Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Soup (2024)

  • Recipes

Nealey Dozier

Nealey Dozier

Nealey Dozier is a former wedding planner turned chef, culinary instructor, recipe developer, and food writer. She is based in Atlanta. You can find more of her Southern adventures in eating and entertaining at www.dixiecaviar.com.

updated Nov 8, 2019

Be the first to leave a review!

Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Soup (1)

A warm bowl of chicken enchilada soup, made in the slow cooker, tastes like you're eating an enchilada with a spoon.

Serves6

Jump to Recipe

We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Soup (2)

It may seem crazy to make a hearty soup in August, but the occasional dreary, rainy days that pop up this month are a preview of the cooler autumn days ahead. A warm bowl of chicken enchilada soup, made in the slow cooker, is exactly what I crave on those days.

Chicken enchilada was the signature soup at one of my favorite lunch spots growing up; I still devour a bowl every time I return home. It is a thicker, richer cousin of chicken tortilla soup — like you are eating an actual enchilada with a bowl and a spoon. It is the best of both dishes’ worlds!

This soup requires very little prep work for the amount of flavor it yields: I started with my favorite red enchilada sauce as the base; it’s so easy but packs in tons of flavor, way more than your average canned stuff. I tossed the sauce into my slow cooker along with corn, beans, and chicken thighs, then left it overnight to work all of its magical slow cooker powers. By morning I had a luscious soup that needed little more than salt and pepper to give it a boost. (Of course, if you feel like gilding the lily, a splash of heavy cream and a handful of cheddar take this recipe over the top!)

But how I really knew this chicken enchilada soup was a keeper? My fiancé asked if we could keep a batch in the refrigerator at all times, so he could eat it everyday. In my house, that’s the hands down sign of a real winner. You can bet this dish will be making an appearance from now until deep into winter.

Tester’s Notes

This recipe is delicious as written, but will be just as tasty if you need to make a few substitutions to make it work with the ingredients you have on hand. Although we call for Mexican-style chili powder, any chili powder is fine to use here — and if you want the soup to be spicier, simply slice up an extra jalapeño for garnish. Instead of tomato sauce, feel free to use a can of diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, or even a jar of salsa.

Grace, August 2018

Comments

A warm bowl of chicken enchilada soup, made in the slow cooker, tastes like you're eating an enchilada with a spoon.

Serves 6

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

For the enchilada sauce:

  • Neutral cooking oil, such as canola or safflower

  • 1

    medium yellow onion, diced

  • 1

    large jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped

  • 3 cloves

    garlic, minced

  • 2 tablespoons

    chili powder, prerably Mexican-style

  • 1 tablespoon

    ground cumin

  • 1 tablespoon

    granulated sugar

  • 2

    medium tomatoes, coarsely chopped

  • 1 (15-ounce) can

    tomato sauce

  • 2 cups

    low-sodium chicken broth, plus more for thinning as needed

  • Kosher salt

  • Freshly ground black pepper

For the soup:

  • 1 (15-ounce) can

    yellow corn, drained

  • 1 (15-ounce) can

    black beans, rinsed and drained

  • 2 to 3 pounds

    boneless, skinless chicken thighs

  • Heavy cream (optional)

  • Cayenne pepper (optional)

  • Serving options: Shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, tortilla chips, fresh cilantro

Instructions

  1. Heat a few tablespoons of oil in a large Dutch oven or skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onions and jalapeño and cook until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic, chili powder, cumin, and sugar and stir until fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, tomato sauce, and broth, season with salt and pepper, and bring to a gentle boil. Transfer to a 5 quart-or larger slow cooker.

  2. Add the corn, beans, and chicken, and stir to combine. Cover and cook until the chicken is cooked through, 6 to 7 hours on the LOW setting or 4 hours on the HIGH setting.

  3. Shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces with 2 forks. Stir in a splash of heavy cream if desired. Taste and season with salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper as desired. Serve with cheddar cheese, sour cream, tortilla chips, and cilantro for garnish if desired.

Recipe Notes

Bone-in chicken thighs: I like bone-in chicken thighs when I want a rich, complex soup, but boneless chicken thighs are easy because you don't have to deal with the bones. If using bone-in chicken thighs, transfer to a clean cutting board before shredding the meat with 2 forks. Discard the skin and bones and return the shredded chicken tot he slow cooker.

Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 2 months. If freezing, transfer the cooled soup to freezer-safe plastic bag(s) labeled with recipe name and date. Press out excess air before sealing. Lay bags flat in a single layer in the freezer. (Once frozen, the bags can be stacked neatly.) To thaw, transfer to refrigerator overnight or set the bag in a stockpot of warm water. Reheat in a saucepan over medium-low heat; season to taste.

Filed in:

autumn

beans

Canned Goods

Chicken

Cooking Methods

Dairy-Free

Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Soup (2024)

FAQs

What adds depth to chicken soup? ›

"If your broth is lacking in savory richness, try adding roasted onion, tomato paste, mushrooms, seaweed, soy sauce, or miso. These ingredients add umami flavor and depth to broth," she says. The choice of ingredient depends on the recipe, though.

How do you thicken chicken soup in a slow cooker? ›

Add a slurry at the end.

A slurry is a mixture of flour and water, whisked together until smooth and added towards the end of cooking; it's a super-simple way to thicken any soup. For slow cooker soups, add your slurry with at least 30 minutes of cook time left so that the raw flour can cook and thicken the soup.

What is the secret to non soggy enchiladas? ›

Dipping your tortillas in sauce will ensure even distribution — and means you can use less sauce on the bottom of the baking dish, which will prevent them from getting soggy.

Why do you put lemon juice in chicken soup? ›

Aside from the match-made-in-heaven, the real reason you should be adding lemon to chicken soup is because of its acidic properties. If you look at almost any soup recipe (or most recipes in general), you'll find they all have something in common: some type of acidic ingredient whether it's citrus, vinegar, or tomato.

How do I get more flavor in my chicken soup? ›

Seasoning the Soup: If you feel the soup is missing some zing, add a bit more salt. You can also add a pop of flavor with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, a dash of fish sauce (we use this trick for store-bought stocks and broths often) or Worcestershire sauce.

How to deepen the flavor of soup? ›

Things you can add to soup to enhance its flavor:
  1. Lemon juice.
  2. Hot sauce.
  3. Vegetable base.
  4. Salt and pepper.
  5. Worcestershire sauce.
  6. Fish sauce.
  7. MSGeeeeeeeeee!
Dec 12, 2021

What makes enchiladas taste better? ›

Black beans – They add creamy texture and earthy flavor to the enchilada filling. Spinach – Its silky texture is fantastic inside the enchiladas. And the toppings – Avocado, cilantro, and jalapeños offer the perfect fresh contrast to the cheesy filling.

Do enchiladas taste better with corn or flour tortillas? ›

Sturdy yellow corn tortillas hold up better in these enchiladas than more delicate white corn tortillas. The corn tortillas must be softened before they are rolled and baked in the casserole. Frying them gently in a little oil greatly enhances the flavor of the tortillas. Do not use flour tortillas for this recipe.

How do you keep enchiladas from getting hard on the bottom? ›

Some recipes suggest spreading a little sauce (½ cup for a 3-quart baking dish) on the bottom of the pan before adding enchiladas. This keeps the tortillas from sticking to the pan or getting tough on the bottom.

Why do you put vinegar in chicken soup? ›

Whether it's white wine or vinegar, a touch of acid added to the simmering pot will create a richer finished product. That's because acid helps break down the cartilage and other connective tissues in the bones of the chicken, which helps speed up the formation of gelatin in the stock.

How to make can chicken soup taste better? ›

How do I make canned chicken noodle soup better? Just before eating, add a pat of butter. You can also add chives, croutons, chopped green onions, parsley, a bit of garlic powder, chopped fresh herbs, etc., but the butter always works for a quick and easy soup upgrade.

Can you add apple cider vinegar to soup? ›

Butternut Squash Soup: A fall classic! To make this soup anything but basic, add a splash of apple cider vinegar.

How to add depth of flavor to chicken broth? ›

Garlic: Adds a pungent aroma and earthy flavor. Carrots: Add a touch of sweetness to the broth. Celery: Adds a mild herbal flavor and saltiness. Herbs and Spices: herbs de Provence, bay leaves, whole cloves, whole black peppercorns, and kosher salt infuse the broth with so much flavor.

How do you add thickness to chicken soup? ›

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool. Add a few tablespoons of flour or cornstarch to the bowl and whisk until it's blended smooth. Next, bring the soup to a simmer and add the mixture back to the pot. Pro tip: Don't dump in the entire mixture at once.

How to make soup with depth? ›

Sear before you simmer.

Browning your ingredients on the stovetop or in the oven creates deep, savory flavors that you won't get from simply adding those same ingredients straight to a pot of water.

How do you get the depth of flavor in vegetable soup? ›

Tips for Flavorful Vegetable Soup

Flavor the base: We add Italian seasoning and tomato paste to the aromatics and warm them up to bring the seasonings back to life. You could use fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary, or even add a Parmesan rind for more flavor.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Margart Wisoky

Last Updated:

Views: 5872

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (58 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Margart Wisoky

Birthday: 1993-05-13

Address: 2113 Abernathy Knoll, New Tamerafurt, CT 66893-2169

Phone: +25815234346805

Job: Central Developer

Hobby: Machining, Pottery, Rafting, Cosplaying, Jogging, Taekwondo, Scouting

Introduction: My name is Margart Wisoky, I am a gorgeous, shiny, successful, beautiful, adventurous, excited, pleasant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.