How to Make Cream of Chicken Soup: A Delicious Recipe for Beginners

Cream of chicken soup is a delicious and creamy soup that is perfect for the chilly winter days. It is comforting, hearty, and can also be a bit nutritious. The soup is made from a few basic ingredients, and it’s incredibly easy to make it at home. Even if you’re a complete beginner in the kitchen, you can make this soup with ease and impress your friends and family.

To make the cream of chicken soup, you need chicken, vegetables, cream, and some herbs and spices. You can use fresh chicken or leftover cooked chicken for this recipe. The vegetables and spices add a ton of flavor to the soup, while the cream makes it rich and velvety. This soup is perfect for a quick and easy dinner or as a comforting lunch. So let’s get started and see how to make this easy and delicious cream of chicken soup at home.

Ingredients for Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup

When learning how to make cream of chicken soup, it is essential to prepare all of the necessary ingredients beforehand. Here are the ingredients you will need:

1. Chicken breasts
2. Butter
3. All-purpose flour
4. Chicken broth
5. Milk
6. Onion
7. Carrots
8. Celery
9. Garlic powder
10. Salt and pepper

Instructions for Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup

Now that we have all of our ingredients let’s dive into the recipe and learn how to make homemade cream of chicken soup step by step.

Step 1: Cook the Chicken

To start, you will need to cook four chicken breasts. You can either bake or boil the chicken until it is fully cooked. Once it is cooked, set it aside to cool.

Step 2: Prepare the Vegetables

While the chicken cools, chop up 1 large onion, 1 cup of carrots, and 1 cup of celery. Melt ¼ cup of butter in a large pot, and sauté the vegetables over medium heat until they are tender.

Step 3: Make the Roux

Once the vegetables are tender, sprinkle ¼ cup of all-purpose flour over the mixture. Stir and cook for a couple of minutes to create a roux. A roux is a mixture of flour and fat that thickens the soup.

Step 4: Add the Broth and Milk

Gradually add 4 cups of chicken broth and 1 cup of milk to the pot, whisking continuously to prevent lumps. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring the soup to a simmer, stirring occasionally.

Step 5: Shred the Chicken

While the soup is simmering, shred the cooled chicken with a fork. Remove any bones or skin, and cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces.

Step 6: Add the Chicken to the Soup

Add the chicken to the soup and stir. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and let the soup cook for 15-20 minutes.

Step 7: Season with Garlic Powder, Salt, and Pepper

Sprinkle 1 tsp of garlic powder, 1 tsp of salt, and ½ tsp of pepper over the soup. Stir well and taste. Adjust the seasoning if needed.

Step 8: Add Heavy Cream (Optional)

If you want your soup to be creamier, you can add heavy cream to the soup. Add 1 cup of heavy cream and stir well. Let the soup cook for another 5-10 minutes.

Step 9: Serve and Enjoy

Your homemade cream of chicken soup is ready to be served! Ladle the soup into bowls and enjoy.

Step 10: Store Leftovers

If you have any leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat the soup before serving.

Choosing the Right Ingredients

When it comes to making a delicious cream of chicken soup, the quality of the ingredients that you use will make a significant difference in the final outcome. Here are some tips on how to choose the right ingredients for your soup:

Chicken

When selecting the chicken for your soup, it’s important to choose fresh, bone-in chicken pieces with the skin intact. This will ensure that your soup is flavourful and the chicken meat stays moist. You can use a whole chicken or chicken thighs, legs or breasts depending on your preference.

Vegetables

Aside from the chicken, you’ll need vegetables to create the base of your cream of chicken soup. Onion, celery, and carrots are the classic combination commonly used in soups. These vegetables provide a natural sweetness that compliments the savoury flavour of the chicken. Aim to use fresh produce and chop them into small, even pieces.

Broth

To add depth of flavour to your soup, you’ll need a good quality chicken broth as a base. You can make your own chicken broth by simmering chicken bones and vegetables in water or use store-bought broth. Be sure to choose low-sodium, unsalted broth to have better control of the soup’s saltiness.

Cream

Heavy cream is an essential ingredient in a cream of chicken soup. The cream adds a rich and smooth texture that ties all the flavours together. You can substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk for a lighter version of the soup. Be sure to add the cream towards the end of cooking to avoid curdling of the cream.

Herbs & Spices

Adding herbs and spices can elevate the taste of your soup. Bay leaves, thyme, and rosemary complement the flavour of chicken and add depth to the soup. Garlic and pepper add a touch of heat, while parsley adds a bright fresh flavour. Be mindful when adding salt as the broth and chicken may already contain salt.

Flour or Cornstarch

Flour or cornstarch is added to thicken the soup. It’s essential to use a small amount of flour or cornstarch as over-thickening can ruin the texture of the soup. Combine it with some of the broth to create a slurry before adding it to the pot.

Butter or Oil

To saute the vegetables and chicken, you’ll need a small amount of butter or oil. This will add depth of flavour and prevent the ingredients from sticking to the pot. Use unsalted butter to control the amount of salt in the soup.

Wine or Sherry (Optional)

White wine or sherry can be added to the soup to add another dimension of flavour. The alcohol will cook off, leaving behind a subtle flavour that complements the chicken. You can also opt for non-alcoholic cooking wine or omit this ingredient entirely.

Garnish

To add a finishing touch to your soup, opt for some garnish. Fresh parsley, chives, and croutons can add texture and colour to your soup. You can also add a dollop of sour cream or grated Parmesan cheese.

Storage

Cream of chicken soup can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days and in the freezer for up to 3 months. For best results, cool the soup down to room temperature before storing. Reheat the soup on the stovetop over low heat, stirring constantly to prevent burning. You can also add a splash of milk or broth to adjust the thickness of the soup.

Ingredients for Cream of Chicken Soup

To make a perfect cream of chicken soup, you will need the following ingredients:

Step-by-Step Instructions on How to Make Cream of Chicken Soup

Now that you have all the ingredients prepared, let’s start with preparing the soup:

Step 1: Cook the Chicken

Take a heavy-bottomed pot and heat olive oil in it. Add finely chopped onions to the pot and sauté until they turn translucent. Now add chicken broth and the boneless, skinless chicken breasts to the pot. Bring the broth to a boil, and then reduce the heat. Cover the pot and simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.

Step 2: Shred the Chicken

Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the pot and shred it using two forks. Keep the shredded chicken aside.

Step 3: Make the Soup Base

Add the heavy cream and milk to the pot and bring the mixture to a simmer. In a separate bowl, whisk flour, salt, black pepper, dried thyme, garlic powder, and onion powder together until well combined. Then, add the flour mixture to the pot and whisk thoroughly to make sure there are no lumps. Bring the soup to a boil, stirring continuously until it thickens.

Step 4: Add Chicken and Let it Simmer

Add the shredded chicken to the pot and allow it to simmer for 5-10 minutes on low heat. Make sure to stir the soup occasionally to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pot. Adjust the thickness of the soup by adding more milk if it is too thick, or more flour if it is too thin.

Step 5: Serve and Enjoy

Your cream of chicken soup is ready to be served. You can garnish it with fresh parsley or some croutons for extra flavor and to make it look more appetizing. Enjoy the creamy and delicious flavor!

Tips for Making the Perfect Cream of Chicken Soup

1. To save time, you can use a rotisserie chicken instead of cooking fresh chicken breasts.
2. Make sure to use heavy cream in this recipe, as it gives the soup its creamy texture and richness.
3. You can adjust the seasonings as per your taste and preference.
4. If the soup is too thick, add more milk to adjust the consistency. Similarly, if it is too thin, add more flour.
5. For a healthier option, use skim milk instead of whole milk and low-fat cream cheese instead of heavy cream.

Making your own cream of chicken soup at home is easy and costs just a fraction of what you would pay for store-bought soup. This soup serves as an excellent base for many other delicious soups and casseroles. With the tips mentioned above, you can easily customize the soup to your liking and make it a family favorite in no time.

Soup’s on: Time to Dig In!

And there you have it, a delicious and creamy soup that’s perfect for any day of the week. Making cream of chicken soup from scratch might sound daunting, but it’s actually quite easy once you get the hang of it. So, why not give it a try? We hope you enjoyed this recipe and our step-by-step instructions. Thanks for reading and please come back soon for more exciting recipes. Until next time, keep cooking and keep enjoying those homemade meals!