Easy From-Scratch Cream of Chicken Soup (Casserole Substitute)
Make a rich, velvety cream of chicken soup from basic ingredients. This recipe tastes better than canned condensed soup and works perfectly as a base for casseroles and pot pies.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Total Time: 20 min
- Yield: About 2 cups
- Category: Soup Base
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup cooked, shredded chicken breast
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon dried thyme
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
- Whisk in the flour to create a smooth paste (roux). Cook the roux for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Gradually whisk in the chicken broth until the mixture is smooth and slightly thickened.
- Stir in the milk and heavy cream. Continue to heat, stirring often, until the soup just begins to simmer around the edges. Do not let it boil rapidly.
- Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the shredded chicken, salt, pepper, and thyme.
- Cook for 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to combine and the soup to reach your desired thickness.
- Remove from heat. For a smoother texture, you may blend briefly with an immersion blender.
- Use immediately in your favorite recipe or cool for storage.
Notes
- To make this recipe freezer friendly, cool the soup completely before storing it in an airtight container. Thaw in the refrigerator and reheat gently on the stovetop.
- For a thicker base suitable for dense casseroles, reduce the milk to 3/4 cup and increase the heavy cream to 3/4 cup.
- If you prefer a mix version for later use, skip the chicken and liquid. Store the roux (butter and flour) mixed with dried herbs and powdered milk, then whisk into hot broth when ready to use.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Unsaturated Fat: 8
- Trans Fat: 0.5
- Carbohydrates: 7
- Fiber: 0.5
- Protein: 16
- Cholesterol: 65
Find it online: https://epicureempire.com/homemade-cream-of-chicken-soup/