Slow Cooker Tortilla Soup

My picky eater loves soup.  She especially loves Chuy's Chicken Tortilla soup.  Unfortunately, we don't really like anything else at Chuy's, so she was out of luck until I found this recipe.  It's different from most restaurant tortilla soup and recipes I've seen because doesn't have a thick tomato base.

I adapted this recipe so I could make it with pantry items I already had on hand.  So canned tomatoes and jalapeños for fresh.  This soup is so awesome, my friend Susan blogged about it at Wild Life in the Woods.  She also posted a picture.

Some day I will buy a padlock for my slow-cooker so I can get pictures before my family demolishes the food!

Slow Cooker Tortilla Soup
adapted from America's Test Kitchen Slow Cooker Revolution

Ingredients:

• 1 T. olive oil 
• 1 can tomatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 onion, minced 
• 1 small can chopped jalapeño peppers
• 8-10 garlic cloves
• 2 T. minced canned chipotle chile in adobo 
• 1 T. tomato paste 
• 8 c. chicken broth 
• 10 cilantro stems, tied together with twine 
• 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless, chicken thighs 
• Salt and pepper

Heat oil in 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add tomatoes, onion, and jalapeño and cook until onion is softened and browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in garlic, chipotles, and tomato paste and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in 1 c. broth, scraping up any browned bits; transfer to slow cooker.
Stir remaining 7 c. broth and cilantro stems into slow cooker. Season chicken with salt and pepper and nestle into slow cooker. Cover and cook until chicken is tender, 4 to 6 hours on low. 
Transfer chicken to cutting board, let cool slightly, then shred into bite-size pieces. Let soup settle for 5 minutes, then remove fat from surface using large spoon. Discard cilantro stems.
Stir in shredded chicken, and let sit until heated through, about 5 minutes.
Top with crumbled queso fresco cheese, tortilla chips, avocado, sour cream, cilantro, and lime wedges.


This was a huge hit with the whole family. Even the one who grumbled about soup for dinner at two full bowls! With the toppings, this is a hearty soup that sticks to your ribs.

~ Enjoy!