PrintHomemade Cream of Chicken Soup: A Better Alternative to Canned Soup
Ditch the can and make this rich, velvety homemade cream of chicken soup from scratch. It is easy to prepare and perfect for weeknight dinners or as a base for your favorite casseroles.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 20 min
- Total Time: 30 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1 cup chicken broth (low sodium preferred)
- 1 cup whole milk or half-and-half
- 1 cup cooked, shredded chicken breast
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Pinch of dried thyme
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
- Add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Do not brown the onion.
- Whisk in the flour to create a roux. Cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute.
- Gradually whisk in the chicken broth until the mixture is smooth and starts to thicken.
- Slowly pour in the milk or half-and-half, continuing to whisk until the soup base is smooth and coats the back of a spoon. Bring to a gentle simmer.
- Stir in the shredded cooked chicken, salt, pepper, and thyme.
- Reduce the heat to low and let the soup simmer for 5 minutes to allow the flavors to combine.
- If you prefer a smoother texture, you can carefully blend half of the soup using an immersion blender before serving.
- Taste and adjust seasoning as needed before serving hot.
Notes
- You can use rotisserie chicken for quick preparation.
- For a richer flavor, substitute some of the milk with heavy cream.
- This soup freezes well for up to 3 months; cool completely before storing in an airtight container.
- Use this as a substitute for canned condensed soup in your favorite casserole recipes.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Unsaturated Fat: 8
- Trans Fat: 0.5
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 25
- Cholesterol: 75