This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy for details.
This easy Slow Cooker Chipotle Chicken and Avocado Rice Soup is the perfect healthy bowl of soup. Made with fire-roasted tomatoes, chipotle chili powder, and shredded chicken, it’s hearty but healthy and so delicious. Ladle the spicy soup over steaming bowls of rice and top with plenty of creamy avocado chunks and fresh lime juice. This simple, but flavorful Mexican chicken soup is a cozy meal that you can feel good about eating. Just be sure to serve with plenty of salty chips on the side for scooping up all that avocado and rice.
Half Baked Harvest At Home
20+ new recipes for wholesome comfort food made with everyday ingredients. Pre-order today! HBH At Home will be released on Tuesday, February 23rd!
Ingredients
- Medium yellow onion
- Jalapeños
- Garlic
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Chipotle chili powder
- Smoked paprika
- Ground cumin
- Ground cinnamon
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- Low sodium chicken broth
- Fire-roasted diced tomatoes
- Cooked white or brown rice
- Limes
- Fresh cilantro
- Avocados
- Feta cheese
Kitchen Supplies:
- slow cooker or instant pot
- soup bowls
- ladle
Kicking the month off with one of my favorite bowls of soup. I almost didn’t share this recipe because it just seemed too simple and easy. I know that too simple and too easy can’t really be a thing, but as you guys may have read yesterday, I often second guess myself.
In the end, it was my mom and my cousins who convinced me to share the recipe. As I sit here typing away while staring at the photos, I’m happy to be telling you guys all about it! It might be the easiest to put together, but it sure is DELICIOUS.
This was one of those dinners I just put together using everything I had on hand. I knew it had potential to be good, but I was surprised by just how much everyone loved this soup. But then I probably shouldn’t have been surprised, my family is a sucker for any dish that has rice as the main ingredient.
Here are the quick details.
And when I say quick, I really, really mean it. You’re basically just gathering up a handful of ingredients and tossing them all in the slow cooker. Set it and forget it until you are ready to serve up dinner to the fam.
And the ingredients? They’re a mix of pantry staples and fresh produce. I used a good amount of onions, garlic, and jalapeños, plus dry spices like chipotle chili powder and smoked paprika. But my secret to this soup that really balances out all the flavors and ties everything together?
The tiniest pinch of cinnamon, which is common in a lot of Mexican dishes. It’s one of my favorite spices to put with anything chipotle based. Something about the sweetness and the warmth just works with smoky chipotle.
I threw in some fire-roasted tomatoes and chicken, then just set the slow cooker and went about my day.
And if you don’t have a slow cooker, I’ve written instant pot and stove-top directions too! Just wanted to be sure everyone could make this soup.
Now Finish It Up.
Once the soup has slow-cooked all day, it will fill your house with the warming smells of a big pot of chili. Because essentially, this is a big pot of chili, just minus the ground beef and plus a whole lot of rice and avocado.
Just before serving, I stir in lime juice and cilantro. Then take the steaming rice, divide it between bowls and ladle the soup over top. I like to keep the rice and soup separate to prevent the rice from soaking up all the soup’s broth.
Finish each bowl with chunks of avocado and a sprinkling of cheese. So perfect. It’s simple, but warming, satisfying, and SO DELICIOUS. The rice and avocado are key. Together they create a soup that’s actually dinner-worthy. Just one tip…serve this soup with a good amount of salty tortilla chips for scooping the rice and avocado. And, if you grab a little cheese with that scoop too, it’s the best.
Soo, It’s COLD out, spend a little time in the kitchen and make chicken and rice soup. Trust me, it’s going to make your week that much better. Truly, because the leftovers are even better warmed up the following day!
Looking for more quick wintery Mexican inspired dinners? Here are a few to try:
Healthy Chipotle Chicken Sweet Potato Skins
One Skillet Saucy Chicken Tortilla Enchilada Rice Bake
Folded Crispy Buffalo Chicken Wraps
Lastly, if you make this Slow Cooker Chipotle Chicken and Avocado Rice Soup, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Slow Cooker Chipotle Chicken and Avocado Rice Soup
Ingredients
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 1-2 jalapeños, seeded if desired, and chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated
- 1 pound boneless skinless, chicken breasts
- 1 rounded tablespoon chipotle chili powder
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 6 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1 (14 ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
- 2 cups cooked white or brown rice
- juice of 2 limes, plus more for serving
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped, plus more for serving
- 2 avocados, chopped
- crumbed feta cheese and tortilla chips, for serving
Instructions
Slow Cooker
- 1. In the bowl of your crockpot, combine the onion, garlic, jalapeños, chili powder, paprika, cumin, cinnamon, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Add the chicken, then stir in the broth and tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 4-5 hours.2. Shred the chicken using two forks. Stir in the lime juice, and cilantro.3. Divide the rice between bowls and then ladle the soup over the rice. Top each bowl with avocado, then zest and juice a lime overtop. Eat and enjoy!
Instant Pot
- 1. In the bowl of the instant pot, combine the onion, garlic, jalapeños, chili powder, paprika, cumin, cinnamon, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Add the chicken, then stir in the broth and tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook on high pressure for 8 minutes.2. Once done cooking, release the steam. Shred the chicken using two forks. Stir in the lime juice, and cilantro.3. Divide the rice between bowls and then ladle the soup over the rice. Top each bowl with avocado, then zest and juice a lime overtop. Eat and enjoy!
Stove-Top
- 1. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, jalapeños, chili powder, paprika, cumin, cinnamon, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Cook 5-10 minutes, until very fragrant. Add the chicken, then stir in the broth and tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Partially cover and simmer over medium-low heat 15-20 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through.2. Shred the chicken using two forks. Stir in the lime juice, and cilantro.3. Divide the rice between bowls and then ladle the soup over the rice. Top each bowl with avocado, then zest and juice a lime overtop. Eat and enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Can I use Cojita cheese instead of Feta?
Hey Chris,
Absolutely! Hope you love the soup! xTieghan
Made this tonight and delicious! The toppings really bring it all together!
Hey Hallie,
I am so glad the recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! xTieghan
Did you make the tortilla chips? What brand do you like? Those look wonderfully thick and toasty!
Hey Emily,
Yes, I made them with corn tortillas. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Any suggestions for making this vegetarian?
Hey Rishika,
I would omit the chicken and add some other veggies like corn and bell peppers. I hope you love the recipe. Let me know how it turns out! xTieghan
Made this this morning in the Slow Cooker… It was DELICIOUS!!!! Thanks!
Hey Trish,
I am so glad the recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! xTieghan
Last night I made slow cooker chipotle chicken and avocado rice soup only on stove top. OMG. So yum. I will admit I was a bit nervous while preparing the soup. It seemed lacking something. Kinda mild however that was before adding the lime juice (didn’t see adding the zest, that also would have upped the flavor) and the cilantro. It was flavor town as Guy says. It had great depth of flavor. I was disappointed that my avocado was not ripe enough last night but cannot wait to to add it when I enjoy leftovers. Thank you so much for sharing your recipes. Thinking of Buffalo chicken pizza for super bowl. You rock,
Hey Terri,
I am so glad the recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! xTieghan
Day 3 of nor’easter, no better meal than the slow cooker chipotle chicken soup. Doing it stovetop and feeding my daughter’s family. Fingers crossed!
I hope you love the recipe Gay! xTieghan
Oh, wow! This looks so good and perfect for a cold winter day. Love that it’s a simple recipe, please do not hesitate to ever post these types of recipes. I am a big fan of simple and delicious recipes. I can’t wait to try it.
Hey Marla,
I am so glad the recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! xTieghan
An absolute hit with the family! Used Poblano peppers instead of jalapeños which may have kicked it up one too many notches lol Didn’t change a thing other than used a yellow rice with red bean mix to serve the soup on. The textures, taste and easiness of it all make it a perfect winter time soup!
Hey Violet,
I am so glad the recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! xTieghan
Could you substitute chipotle powder for actual chipotle peppers and sauce from them?
Hey Kim,
Sure that would be great! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Is this really spicy? Most of my household can’t tolerate spicy foods (even though I love it). This looks delicious!
Hey Jennifer,
This has a nice kick, I would reduce some of the spices and maybe instead of the jalapeños use a bell pepper. I hope you love the soup. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Tieghen. the ingredients specify “1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped, plus more for serving.” In this recipe, and in your recipes generally, does this mean 1/2 cup of chopped cilantro (or other ingredient), or 1/2 cup of cilantro leaves that are measured and then chopped.
The soup is in the slow cooker – cannot wait to taste it!
Thanks.
Bill
Hey Bill,
You want to measure the 1/2 cup of cilantro and then chop it. I hope you love the recipe:) xTieghan
This looks so perfect for this evening! I’ve heard lots about bone broths being packed with good things- Could I use bone broth for the traditional chicken broth here? On my way to the local co-op, so hoping your answer is ‘Yes!’ Thank you Tieghan!!??
Hey Gia,
I think bone broth would be great! I hope you love the recipe, let me know how it turns out! xTieghan
Slow cooker running as we speak! Making some adjustments, based on what I have at home and used some chipotle peppers in adobo sauce that I had in the pantry. No limes so I’ll use lemon, and no fresh cilantro but I added some dried coriander spice and will add frozen cilantro when I shred the chicken. ?? So excited for dinner tonight!
Hey Sarah,
I hope you love the recipe, let me know how it turns out! xTieghan
I made this last night and it was absolutely delicious! I used jalapeño’s and added a can of black beans. Do not skip the lime zest, feta and extra cilantro to finish as it absolutely takes this to another level!! Thanks for a fun new dish. We will definitely keep this in our HBH rotation of recipes!!
Hey Lauren,
I am thrilled this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! xTieghan