Chicken Tortilla Soup

(Serves 4-6)

Recipe can easily be double

2 large chicken breasts, frozen or thawed

4 cups chicken stock

1 medium yellow onion, small diced

4 large cloves garlic, minced

3 medium zucchinis, quartered lengthwise then thinly diced

1 large red bell pepper, diced

1 can corn, drained

1-2 jalapenos, cored and small diced (depending on spice preference)

1 ½ tsp poultry seasoning

1 ½ tsp cumin  

1- 15oz can diced tomatoes 

1- 15oz can diced tomatoes with roasted red peppers

1 -15oz can tomato sauce

3 limes, juiced (about ¼ cup juice)

Salt and pepper

Olive oil

Condiments: avocados, shredded cheese, sour cream, tortilla chips

Directions:

CROCK-POT

1- Place frozen or thawed chicken breasts in Crock-pot and add chicken stock.

2- Cook according to the following time table:

a. Frozen chicken Breasts – 4-5 hours on LOW; 3-4 hours on HIGH

b. Thawed chicken breasts – 3-4 hours on LOW; 2-3 hours on HIGH

(Cooking times may vary based on machine.)

3- Once chicken is almost finished cooking, continue with recipe below.

STOVE-TOP

1- Place chicken and stock in stock pot over high heat until contents are boiling.

2- Once boiling, turn burner to low and simmer for 30 minutes.

3- Continue with directions below.

Directions Continued:

1- Add 2 TBL olive oil to a large pot, and place over medium heat.

2- Once oil is warm, add onions, ¼ tsp salt, 1/8 tsp pepper and cook stirring regularly for 4 minutes until onions are translucent.

3- Add garlic to onions and cook for 1 minute.

4- Add zucchini, red bell peppers, ¼ tsp salt, 1/8 tsp pepper and cook for 4 minutes. 

5- Add corn and jalapenos, and turn heat down to very low.

6- After chicken is cooked, move chicken to separate plate and shred using two forks.

7- Add shredded chicken into pot with vegetables and season with 1 ½ tsp poultry seasoning, 1 ½ tsp cumin, ½ tsp salt, and ¼ tsp pepper, mix to combine. 

8- To the pot with vegetables, add hot chicken stock, canned tomatoes, tomato sauce and lime juice, and simmer on low heat until warmed through.

9- Add additional salt and pepper if needed to taste.

10-Serve with diced avocado, shredded cheese, sour cream and of course, tortilla chips!