Cream of chicken soup is a pantry staple used in many classic comfort food recipes. While you can easily grab a can of condensed cream of chicken soup from the grocery store, making it yourself from scratch is simple, affordable and lets you control the ingredients.
In this article, I’ll explain what cream of chicken soup is, why making it homemade is better, and provide an easy recipe so you can learn how to whip it up anytime.
What is Cream of Chicken Soup?
Cream of chicken soup is a thick, creamy soup made with chicken broth, milk or cream, and chicken meat. It has a velvety smooth texture thanks to a roux – a mixture of fat and flour that helps thicken the soup.
The canned condensed version found in grocery stores contains chicken stock, salt, thickening agents like cornstarch, and flavorings. It’s designed to be mixed with water or milk and used in casseroles, pot pies, and other dishes.
Benefits of Homemade vs Store-Bought
While canned cream of chicken soup offers convenience, there are some clear advantages to making your own from scratch:
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Control the ingredients. By making it yourself, you decide what goes in. You can avoid preservatives, thickeners, and flavorings found in the canned versions.
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Better flavor Homemade cream soup made with real chicken stock tastes fresher and richer. You can also customize the seasoning to your taste
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Cost savings Homemade costs just a fraction of the price per serving compared to the canned stuff
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Versatility. The homemade version can be enjoyed on its own as a soup, or used however you’d use the canned soup.
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Healthier. With homemade you skip the processed ingredients and can control the amount of sodium.
Making your own cream of chicken soup truly pays off in terms of taste and nutrition for your family.
How to Make Cream of Chicken Soup
With just a handful of kitchen staples, you can easily whip up a batch of creamy, dreamy cream of chicken soup anytime.
Here is an overview of the simple process:
Ingredients Needed
- Butter or oil
- Flour
- Chicken broth
- Milk or half-and-half
- Cooked chicken
- Herbs and seasonings (salt, pepper, parsley)
Steps to Make It
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Make a roux: Melt the butter in a pot then whisk in flour. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
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Whisk in chicken broth and milk slowly to avoid lumps.
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Add cooked chicken, herbs and seasonings. Simmer until thickened.
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Use an immersion blender to puree if desired.
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Adjust consistency by adding more broth or milk.
That’s really all there is to it! Now let’s look at a full recipe with measurements and details.
Cream of Chicken Soup Recipe
This easy homemade condensed cream of chicken soup is flavorful, creamy and perfect for cooking.
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup cooked, shredded chicken
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 1⁄2 tsp onion powder
- 1⁄2 tsp salt
- 1⁄4 tsp pepper
Instructions
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In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour and cook for 2-3 minutes.
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Gradually whisk in the chicken broth, then the milk, whisking constantly to prevent lumps.
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Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened.
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Stir in the cooked chicken, parsley, onion powder, salt and pepper. Simmer for 10 more minutes.
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For a smoother soup, use an immersion blender to puree.
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Adjust consistency as needed by adding more broth or milk.
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Use immediately or let cool completely before storing for later use.
Storage
Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days. You can also freeze it for 1-2 months.
And that’s it – now you’ve got flavorful, homemade cream of chicken soup ready when you need it. Much better than the canned stuff!
This versatile soup can be enjoyed on its own or added to recipes like casseroles, pot pies, gravies, stews and more. So go ahead and whip up a batch – your cooking is about to get a whole lot creamier.
How to Make it:
(Full printable recipe card is available below)]
Melt the butter. To start, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat.
Create a roux. Once the butter is melted, whisk in some flour, creating a simple roux (it will be thick and pasty in consistency).
Add liquids. Once that’s thick and pasty, gradually add in broth and milk, continuing to whisk while the liquid is added, until everything is combined.
Add seasonings. Last, stir in the salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and black pepper. Reduce to medium heat and let it simmer for a couple of minutes as it thickens a bit.
And that’s it! So, so easy.
And such a delicious canned cream of chicken soup substitute!
It will thicken a bit more as it cools, so you can use it warm or let it cool to room temperature.
What Can You Make with Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup?
The nice thing about this soup is that it’s a great recipe that’s quite versatile.
You can obviously use it in place of canned cream of chicken soup in your favorite casseroles, but you can also use it in lieu of cream of mushroom soup or cream of celery soup.
I’ve found that, in general, the flavor of those soups isn’t all that different, especially once they’re mixed in with other ingredients.
Many of my recipes that I’ve shared over the years use this cream of chicken soup. I’ve included several of them below.
EASIEST Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup
FAQ
How to make own cream of chicken soup?
- Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Rapidly whisk in flour until thick, about 2 minutes.
- Whisk in chicken stock until smooth. Whisk in milk; bring to a simmer. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 3 to 5 minutes.
- Off heat, season with salt and black pepper.
What are the ingredients in a can of cream of chicken soup?
Chicken Stock, Modified Cornstarch, Vegetable Oil, Wheat Flour, Cream, Chicken Meat, Chicken Fat, Salt, Whey, Dried Chicken, Monosodium Glutamate, Soy Protein Concentrate, Water, Natural Flavoring, Yeast Extract, Beta Carotene For Color, Soy Protein Isolate, Sodium Phosphate, Celery Extract, Onion Extract, Butter, …
What are the ingredients of cream soup?
A cream soup will often have a soup base, prepared with ingredients such as onion, celery, garlic powder, celery salt, butter, bacon drippings, flour, salt, pepper, paprika, milk, light cream, and chicken stock or vegetable stock. Various vegetables or meats are then added to the base.
What are the basic ingredients for chicken soup?
These are the simple ingredients you’ll need for this chicken soup recipe: Chicken: This homemade chicken soup starts with a 3-pound whole chicken. Vegetables: You’ll need carrots, celery, and an onion. Seasonings: Simply season the soup with salt, pepper, and chicken bouillon granules (if you want).
How do you make cream of chicken soup?
Enjoy as a soup or use in any recipe calling for canned cream of chicken soup. Melt butter in a saucepan over low heat. Add in flour and increase heat to medium. Whisk together and let cook for 2 minutes. The butter and flour mixture will become more golden and smell a bit nutty.
What is cream of chicken soup?
A creamy and savory chicken broth is filled with tender chunks of chicken and a handful of veggies for a simple and cozy soup recipe. This easy recipe comes together in no time at all for a savory soup that will be on the menu rotation all year long! Cream of chicken soup is one of those cozy recipes that feel like a hug in a bowl.
How do you make chicken soup?
Add one cup broth to a sauce pan and heat until steaming. Add 2/3 cup dry soup mix and whisk well to combine. Continue whisking until soup has thickened. Add additional ingredients to make cream of chicken, cream of mushroom or cream of celery soup (see notes below).
How long does it take to make cream of chicken soup?
Minutes to Prepare. Cream of Chicken Soup is a simple two-step recipe. It is simply made by making a roux and then whisking in liquid to create a thick condensed soup mixture. It really only takes a few minutes to make homemade cream of chicken soup. And is well worth that minimal effort! Allergy-Friendly.
How much is a can of cream of chicken soup?
A typical can of cream of chicken soup is 10.5 ounces which is the equivalent of 1 1/3 cups of soup. Make your own cream of chicken soup at home with this easy to make recipe that’s ready in 15 minutes. Enjoy as a soup or use in any recipe calling for canned cream of chicken soup.
What can I make with cream of chicken soup?
Then, mix up a dry cream of soup base to keep on your pantry shelf so you can whip up a cream of chicken, mushroom, onion, celery or any other cream of soup that you need in minutes. If you’ve ever made a homemade casserole, you’re probably familiar with those cans of cream of chicken soup from the grocery store.