As I was nearing the end of this crockpot series I was beginning to draw a blank on new ideas. Then I took a deep breath and considered all of the options out there. I mean, there are entire blogs built around crockpot cooking, I couldn’t possibly be out of ideas. After accepting that I didn’t have to create some outrageous recipe, I was able to focus on soups.
Soup is a favorite dish of mine in winter, especially when I can prepare it in a crockpot. Put all of the ingredients into the slow cooker in the morning, return to a wonderful smelling home in the evening. And if it one of those days where you have a divided schedule, you can start the soup in the early afternoon and still be ready for dinner that night.
As I was considering different flavor profiles for this soup, I also considered who my fellow diners would be that evening. With winter break nearing its end, there’d be only three of us for dinner: my daughter, my husband, and me. Tex-Mex dishes are a winner in our group, and there began my inspiration. A lot of other recipes include black or kidney beans in the recipe, but I didn’t for two reasons. First, my husband isn’t a fan of legumes. Second, I put a decent amount of chicken in the soup; the soup would no longer be as healthy and also would also be heavier.
Like many of the dishes I make, you can adapt this recipe to each diner’s palate. I served it with a handful of accoutrements: avocado, sour cream, cheddar cheese, tortilla chips, and hot sauce. Simply serve the soup, and let your diners individualize it.
- 1-1/2 pounds chicken breast, diced
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes
- 1 3.5-ounce can diced chiles
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried cilantro
- 1 cup frozen whole kernel corn
- Garnishes: sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, avocado slices, tortilla chips, hot sauce*
- Combine chicken, broth, tomatoes, chiles, cumin, and cilantro in a 5 quart crockpot.
- Cook on low for 7 hours.
- Add corn, and cook for another hour.
- Serve with garnishes
- Garnishes are optional and can be varied to meet your diners’ preferences.
