Healthy Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup & Vibrant Southwest Salad: Your Go-To Meal for Any Occasion
Discover the ultimate hands-off meal that promises both hearty satisfaction and robust health: our Veggie-Packed Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup paired with a refreshing Southwest Salad. This dynamic duo is designed to simplify your life without compromising on flavor or nutrition. Whether you’re hosting a lively game day gathering and want to offer a healthy counterpoint to indulgent snacks and drinks, or you’re seeking a quick, wholesome solution for a busy weeknight dinner, this recipe delivers on all fronts.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Taylor Farms and Mission Produce. The opinions and text are all mine.
The Undeniable Appeal of Slow Cooking: Simplicity Meets Savory Flavors
Who doesn’t appreciate the convenience and culinary magic of a slow cooker? It’s a kitchen hero, transforming raw ingredients into a deeply flavorful, tender meal with minimal effort. My absolute favorite aspect is the freedom it offers: simply combine all your ingredients, set it, and forget it for hours, knowing a delicious dinner awaits. This “set it and forget it” approach is precisely why I adore this Healthy Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup. It’s not just incredibly easy and hands-off; it’s also bursting with an impressive array of fresh vegetables, ensuring a nutritious and satisfying meal every time.
Imagine coming home after a long day to the enticing aroma of a ready-to-eat dinner. That’s the promise of slow cooking! It allows flavors to meld beautifully over time, tenderizing chicken to perfection and creating a rich, complex broth that feels like it took hours of active cooking, when in reality, your slow cooker did all the heavy lifting. This method is also fantastic for meal prepping, allowing you to prepare a large batch that can feed your family for days or be frozen for future convenience.
Crafting the Perfect Bowl: A Veggie-Packed Chicken Tortilla Soup
The foundation of this meal is a robust and healthy chicken tortilla soup, designed to be incredibly nourishing. We start with lean, boneless, skinless chicken thighs, which become incredibly tender and flavorful when slow-cooked. These are combined with a medley of colorful vegetables like diced onions and bell peppers, adding natural sweetness and essential vitamins. Minced garlic infuses the soup with an aromatic depth that is simply irresistible.
For that authentic Southwestern character, we incorporate fire-roasted diced tomatoes and chilies, providing a smoky depth and a gentle kick. Black beans add a hearty dose of plant-based protein and fiber, while frozen corn kernels bring a burst of sweetness and texture. A rich, low-sodium chicken stock forms the liquid base, thickened slightly with tomato paste for an even deeper umami flavor. The spice blend—chili powder, paprika, dried oregano, cumin, and a touch of red pepper flakes—creates a warm, inviting profile that truly transports you to the Southwest.
One of the true stars of this soup, and a fantastic way to boost its nutritional content, is the addition of Taylor Farms Power Greens Mix, a thoughtful blend of baby spinach and baby kale. I simply stir in a few handfuls during the final minutes of cooking. Not only does this add vibrant color and a wealth of vitamins and minerals, but it’s also an ingenious way to incorporate more greens into your diet, especially if you or your family members are not typically enthusiastic about vegetables. The bold flavors of the soup artfully mask the greens, making them virtually undetectable while still delivering all their health benefits.
The Perfect Companion: Taylor Farms Southwest Chopped Salad
To perfectly complement the warm, comforting soup, a crisp and zesty salad is essential. When Taylor Farms approached me to create a soup and salad combo recipe, I was thrilled to explore their diverse range of chopped salad varieties. Their Chopped Salad Kits are a revelation in convenience, making it incredibly simple to put together a healthy, flavorful meal in mere minutes. Each kit comes with fresh greens, crunchy toppings, and a delicious dressing, making meal prep a breeze.
While Taylor Farms offers an array of enticing flavors like Asian, Greek, and BBQ Ranch, I specifically chose the Southwest Chopped Salad kit for this recipe. Its vibrant mix of crisp lettuce, crunchy corn, tortilla strips, and a creamy, tangy dressing perfectly mirrors the flavors of the chicken tortilla soup, creating a harmonious and well-rounded meal experience.
The Creamy Counterpart: Elevating Every Bite with Mission Avocados
No Southwestern or Mexican-inspired dish is truly complete without the luxurious addition of avocado! Its rich, creamy texture and mild flavor provide a delightful contrast to the warm, spicy notes of the soup. I love topping my finished soup with generous slices of perfectly ripe Mission Avocados, and often add extra diced avocado to the Southwest salad for good measure. Avocados are more than just delicious; they’re nutritional powerhouses, packed with healthy monounsaturated fats and essential potassium, contributing to a truly wholesome meal.
The smooth, buttery consistency of the avocado beautifully balances the zesty acidity and subtle heat of the chicken tortilla soup, creating a complex and incredibly satisfying mouthfeel. It’s a mandatory topping that transforms a great soup into an extraordinary one.
Ideal for Any Occasion: From Game Day Feasts to Busy Weeknights
This Healthy Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup and Southwest Salad combo is incredibly versatile, making it the perfect main dish for almost any occasion. Planning a big game day party? This meal offers a nutritious and satisfying option to serve alongside all the usual snacks and beverages. Your guests can enjoy a hearty, flavorful dish that fills their bellies without feeling heavy, allowing them to balance their indulgence. The best part? You won’t be slaving away in the kitchen all day. Simply prep the soup ingredients in the morning, let the crock pot do its work, and then open a bag of Taylor Farms Southwest Chopped Salad just before serving.
For those bustling weeknights, this meal is a true lifesaver. The minimal hands-on time means you can dedicate your evening to other priorities, knowing a delicious and healthy dinner is simmering away. Leftovers are fantastic for lunch the next day, and the soup freezes beautifully, offering a convenient option for future meals.
The Finishing Touches: Essential Toppings for a Memorable Meal
While the soup itself is phenomenal, the toppings truly elevate this dish to another level. Please, do not skip them! They add layers of texture, flavor, and visual appeal that make each spoonful an experience. Essential toppings include generous slices of creamy Mission Avocados, a sprinkle of melty grated cheddar cheese, and a handful of crunchy tortilla strips for that satisfying bite. A squeeze of fresh lime juice brightens all the flavors, adding a necessary acidic punch.
For those who love it (and even for those who are on the fence), setting out some fresh cilantro for a final garnish is highly recommended. Its vibrant, herbaceous notes complement the Southwestern profile beautifully. Consider offering a variety of toppings, allowing each guest to customize their bowl to their exact liking.
Hosting Made Easy: Create a Self-Serve Soup and Salad Bar
If you’re serving this incredible meal at a party, I highly recommend setting up a self-serve soup and salad bar. This not only makes hosting stress-free but also allows your guests to create their perfect plate. Arrange the warm chicken tortilla soup in a large slow cooker or serving pot, and have the prepared Southwest salad in a separate large bowl. Then, lay out all the delicious toppings in individual dishes—think bowls of sliced avocados, grated cheese, crunchy tortilla strips, fresh cilantro, and lime wedges.
This approach empowers guests to serve themselves as they please, ensuring everyone gets exactly what they want, when they want it. It frees you up to enjoy the game, socialize, and relax without constantly worrying about serving duties. It’s a win-win for both the host and the hungry crowd!
Enter to Win! Your Chance for Fresh Goodness
Don’t miss your chance to win a case of @missionavocados and @yourtaylorfarms greens, plus a $100 Gift Card! Here’s how to enter:
- Follow @missionavocados + @yourtaylorfarms on Instagram.
- Tag at least 3 friends you are celebrating the Big Game with on their brand posts.
- For an extra entry, share your #NotJustGuac recipes, like this one!
Giveaway closes 1/31 at 12pm PST. Winner will be announced 2/1. #NotJustGuac
Healthy Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup
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Ingredients
For The Southwest Salad:
- Taylor Farms Southwest Chopped Salad
- Mission Avocados diced
For The Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup:
- Taylor Farms Power Greens Mix baby spinach and baby kale
- 1 pound skinless boneless chicken thighs
- 1 onion diced
- 2 bell peppers any color, diced
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 can fire roasted diced tomatoes 15.5 ounces
- 1 can fire roasted chilies 4 ounces
- 1 can black beans 15 ounces, drained and rinsed
- 1 bag frozen corn kernels 16 ounces
- 4 cups low sodium chicken stock
- 4 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon chili Powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoons red pepper flakes or to taste
- 1-2 teaspoons kosher salt to taste
- pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
Toppings:
- Mission Avocados sliced
- grated cheddar cheese
- crunchy tortilla strips
- cilantro
- lime wedges
Instructions
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To make the soup, add all soup ingredients to the slow cooker EXCEPT the greens and lime juice. Stir to mix, heat on low for 8 hours.
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After 8 hours, remove chicken and shred with a fork, then return to the crock pot, along with the greens and lime juice. Stir and allow to cook for about 5 more minutes, until greens are wilted but still bright green.
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Prepare southwest salad according to instructions, top with diced avocados.
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Serve soup in bowls topped with avocados, shredded cheese, tortilla strips, lime wedges and if desired cilantro.
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Serve southwest chopped salad along side soup.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
This is a sponsored post, written by me on behalf of Taylor Farms and Mission Produce. Opinions, as always, are all my own! Thank you for supporting the brands that support Fox and Briar! For more information, see my disclosure policy.
