Crock Pot Chicken Tomato Bean Soup

Crock Pot Chicken Tomato Bean Soup is a great crock pot soup recipe for the weekend.

Crock Pot Soup Recipes are great for a lazy weekend day when you want to enjoy a delicious home-cooked meal but don't have much time in the kitchen.

Bowl of Chicken Tomato and Bean Soup with biscuits and butter.

I love making homemade soup in my crock pot. I enjoy my favorite crock pot soup recipes all year long, but a big hot bowl of homemade soup seems to taste so much better on a cold day.

I've shared almost 100 crock pot soup recipes with a grand total of over 260 crock pot recipes since I started this website almost 17 years ago!

Almost all of my crock pot soup recipes start out the same way. Cooking boneless chicken in the slow cooker. I am partial to chicken recipes.

How To Make Crock Pot Chicken Tomato Bean Soup

This crock pot soup recipe is so easy to make. You can swap out some of the ingredients like the beans. Any canned bean will work. I happen to love cannellini beans in my soup but if I didn't have any in the pantry I would use canned great northern beans, pinto beans or butter beans and they would be just as delicious.

If you like green beans and corn in your soup you can add them as well. If you add extra canned beans or vegetables you may need to increase the amount of chicken broth in the recipe. You should have enough liquid so it covers all of the soup ingredient by and inch or more.

Ingredients

Chicken: boneless skinless chicken
Broth: I used a couple of cartons of chicken broth
Soup aromatics: onion, garlic and bay leaves
fresh vegetables: carrots
canned beans: cannelloni and black beans
canned diced tomatoes
salt and pepper
dried parsley (optional)
cornstarch and cold water, thickener (optional)

Instructions

Load the slow cooker with the ingredients.

Step 1: Place the chicken, beans, vegetables, broth and seasonings into the slow cooker. Place the lid on and slow cook for 2-3 hours on high or 4 to six hours on low. Make sure the chicken is cooked through the center to at least 165 F. degrees.

How long it takes to cook will depend on how thick the chicken pieces are.

Thin tenderloin size pieces will cook in about 2 hours while thicker chicken thighs or breast pieces will take the longest to cook.

I am using thicker larger pieces so it will take at least 3 to 4 hours to cook the chicken completely.

It is also very important to use enough liquid to cover the ingredients so the chicken will cook properly. If you have run out just add enough water to cover the poultry.

Step 2: Once the chicken is done remove it from the slow cooker, cool slightly and shred or cut the meat into bite size pieces. Because I used bigger pieces of chicken it too 5 hours on high for the chicken to cook. You can cut the chicken into smaller pieces but I have found that the larger piece turn out moister than the smaller pieces.

Step 3: Return the bite size pieces to the slow cooker. Toss a teaspoon of dried parsley in to add a little pop of color. Add the cornstarch and water if you would like to thicken the broth. Cover and cook for an hour longer to reheat the chicken and thicken the broth.

Step by step photos of making chicken soup.

Crock Pot Cooking Tips

Slow Cooker Size: It is better to use a crock pot that is larger than smaller. I use a 7 to 8 quart slow cooker when I make most of my recipes. If the crock is filled to the brim it will take longer to heat up and cook.
Cooking Times: Cooking times will always vary. How full the slow cooker is, and the type of ingredients you are cooking all play a part in the cooking time.
Opening the lid: Each time you lift the lid on a slow cooker you lose the heat that had built up inside. Avoid opening the lid to check on the food as much as possible. There are times though when you are slow cooking a cheesy thick and creamy recipe that you will need to occasionally check to make sure it is not burning. I like to cook these types of recipes on low to cut sown on that. Only lift the lid when necessary! Each time you lift the lid it can add another 30 minutes to your cook time.
Meats: Thick pieces of meat take longer than smaller thinner pieces. A roast or whole chicken will take longer than a casserole to cook. Soups that fill the crock can take 3 hours or longer just to come up to boiling.
Overcooked dry meats: Again the size makes a big difference. An example is thin chicken tender size pieces and thin boneless pork chops can quickly dry out even when cooked in a liquid or sauce. Keep this in mind when making recipes that call for these ingredients.

Overhead bowl filled with chunky chicken and white bean soup.

How to save leftover over chicken soup?

One of my favorite ways to save any leftover chicken soup is to freeze it in serving size containers. I use it as part of my meal planning. I always have a hot homemade meal for lunch or dinner in the freezer.

Vertical image of soup bowl with biscuits in the background.

FAQs about this recipe

How long should I cook this soup in the crock pot?

Typical slow cooker directions for chicken and bean soups suggest 6-8 hours on low or 4-5 hours on high until the chicken is cooked and flavors develop.

Can I freeze leftovers?

Most chicken and bean soups freeze well. Let the soup cool completely, then store in airtight containers for up to about 3 months. (Common practice for soups like this.) Freezing leftover soup is a great way to have ready made meals in the freezer.

Can I substitute different types of beans and vegetables?

Yes, you can use different canned beans like great northern, pinto and butter beans; just rinse and drain them before adding. You can add other canned vegetables like green beans, corn and peas if you like.

Email questions or recipe requests to flouronmyface@gmail.com. Follow me on Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.