Creamy Chicken Soup made with boneless skinless chicken thighs, diced vegetables, and a rich creamy broth is an easy and comforting homemade soup recipe.
Why this recipe works:
This delicious soup recipe is just one of those feel good, homemade meals that the entire family enjoys. Not only does this homemade soup incorporate lots of fresh vegetables, but it is so comforting and satisfying.
- Because this soup is made in a dutch oven on the stove top, you get a tasty browned sear on the chicken which adds to the flavor.
- Deglazing the pan with white wine creates an extra rich broth.
- 3 parts milk to 1 part heavy cream mixed with chicken broth is what gives this chicken soup a rich and creamy base.
How to make creamy chicken soup from scratch:
- Cook the chicken thighs in a bit of olive oil using a dutch oven over medium high heat. You want them to get browned (photo 1).
- I use a little white wine to deglaze the pan and release all of that wonderful flavor and I can definitely taste it in the final soup (photo 2). This gets set aside.
- The onion, celery, and carrots are sauteed in butter (photo 3). While the vegetables are cooking, shred the chicken. Once browned, the vegetables get set aside.
- Use the same pot to melt more butter and cook the garlic. Then create a roux by adding flour to the butter (photo 4). By keeping all the ingredients going in the same pot, you don’t lose any of those wonderful flavors along the way.
- Milk and heavy cream are combined with the roux to make a creamy gravy (photo 5). Finally, chicken broth along with the cooked chicken and vegetables are stirred into the soup (photo 6).
Cooking tips:
- I prefer to use chicken thighs in many of my chicken soup recipes because the meat is so flavorful and it shreds really well. You can substitute with chicken breast if you prefer.
- Even though I add a bit of olive oil to my pan, the chicken almost always sticks. Have no fear… the part that sticks to the bottom is the best part! It will all come off when you deglaze with the wine.
- I prefer to chop all of my veggies by pulsing them in the food processor. Not only does that save me time, but I think having a wide variety of sizes, from minced to chopped, not only enhances the texture of the soup but also the taste.
The secret to a creamy soup:
- There are two components needed to make a creamy chicken soup: a roux to thicken it and dairy to make it creamy
- Roux is flour and fat cooked together and used to thicken sauces. Roux is typically made from equal parts of flour and fat by weight. My method is always to use one tablespoon of flour per each tablespoon of butter. The flour is added to hot oil on the stove top, blended until smooth, and cooked to the desired level of brownness.
- For the dairy, I typically like to use a mixture of milk and heavy cream. I always will add the dairy at the end of the cooking process once the roux is ready.
If you like this recipe you might also like:
Leftover Turkey & Wild Rice Soup. This time of year I also love stocking my freezer with recipes like homemade beef stew and healthy chicken soup. You can never go wrong with an Easy Minestrone Soup either!
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Creamy Chicken Soup
Creamy Chicken Soup is so rich, yet it is loaded with veggies and is an easy, healthy, simple chicken soup recipe your entire family will love for dinner.
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Hover to scale: 6 servings
Ingredients
- 1 pound skinless chicken thighs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup white wine
- 5 T butter (divided)
- 1 onion (minced)
- 4 celery stalks (diced)
- 2 large carrots (peeled and diced)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 6 T flour
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon salt (to taste)
Instructions
- In a heavy bottom dutch oven over medium high heat, cook chicken thighs in olive oil for about 15 minutes, flipping once. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly on a plate. The chicken likely stuck to the pan. Deglaze the pan by adding the white wine over low heat and scraping the bottom of the pan until all of the cooked bits have been loosened. Transfer the cooked chicken bits in white wine to a separate cup.
- Add one tablespoon of the butter to the dutch oven and and set heat to high. Add onions, celery and carrot and allow to cook until slightly golden brown while stirring only occasionally for a total of about 10 minutes. While vegetables are cooking, shred chicken meat. When vegetables have finished cooking, remove them from the dutch oven and set them on the same plate as the chicken.
- Return the pan to the stove and melt the remaining 4T of butter over medium high heat. Add the garlic and allow to cook for about a minute, then add the flour and stir to combine to make a roux. Allow to cook for a few minutes until fragrant.
- Add the milk and heavy cream to the roux and whisk constantly until thoroughly mixed. Allow to cook while constantly whisking until thickened. Whisk in the chicken broth. Add shredded chicken and cooked vegetables to the broth and stir. Add salt, to taste, and pepper, as desired.
- Serve with a warm crusty bread or some rosemary crackers.
Notes
- I prefer to use chicken thighs in many of my chicken soup recipes because the meat is so flavorful and it shreds really well. You can substitute with chicken breast if you prefer.
- Even though I add a bit of olive oil to my pan, the chicken almost always sticks. Have no fear… the part that sticks to the bottom is the best part! It will all come off when you deglaze with the wine.
- I prefer to chop all of my veggies by pulsing them in the food processor. Not only does that save me time, but I think having a wide variety of sizes, from minced to chopped, not only enhances the texture of the soup but also the taste.
NUTRITION INFORMATION
Calories: 374kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 130mg | Sodium: 1184mg | Potassium: 595mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 4220IU | Vitamin C: 14.9mg | Calcium: 127mg | Iron: 1.5mg
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This recipe was originally published in October 2017 and has been updated with process photos, more helpful information and cooking tips. Don't worry - I didn't change the recipe!
Niki
This looks sinfully good. I think I'm going to make it this weekend when it's supposed to be cold and rainy outside. I think I'll add some whole kernel down to it also. Chicken corn chowder is my favorite soup. This reminds me of that. Thanks for sharing!!! Yummy
Vacuum Mania
Thanks for a great recipe! While I like heavy cream,I was so glad to have found a soup with milk. Just rich enough,and very flavorful.So, I love the fact that it doesn't rely on heavy cream to bring the flavor. Also, glad it does not omit honeyed butter ! .
Ann
You never said what to do with wine and chicken bits
Krissy
Hi Ann, I'm super sorry about that! I just corrected the recipe, but you add them back in when you add the broth. Enjoy!
Paul
I was trained in a fancy restaurant when I was just a kid and the chef would teach us how to make these amazing soups of all kinds including creamy chicken soup but I have lost memory on all the aspects and have been searching now and then to find one similar, and this is it, no cons of condensed soup like so many others are doing but with real milk and cream! However I do want to ask about potatoes, peas, they were a must when we made this in addition to the carrots, celery, garlic and onion. Also I seem to remember more spices in the soup we were trained on, such as thyme, rosemary, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. What do you think of adding some spices for additional flavor?
Krissy
I am always in favor of fresh herbs, so definitely add away! As far as potatoes and peas, I can take them or leave them. I prefer them to be in small enough quantity, however, that they compliment rather than overpower the soup. Enjoy!
Jane
Can I use single cream in this recipe, I bought my ingredients thinking single cream would be ok?
Krissy
Hi Jane, I had to look up what single cream is, and I believe it would work in this soup. Will you let me know how it turns out? Thanks! Krissy
Sara
I️ don’t have cream can I️ sub for something else?
Krissy
Whole milk or half and half would work fine!
Apenny Vacuum
Delicious, sweet soup. Made mine with good chicken stock and it was lovely.
Priyam
What is the substitute for wine? Can i just skip it?
Krissy
You can use chicken broth or even water.
Tim Ferguson
Krissy,
My Son Evan and I made this soup tonight and followed your recipe to the T! It was wonderful and a new family favorite! My son is Autistic and loves to cook even at 14 years old he is showing a great interest in becoming a Chef! Cooking with my son brings us close together as father and Son. Thank you for this great recipe!
Tim
Krissy
Thank you, Tim, for the kind review! So glad you and your son enjoyed it!
Diann
Can I add noodles to this recipe?
Krissy
Sure can! I would just precook al dente and add in right before you serve.
Tanya boswell
I made the soup and it was great, I added rice to mine. I didn’t what to do with the wine either until I read this part. No worries it was great. I normally don’t eat cream soup due to the funny taste, but this one was great. Thank you
Simran
Recently I’ve been looking for a creamy soup recepie and I found this one. It turned out really good and also looked good. Tangy flavor ( from wine) caught me by surprise. I also added yellow bellpepper and green onions to the mix as well. Thanks for such a great recepie. It was my first creamy soup and I was pleased.
Tania Huitema
This is the best soup recipe ever!! I don’t really like soup that much but this is delicious Thankyou for sharing
Jamie Kraft
I made this last night following the recipe but used chicken breast instead of thighs. It was delicious and creamy. I also made homemade dumplings to serve on top! It was the perfect fall dinner.
Lizzie
Really good soup! Awesome recipe.