Basically, you just add chicken to the bottom of the slow cooker and pile all of your favorite ingredients on top. Bell peppers, onions, and jalapenos all give this soup more substance. A few hours later, an amazing soup is ready to enjoy. I usually serve the soup with a bit of avocado to lend more creaminess to the dish as well.
I prefer to prepare a slow cooker meal in the morning and then have it ready when I come home for dinner. Or you can choose to throw everything together right before you go to bed and have the dish ready when you wake up in the morning. Which works especially well if you are packing up the food to take to work for lunch. Either way, cooking the chicken in a long and slow manner makes it completely tender and savory.
There are also two ways that you can prepare this soup as a freezer meal. One way is to prep the veggies – the onion, bell pepper, jalapeno, and garlic. Place them in a large resealable bag with the chicken, cumin, chili powder, oregano, and paprika. Place this in the freezer to store away for a rainy day. Then when you want to make it, simply defrost, place right into the slow cooker, and all you have to add is diced tomatoes, chicken broth, and salt and pepper to taste. This is great for people who like to plan ahead. The second way is to simply transfer the finished cooked soup to bags and freeze that instead. If you are cooking for one, freeze the leftovers so you can enjoy them later!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 1 bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 jalapeno, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 15-oz. can diced tomatoes
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp cumin
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 avocado, pitted and sliced
Directions
- Add the chicken to the bottom of the slow cooker. Add the onion, bell pepper, jalapeno, and garlic on top of the chicken. Pour the diced tomatoes and chicken stock over the top. Sprinkle with chili powder, cumin, oregano, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cover and cook on low heat for 8 hours. Use a fork to shred the chicken before serving. Garnish with cilantro and avocado.
I am “assuming” you put the chicken stock in the crockpot as well?
That’s correct Laurie, at the same time as the tomatoes.
Do you cook the chicken first?
Hi
When do you add the chicken stock? Pour over with the tomato?
Thanks
That’s right! Thanks for pointing that out.
Although the chicken stock is listed in the ingredients, it’s not mentioned in the instructions. I just realized that now and added it in 4 hours later. I’m sure it will still taste fine…
Yes, sorry about that – we will correct the recipe. The chicken stock should be added with the other ingredients.
One of my favorite things about chicken enchiladas is the sour cream in or on it. I’m thinking that floating a dollop on top of the soup in each bowl would be quite tasty. Add another layer of flavor.
I cubed and seared steak and used it in place of chicken and I removed he steak after 5 hours on high and shredded it and blended the liquid and veggies, then added the steak back and about 1/4 cup heavy cream. This was EXCELLENT!!!
Thank you for the suggestion Shannon, glad that you enjoyed it!
I made this soup last night, and it was delicious. Even better the next day as leftovers! Adding the cilantro on top really brings everything together. I did make one change and that was splitting the bell peppers into half red and half green to add a little bit of sweetness to balance the heat. Definitely a recipe I’ll be making again.
Happy to hear that you enjoyed the soup!
I liked the idea of adding sour cream as a garnish. Good idea. I also added corn and black beans to the soup.
FYI-Corn and black beans are so yummy yet not Paleo.
made this yesterday, put my own touch with a few things, but very thankful you posted the base. This is an excellent recipe, love it!
I started cooking this a little late. Any recommendations for cooking in 6 hours?
Everything’s in the pot and cooking at the moment! My first time using a crock pot, I’m excited. This recipe looks great, all my favorite flavors. Thanks for sharing!
One question– and I’m sorry if this is dumb, I’m not much of a cook. Do you shred the chicken raw and it cooks in the crock pot, or do you cook the chicken, then add? Sorry if y’all are going “DUH!”
can this be put in high for a shorter period of time? say 4 or 5 hours?
If using a Dutch oven instead of slow cooker, what temp should I use?
This recipe looks delicious!
Thank you.
My “soup” turned out more like a chicken dish than actual soup. I realized that I bought crushed tomatoes instead of diced, but other than that followed the recipe perfectly. Any suggestions to get more of a soup consistency?
More liquid! I thought 2 cups of chicken stock seemed like not enough for a soup consistency, either. I added 4 cups of chicken stock total, plus about 2 cups of water.
Made this tonight. It was really good. I had to add more broth for a more soup like consistency.
Made soup this weekend and it was delicious. I did add an extra can of diced tomatoes plus one can of tomato sauce. Thanks so much for all the Paleo recipes and every one I have tried was so easy and turned out so good. I switched to Paleo eating approximately two months ago and have never felt so good. I am 68 years old and wish I had started Paleo years earlier.
What a great recipe! Delicious! Will definitely be making it again 🙂
This looks great! I am going to try it tomorrow. Do you happen to know what 21 day fix containers to use to account for this meal?
Made this tonight and wow was it spicy!!!! Had to add a spoonful of sour cream to make it edible. I used 2 jalapeños and 2 poblano peppers so I think next time I will reduce it to one each?! Also, I made it in the crockpot which was very successful. The chicken was extremely tender.
Do you put the chicken in frozen or thawed?
Is the chicken cooked or raw when you put it in the crock pot?
I made it late last night to have today. It is FABULOUS.
Not realizing I needed Raw chicken, I bought Costco’s boned & skinned rotisserie chicken to use. It was cooked already and the right amount for the recipe.
Another (not so bad) mistake I made was adding the cilantro with the dry ingredients.
After coming over night, I added more chicken stock to have more liquid.
I love ❤ this recipe, a very delicious soup.
This is totally dinner tomorrow! Regarding some of the earlier questions which haven’t been answered. (1) If you prep and freeze the soup before cooking it, you don’t have to thaw it out before adding it to the slow cooker. Throw it in frozen and it will cook just as well. (2) If you need to cook it faster, flip it to high and cut the time in half. (3) You don’t have to use raw chicken. I use leftover chicken from the rotisserie in my soups all the time. Just cut the cook time down, or cook it the same amount of time and the meat will be softer in texture. (4) If your soup is too thick, add more chicken broth, water, or white wine. I hope something there is helpful. I’m looking forward to dinner tomorrow!
This was delicious. I didn’t have chicken stock so I just added herbamare and about half the portion of water instead and it was incredible!!!
The bell pepper, is it a color in particular or could it be any kind? Thanks
I made this soup for dinner tonight and my husband and I loved it!! So yummy! I did forget to buy a jalapeño so I didn’t have that and then I forgot all about the cilantro I bought just for this recipe! Grrrr… Oh well this soup was amazing and I am sure this will become a staple at our house!
Hi, Do you have the portion sizes and 21 day fix container breakdown? Thanks!
I just made this and it’s delicious!!!! Even better the next day!!! Thanks for the recipe!!!
Made this today! Delicious!
Sorry if this is a dumb question… Do I use a tablespoon of cumin seeds or ground cumin?
Made this on Saturday. Followed the recipe plus a few additions and it came out great. Added just a cup or 2 of water, black beans and shredded cheese when I served it up. It was a hit, will make again. Great recipe!
Hi, my husband and I LOVE the slow cooker chicken enchilada soup recipe. Do you have a Pintrest link, if so I would love to have it! Thanks!!
I didnt want to wait 6 hours so i just went and got sliced roasted chicken from the deli so make the base of the soup. Used a can of diced tomatoes and jalapenos mixed and then cooked on high for half an hour. Not as high class as the cooked chicken it calls for but it still taste pretty great!
Absolutely delicious! As with any great soups, it tastes better cooked the second or even the third time around. It’s also great with a sunny side egg on top to give it a New Mexican flavor.
Really good! Instead of diced tomatoes, I used rotel instead. I also added an extra 2 cups of water and added chicken bouillon.
I make this recipe often. It is incredibly delicious. Thank you for sharing it with me.
I use a can of crushed tomatoes instead of diced. Top with Organic Valley cheddar, avocado and squeeze of lime juice. Amazing!!!!