Chicken Tortilla Soup (Slow Cooker)

 Chicken Tortilla Soup (Slow Cooker)

Tasty and easy- this slow cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup is a winner!! There’s not much prep, just chopping the onion, pepper, garlic  and Serrano pepper- and everything gets dumped in the slow cooker for 8 hours on low (4 on high). Shredded the chicken at the end- hint: use the paddle attachment on the Kitchen Aid mixer and it’s a snap! This soup isn’t creamy, so we like to add lots of sour cream and cheese to our bowl, plus top with tortilla chips, sliced avocado, cilantro, whatever you like!! 

INGREDIENTS

 

• ▢ 1 lb chicken breast
• 1 can black beans, drained
• ▢ 15 oz sweet whole corn kernels, drained
• ▢ 15 oz diced tomatoes, drained
• ▢ 5 C chicken stock
• ▢ 3/4 C yellow onion, chopped
• ▢ 3/4 C red bell pepper, chopped
• ▢ 1 serrano pepper, minced
• ▢ 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
• ▢ 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp cumin powder
• ▢ 1 1/2 tsp salt, divided
• ▢ 1 tsp ground pepper, divided
• ▢ Mexican cheese, sour cream, Cilantro, avocado, tortilla chips- for topping optional

INSTRUCTIONS

 

• To your slow cooker add first 11 ingredients plus 1 tsp salt and 3/4 tsp ground pepper. Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.
• Prior to serving, remove chicken breasts. Transfer chicken to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment for easy shredding. Alternately you may shred chicken by hand. Season chicken with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. Return shredded seasoned chicken to slow cooker bowl. Stir gently.
• Divide among bowls and top off with a generous helping of shredded cheese, sour cream and seasoned tortilla strips, plus avocado and cilantro if desired. 

*If you want a creamier tortilla soup, you can add 4-8oz of cream cheese near the end of cooking. Stir in until melted into soup. 

Italian Beef (Slow Cooker)

 Italian Beef (slow cooker)

This crockpot recipe is FULL of flavor and very easy to make! I served it on a toasted bun with melty provolone cheese slices, so delicious and filling! You could also serve this over mashed potatoes and it would be great. 

Ingredients  

• ▢ 2.5-5 pound chuck roast
• ▢ 1-2 teaspoons sea salt 
• ▢ 1-2 teaspoons ground pepper
• ▢ 2-3 cups beef broth
• ▢ 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ▢ 1 teaspoon dried basil
• ▢ 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• ▢ 1 teaspoon onion powder
• ▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ▢ 1 bay leaf
• ▢ ¼ cup light brown sugar
• ▢ 1 package Italian-style salad dressing mix (dry)
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• ▢ ½ cup pepperoncini juice
• ▢ 
• ▢ sub rolls, optional for serving
• ▢ provolone, optional for serving

Instructions

• Rub the roast with about a teaspoon or 2 each of salt and pepper and sear on all sides (I used canola oil on med-high for about 2-3 minutes per side). Transfer the roast to a slow cooker.
• In large bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients:
• 2 teaspoons sea salt, 
• 2-3cups beef broth
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 bay leaf
• ¼ cup light brown sugar
• package Italian-style salad dressing
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/2 cup pepperoncini juice
• Pour over the roast and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or high for 4 to 5 hours.
• With an hour left in the cooking process, remove the bay leaf and shred the meat, let cook for the remaining hour.
• Enjoy as a sandwich with provolone cheese on a sub roll or over mashed potatoes.