Description
Hearty chicken and corn soup simmers with comforting Mexican-inspired flavors, blending tender chicken, sweet corn, and rich spices. Warm bowls promise pure satisfaction, inviting you to savor each spoonful of this delightful one-pot meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs (680 g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 4 cups (946 ml) low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 (15 oz / 425 g) can sweet corn, drained
- 1 (15 oz / 425 g) can cream-style corn
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme or Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) butter (optional, for richness)
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) cornstarch + 2 tablespoons (30 ml) water (optional, to thicken)
- Optional toppings: chopped green onions, fresh parsley, shredded cheese, or crushed crackers
Instructions
- Preparation: Combine chicken, corn, cream-style corn, onion, garlic, broth, salt, pepper, thyme, and butter in the slow cooker, ensuring all ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Cooking Cycle: Secure the lid and set the slow cooker to low temperature, allowing the mixture to simmer and meld flavors for 5-7 hours, or alternatively use high setting for 3-4 hours until chicken is thoroughly cooked and delicately tender.
- Texture Enhancement: Carefully extract the chicken from the slow cooker, deconstruct into delicate shreds using two forks, then reintroduce the shredded meat back into the soup base.
- Consistency Adjustment: If a more robust soup texture is desired, create a cornstarch slurry and gently incorporate it into the mixture, then continue cooking on high for an additional 15-20 minutes to thicken.
- Final Refinement: Conduct a comprehensive taste assessment, fine-tuning seasonings as necessary to achieve the perfect flavor profile.
- Serving Suggestion: Ladle the piping hot soup into bowls and garnish with preferred toppings for a delectable dining experience.
Notes
- Monitor chicken closely to prevent overcooking, which can make it dry and tough, especially in slow cookers.
- Use cornstarch slurry sparingly to thicken soup without creating a gluey texture; start with small amounts and gradually add.
- Sauté onions and garlic briefly before adding to slow cooker to unlock more robust, caramelized flavor profiles.
- Swap butter with olive oil for dairy-free version; use low-sodium broth for reduced salt content and replace chicken with plant-based protein for vegetarian adaptation.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg