, ready to be eaten

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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Mexican Chicken Soup being cooked in a slow cooker

Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken Soup

Author: Nagi | RecipeTin Eats
Prep: 10 minutes mins
Cook: 8 hours hrs
Total: 8 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
Soup
Mexican
4.97 from 54 votes
Servings7 - 8
Tap or hover to scale
Print
  • 107
Recipe video above. 10 minutes prep, then throw everything into your slow cooker and come home to the ultimate comfort food. This is a hearty, chunky soup that just happens to be healthy. Excessive toppings are a must!

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:

1. Beans - You can use red kidney beans instead of black beans, or 1/2 cup of dried beans.
2. Tomato passata is pureed plain tomatoes that is the consistency of a thick, smooth liquid, not like a paste or sauce. In Australia it is found in the pasta section of supermarkets and costs around the same as canned tomatoes.
3. Stove - simmer on stove for 40 min on medium low, remove chicken and shred. Simmer soup for further 20 minutes, then return shredded chicken into pot then serve.
4. Storage - cooked soup will keep in the fridge for 5 days. Or freeze for up to 3 months - it freezes perfect (soup only, not toppings).
5. Nutrition per serving (800g/3 cups), excluding toppings (because I cannot be held responsible for how much you load it up!) 

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 823gCalories: 352cal (18%)Carbohydrates: 46g (15%)Protein: 28g (56%)Fat: 7g (11%)Saturated Fat: 1g (6%)Cholesterol: 46mg (15%)Sodium: 1215mg (53%)Potassium: 1226mg (35%)Fiber: 11g (46%)Sugar: 7g (8%)Vitamin A: 926IU (19%)Vitamin C: 40mg (48%)Calcium: 99mg (10%)Iron: 5mg (28%)
Keywords: enchilada soup, mexican chicken soup, slow cooker mexican chicken soup
Did you make this recipe?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @recipe_tin.

Originally published May 2014. Updated January 2019 with new photos and new recipe video!

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163 Comments

  1. Nat W says

    December 6, 2023 at 8:27 am

    5 stars
    Love, love, love this recipe. I’ve done in slow cooker & pressure cooker. I find it very economical, it freezes well & so easy to prep. Don’t skip the sour cream, cheese, coriander & corn chips to scoop it. A meal in a bowl. Delish.

    Reply
  2. Rae says

    December 1, 2023 at 4:38 pm

    5 stars
    Love this recipe!! So easy, so fresh tasting, have tried it with a variety of the suggested toppings ( sometimes all of them!! ) also freezes so beautifully for a quick easy meal on a busy night ! Thanks Nagi !

    Reply
  3. Jess says

    June 15, 2023 at 9:34 pm

    5 stars
    I’ve made this several times and it’s delicious!! I just saw it as part of your 5 meals prep ahead post (which is brilliant by the way, thank you!), where it says you can make a freezer bag version of it to defrost and then cook in the slow cooker. It says to see note 3, but I guess this recipe has been changed since then. To make a freezer bag version for cooking at a later date, would you follow the same steps, i.e. steps 1-3 but just put all into a ziplock bag instead of into the slow cooker? Or is it best to cook it first and then freeze? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Brittany Curtain says

      September 22, 2023 at 11:21 am

      I made this into a dump bag for my in-laws after they had a baby. You can either sauté then pop it all into the bag to freeze or skip the sauté completely and pop into the bag. I’ve never noticed a huge difference sautéing vs not. I also omitted the stock when freezing as it would have been too much to freeze and it’s so easy to add later I just noted it on the bag. Defrost completely, dump in slow cooker and cook as per instructions. Top tip freeze the bag flat as it’ll defrost easier and I also double bag just in case. I actually didn’t realise Nagi had made dump bag instructions this is just what I did knowing the basics of a dump bag. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Jen says

    May 2, 2023 at 7:35 pm

    5 stars
    So easy to get the slow cooker going and come home to this fabulous meal. We had cheese, corn chips and a bit of yoghurt. Just so good!

    Reply
  5. Cathy says

    March 20, 2023 at 4:24 pm

    5 stars
    The soup was delicious. Definitely added chopped avocado, tortilla chips, sour cream and shredded cheese toppings. Will make again.

    Reply
  6. Lisa says

    September 13, 2022 at 10:17 pm

    5 stars
    This soup is so yummy and fun. I love the combination of flavours and textures. I made this for dinner tonight and after fighting over seconds my kids told me I need to make this on a regular basis. I did halve the cayenne pepper as I’ve had issues with too much cayenne before. It was the perfect amount of spice for us. Thanks Nagi x

    Reply
  7. Denyse says

    July 20, 2022 at 4:31 pm

    5 stars
    Very tasty recipe

    Reply
  8. Kelly Davie says

    July 18, 2022 at 12:04 pm

    5 stars
    This is mouth-wateringly good. Yum!

    Reply
  9. Traci says

    July 8, 2022 at 5:07 pm

    5 stars
    Hi, I’m going to try making your wonderful Mexican Chicken Soup in a pressure cooker for the first time. Your recipe recommends 25 minutes on high, but a similar recipe I see on another site (I didn’t realize you had the recommended time in yours and was trying to convert it on my own) recommends only 8-12 minutes (depending on size of the breasts) and recommends the 25 minutes for thighs. Just want to confirm that it should be 25 for breasts. Thanks!! 😋

    Reply
    • Surene King says

      July 2, 2023 at 2:24 pm

      I was looking through comments for whether to quick, natural or timed release. FYI, I quick released, all good. Thought slow cooker was better, but not by much. Hope this helps!

      Reply
  10. John says

    July 7, 2022 at 11:15 am

    5 stars
    I had just finished simmering and tasting this recipe and was looking on the phone at the instructions when an Ad popped up… advertising canned soup. These guys have no idea who they are competing against.
    Nagi 100: Canned soup 0.
    HA!

    Reply
  11. IRENE says

    June 9, 2022 at 10:15 pm

    5 stars
    I tried this in our new slow cooker last night. It was great for a cold night. My 12 year old daughter found it a little spicy (although I love spicy!!) so I will reduce the cayenne pepper next time.

    I actually cooked this on timer overnight so we brought this for our school and work lunch. My daughter had it with wrap (already in our pantry) while my husband and I had it with Dorito chips. Yum!! Thank you.

    Reply
  12. Ruth Wood says

    June 9, 2022 at 1:01 am

    Sounds yummy! Does the calorie count include the toppings at all or is it just for the soup?

    Reply
    • Ainsley Hellen says

      August 16, 2022 at 11:15 am

      No the calorie count excludes the toppings but I substitute for sour cream with either the light version or natural yoghurt (which I actually prefer). Hope this helps 🙂

      Reply
  13. John says

    May 28, 2022 at 11:06 am

    5 stars
    Wow! Talk about easy and so yummy! Thx Nagi!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      May 28, 2022 at 12:25 pm

      Woo hoo!! I am glad that you enjoyed it John! N x

      Reply
  14. Nella says

    May 25, 2022 at 7:59 pm

    5 stars
    This was such a delicious and relatively easy soup to make! I made it on the stove top because it was too late in the day to make it in a slow cooker and that worked amazingly. I wasn’t sure if I should’ve left it uncovered or covered to simmer (I opted for covered in the end). It was a bit watery for the first day, but after a night in the fridge it was the perfect consistency. We ate it with just corn chips and that was perfection! (My avocado wasn’t ripe enough 🙁 ). Also, I halved the cayenne pepper because I’m a chilli wuss but it was the perfect amount of spice without hurting my belly 😛 thanks for another winner recipe! Your website is my go-to for tasty everything xxx

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      May 26, 2022 at 7:25 am

      That’s good to know Nella! I am glad that you liked it! N x

      Reply
  15. Michelle says

    May 17, 2022 at 9:48 am

    5 stars
    I’ve been on a recipe tin eats cooking binge lately and I made this for dinner the other day when hubby said he wanted something Mexican for dinner.
    it was easy to make, delicious and even the kids even went back for seconds and thirds!! And they can be so fussy.
    perfect dinner especially for those colder nights. Thank you Nagi!!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      May 17, 2022 at 3:36 pm

      That’s great Michelle!! Enjoy! N x

      Reply
  16. Mikey says

    May 15, 2022 at 11:16 pm

    5 stars
    This recipe was such a good find, particularly at a moment’s notice when everything fell into line. There is something about coming home to the smell of soup, especially if it is wafting from the slow cooker. By no means was it the most ideal soup weather, but in Australia we don’t really know that – it is a matter of fact.

    Props as well to suggesting to submerge the pieces of meat during the cooking process. This might be the first time I have seen someone take an active suggestion to do that for a slow cooker meal. It gave the chicken time to both mariante and steam, therefore falling apart slowly and absorbing the delicious Mexican flavours.

    I can’t remember if I put in a jalapeno or not, but you are talking to a spice fiend. It could always be that little mark spicier. But on top of the spice, ti was the interaction between the base flavours, and how the cheese infused itself into the broth, plus the sheer amount of chicken to spread out through the broth.

    Sometimes what has to happen is to allow things to just be, and to occur through inertia. A lot of my life has been like that over the past years, and cooking much reflects how I go about it.

    To quote the late, great Scot Hall: One more, for the good guys.

    Reply
  17. Matthew S says

    April 17, 2022 at 5:12 am

    5 stars
    Made this and it was delicious! One small change I made: at grocery stores here in Texas dried ancho chilies are plentiful. I bought a few and used my blender and some of the chicken stock to make a paste and added it into the soup. Even more delicious 🙂

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      April 19, 2022 at 4:04 pm

      I do like the flavour from anchos although they are harder to find here in Australia! N x

      Reply
  18. Peggy says

    February 24, 2022 at 12:58 pm

    First time tonight – made exactly according to recipe and used all toppings except I didn’t have a lime. Frito scoops and Tostitos on the side. Delicious!!!

    Reply
  19. Jason Lassner says

    January 23, 2022 at 10:27 am

    5 stars
    Just found this recipe today, made it and tried it with my 16 y.o. son. I have to say that it’s fantastic! I used close to 2 lbs. chicken breast and it took 6.5 hours to reach fork tender with the crockpot set on low. Otherwise followed the recipe exactly and I’d say the spiciness level is 6.5/10. Added fresh squeezed lime juice, shredded cheddar, cilantro and crumbled yellow corn chips to each bowl. Yum!

    Reply
  20. Nicole Lowe says

    September 21, 2021 at 7:35 pm

    Made this for the first time tonight. Have to say it is life altering. Absolutely delicious. Will be making a lot of this in my future. Love your recipes. They make me look like a great cook!!
    Thanks Nagi, appreciate all your hard work. Oh, and a shout out to Dozer. You missed out buddy.

    Reply
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Hi, I'm Nagi!

I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative! Read More

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