Begin by placing the boneless chicken breasts in the bottom of your crockpot for a sturdy foundation.
Next, layer the diced onion, minced garlic, and bell pepper on top of the chicken. This allows the flavors to infuse beautifully during cooking.
Pour in the black beans and sweet corn, followed by the undrained diced tomatoes, ensuring all the ingredients can meld together.
Add the chicken broth and sprinkle in the chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and freshly cracked black pepper. Give everything a gentle stir to combine the ingredients without disturbing the chicken too much.
Cover the crockpot with its lid and set it to cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until the chicken is thoroughly cooked and can be shredded easily with a fork.
Approximately 30 minutes before serving, carefully remove the chicken from the crockpot. Use two forks to shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces, then return it to the soup pot. Stir in the fresh lime juice and taste to adjust the seasoning as necessary.
When ready to serve, ladle the soup into bowls and garnish generously with crunchy tortilla chips, fresh chopped cilantro, ripe avocado slices, and a sprinkle of shredded cheese, if desired.
Notes
Serve the soup in colorful bowls for a vibrant look. Place extra lime wedges on the side for guests to squeeze over their soup for an added zesty kick!