Chunky Cream of Chicken Soup (freezer meal)

If there were an award given for “hits the spot comfort food”, this chunky cream of chicken soup would win it! It’s got all the requirements. Hearty, good on a cold day, reminiscent of childhood. blue bowl with cubed chicken, carrots, onions, celery. Text reads "chunky cream of chicken soup" #freezermeals101 #creamofchicken #chunkychicken #chickensoup #chickendinnerThis hearty soup is great for cold or dreary days. It’s got enough sustenance to make this a full meal, but you can serve it with crusty bread and a side salad if you wish.two bowls of chunky cream of chicken soup with a linen napkin, carrots and herbs nearby

Chunky Cream of Chicken Soup Recipe:

Ingredients:

  • ½ cup butter
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 3 stalks celery, chopped
  • 4 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 1/3 cup flour
  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 3 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 3-4 leaves of sage, chopped
  • 1 tsp. poultry seasoning
  • 2 ¾ cups cooked chicken, cubed
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • parsley for garnish (optional)

ladle lifting some chunky cream of chicken soup out of a potInstructions:

  1. In a large pot over medium heat, melt the butter.
  2. Add the chopped onion, celery, and carrots.
  3. Cook for about 10 minutes stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are soft.
  4. Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly for an additional 2 minutes.
  5. Slowly pour in the broth.
  6. Bring the soup to a low boil while stirring constantly.
  7. Add the sage, thyme, and poultry seasoning.
  8. Turn the heat to low and add the cream.
  9. Stir in the chicken and simmer for 25-35 minutes.
  10. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  11. Ladle into soup bowls.
  12. Garnish with parsley if desired and serve.

collage of how to make chunky cream of chicken soupInstructions to make this as a freezer meal:

You can make this soup as a freezer meal in two ways. The first is to put all of the ingredients into a large resealable bag, seal and freeze and then on the day you want to serve it, take it out of the freezer to thaw and simmer on the stovetop in a large pot for about an hour.

OR you can cook the soup using the full stovetop instructions and then put it in a freezer-safe container to reheat when needed. If you use this method, you can freeze it in smaller containers and only take out as much as you need for lunch or dinner. collage of steps to make chunky cream of chicken soup in the pot, in a ladle and in a bowlWays to adapt this recipe:

To make this soup gluten-free, substitute cornstarch or gluten-free flour for the flour.

If you want a vegetarian version, substitute vegetable broth for the chicken broth and use white navy beans in place of the chicken. 

close up of a bowl of chunky cream of chicken soup with a spoon at the side

Chunky Cream of Chicken Soup
Course: Soup
Keyword: cream of chicken soup, soup
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 850 kcal
Ingredients
  • ½ cup butter
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 3 stalks celery chopped
  • 4 medium carrots peeled and chopped
  • 1/3 cup flour
  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 3 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 3-4 leaves sage chopped
  • 1 tsp. poultry seasoning
  • 2 ¾ cups chicken cooked and cubed
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • parsley for garnish optional
Instructions
Instructions:
  1. In a large pot over medium heat, melt the butter.

  2. Add the chopped onion, celery, and carrots.

  3. Cook for about 10 minutes stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are soft.

  4. Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly for an additional 2 minutes.

  5. Slowly pour in the broth.

  6. Bring the soup to a low boil while stirring constantly.

  7. Add the sage, thyme, and poultry seasoning.

  8. Turn the heat to low and add the cream.

  9. Stir in the chicken and simmer for 25-35 minutes.

  10. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

  11. Ladle into soup bowls.

  12. Garnish with parsley if desired and serve.

Recipe Notes

Instructions to make this as a freezer meal:

You can make this soup as a freezer meal in two ways. The first is to put all of the ingredients into a large resealable bag, seal and freeze and then on the day you want to serve it, take it out of the freezer to thaw and simmer on the stovetop in a large pot for about an hour. OR you can cook the soup using the full stovetop instructions and then put it in a freezer-safe container to reheat when needed. If you use this method, you can freeze it in smaller containers and only take out as much as you need for lunch or dinner. 

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