CHICKEN ENCHILADA SOUP –Â The best ever enchilada soup can be made in your slow cooker or instant pot! You’ll love this creamy, cheese flavor packed soup!
Craving all of this, all the time. I originally posted this recipe back in 2016 and the recipe stays the same WITH an updated bonus, we now have Instant Pot instructions included! We are huge soup lovers around here, and my enchilada soup is one I can say we definitely make a few times per month. It’s really hearty with tons of chicken, black beans, corn and a soul warming, broth! If you’re a soup addict like us, be sure to check out our (literally best ever) Broccoli Cheddar Soup, this light but filling herby White Bean Soup, and this tasty Instant Pot Split Pea Soup!
What Goes Good With Enchilada Soup?
Enchilada Soup is kind of like a true meal in a bowl for us. It has tons of tender chicken, two kinds of beans, corn, and of course as much cheese as you want stirred in to get all melty and delicious! Here are a few ideas of what you can serve along with this soup to kick things up a notch!
- Onions:Â I love serving with diced red onion, but you can use yellow, white, or green onions depending on your taste preference.
- Sour Cream or Plain Greek Yogurt:Â I highly recommend serving with either one of these to make the soup a little creamy!
- Cheese: We use a blend of Monterrey Jack and Cheddar as our go-to. It’s really also great with Pepper Jack Cheese, or even some softened cream cheese stirred in if you love an extra creamy soup.
- Tortillas and Chips! Either one of these are a must. They are both great for dunking. You can use whatever kind of tortilla chips or corn chips you love the most, and soft flour tortillas are also great for dunking and scooping!
- Garnish this soup if desired with lime wedges for squeezing and some chopped up cilantro if you love that flavor.
Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Soup
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 Pounds Chicken Breasts,
- 1 Medium Yellow Onion, Diced
- 2 Tablespoons Taco Seasoning
- 1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Pepper
- 1 28 Ounce Can red enchilada sauce
- 1 15 ounce Can corn, Drained
- 1 15 ounce Can black beans, Drained
- 1 15 ounce Can Ranch Style OR Pinto Beans, Drained
- 1 Cup Salsa
- 2 Cups Chicken Broth
- 1-2 teaspoons Hot Sauce, Optional
- 2 Cups Shredded Cheddar or Monterrey Jack or a Mixture
- 1 Tablespoon Cornstarch
- 1 Tablespoon Water
Optional for serving: Tortillas, Tortilla Chips, Sour Cream, Extra Cheese, Chopped Onion, Lime Wedges
Instructions
SLOW COOKER INSTRUCTIONS:
- Add the chicken breasts to the crockpot and season with the taco seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Add all additional items except cheese to the crock pot and stir. Cover the crockpot and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or high for 4-5 hours. Once the cooking time is up, remove the chicken and shred, then return to the slow cooker.
- After cooking, mix together the cornstarch with the water. Add to the crockpot and stir. Allow soup to thicken for 5-10 minutes.
- Stir in the cheese. Serve immediately with your favorite toppings.
INSTANT POT INSTRUCTIONS:
- Drizzle 2 Tablespoons of olive oil to the bottom of the instant pot. Turn the pot on to saute mode.Once the oil is hot, add the diced onion to the pot and cook, stirring occasionally for 3 minutes.
- Season the chicken breasts with the salt, garlic powder, pepper, and taco seasoning.Scoot the onions to the side, add the chicken breasts to the pot and sear for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden.
- Remove the chicken from the pot. Use about 1/4 cup of the chicken broth to deglaze the pot with a wooden spoon.Turn the pot off. Add the seared chicken, enchilada sauce, corn, beans, salsa, remaining broth, and hot sauce to the pot.Place the lid on the pot and set the valve to sealing. Turn the pot to manual for 20 minutes.
- Once the cooking time is up, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes (don't open the valve). After 10 minutes, open the valve to release the remaining pressure. Remove the chicken from the pot and shred. Turn the pot to the SOUP setting.  In a small bowl mix together the cornstarch and water. Once the soup is bubbling, add the cornstarch mixture, whisking constantly for 1-2 minutes until thick. Turn the pot off and stir in the cheese and shredded chicken.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Another way to thicken it is a slurry of Masa flour and water. Making this today. It’s Halloween (2019) and VERY cold and windy. We are gonna need something hot for when we get home from trick or treating.
My test for areally good restaurant is enchiladas soup…this is right up there. Spent a year in Mexico and I am always trying to escape by way of food back! Two kids and life in the way. I like to cut tortillas into big strips and throw some taco seasoning on the top. Love your attitude. Keep on with more warm your toes..we in the Pacific Northwest…denisecrazyforhorses
Is the salsa just regular salsa for chips? I’m confused on what to get.
Yes, just regular salsa
My husband and I absolutely love this recipe! So easy to make in the slow cooker and the house smells amazing!
We are currently making this recipe! We bought chicken broth at the store and when’s we got home it was opened at the store so we substituted water! Hopefully it still tastes ok *feeling worried*v
I have thought I was crazy because so many times I’ve opened a new box of chicken broth only to find its already been open. Then I actually read the box lol. They make them to where when you open the cap it punctures the seal as you twist. Learn something new every day!
Is there a substitute for ranch style beans? I checked everywhere and can’t find them. Would just pinto beans work? Thank you!
Yes, pinto or chili beans would be great 🙂
Won’t the black beans and corn get mushy if cooked that long, and when i go to shred the chicken breasts?
I made this recipe, and followed as closely as possible. I did not have enchiladas sauce, I substitutes taco sauce, and also added roasted red peppers. It was very good… I am going to freeze half of it, for colder winter days that call for soup…
Hello! If I go the rotisserie chicken route does it still need to cook as long?
Hi! No, it wouldn’t need to cook as long it would definitely be hot and ready to eat much faster. But, you could cook just as long to let the flavors come together if you wanted. 🙂
Tried this recipe about three months ago and loved it!
With it getting cooler my boyfriend mentioned he wanted to have this again. I’m really excited to make this soup again! Last time I put the slow cooker on high this time I will be using the low temperature.