There is so much to love about this delicious Slow Cooker King Ranch Chicken Soup! It’s one of the easiest soups to make but the bold and flavorful Tex-Mex inspired flavors really can’t be beat! Total bonus that the slow cooker does most of the work.
Servings: 6
Ingredients
8 Tablespoons butter
2 cloves garlic
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
4 teaspoons chili powder
1 Tablespoon ground cumin
1 Tablespoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 10 oz can diced tomatoes with green chiles
1 medium jalapeño minced (seeds and membranes left intact for spicy, removed for mild)
2 cups 8 oz shredded sharp cheddar, Mexican blend or Colby Jack cheese, plus more for serving
Tortilla chips for serving
Chopped fresh cilantro for serving, optional
Directions
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Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and sauté until it is fragrant and light golden brown, about 1 minute. Stir in the flour and whisk continuously for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the chicken broth. Increase the heat to a simmer and whisk continuously for several minutes, until the sauce is smooth and thickened. Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the chili powder, cumin, garlic powder and salt. Add black pepper to taste and set the sauce aside.
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Place the chicken breasts in a large slow cooker. Top them with the diced tomatoes with green chilies and jalapeño and pour the sauce over the top. Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 4 to 6 hours, until the chicken is tender and cooked through but not overcooked. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board, stir the cheese into the slow cooker and cover the slow cooker for the time being.
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Shred the chicken and stir it back into the slow cooker. Cover the slow cooker and cook for 15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and all of the ingredients are heated through. Stir well.
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To serve, crush the tortilla chips into a bowl and ladle the soup over the top, garnishing with extra cheese and cilantro, if desired.