Easiest Crock-Pot Tortilla Soup

• This recipe can be prepared in as little as two hours in a Crock-Pot and has easy-to-find ingredients. Pour a cup of picante sauce into the pot, along with 2 regular-size cans of condensed cream of chicken soup and the amount of water that fills the soup can. Add a pound of skinless, boneless chicken breasts cut into bite-size pieces. Rinse and drain a 15-ounce can of black beans and add them to the Crock-Pot, along with 2 cups of frozen corn and a teaspoon or so each of ground cumin, salt and black pepper. Cook on Low for four to five hours or on High for two to two and a half hours. Stir in 4 six-inch tortillas cut into strips, 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese and a handful of chopped cilantro leaves and cook for 15 minutes more. Garnish as desired.

Crock-Pot Tortilla Soup for Company

• The Crock-Pot is also ideal for cooking fancier tortilla soup. Halve a two- to three-pound trimmed pork shoulder or butt and place it in the pot. Peel, seed and cube a small butternut squash and add to the pork. Pour in a medium-size can of diced tomatoes with juice. Season the ingredients with a minced fresh jalapeno pepper, a couple of cloves of chopped garlic, 1 to 2 tablespoons of your favorite chili powder and kosher salt to taste. Add 4 four cups of water and cook on Low for seven to eight hours or on High for five to six hours. Remove the pork, shred with two forks, and return it to the pot. Bake 4 six-inch tortillas cut into strips until crisp. Ladle soup into bowls and top with tortilla strips. Top with preferred garnishes.

Garnishes and Toppings

• Any type of tortilla soup benefits from garnishes and toppings. In addition to baked tortilla chips, thinly sliced radishes and scallions, cilantro sprigs and lime wedges enhance the soup's taste. Sour cream and shredded cheese toppings add richness to tortilla soup.

Other Crock-Pot Soups

• Many tasty soups besides tortilla soup can be made in a Crock-Pot. Use condensed cheddar cheese soup, broth and frozen broccoli for broccoli cheese soup. Combine broth, tomato sauce, shredded cabbage, frozen mixed vegetables, a little uncooked pasta and some spices to create a healthy vegetable soup in your Crock-Pot. You can have a nourishing Italian soup waiting for you at the end of the day by mixing sauteed Italian sausage, chopped onions and bell pepper in a Crock-Pot and adding canned tomatoes, canned great Northern beans and a couple of cans of beef broth.