Description

Creamy Crack Chicken Soup is a rich, cheesy, and comforting soup featuring tender chicken bathed in a velvety, creamy broth with smoky bacon, sharp cheddar cheese, and subtle garlic notes. Perfect for an easy, satisfying meal that reheats well and can be customized with veggies or spices, it’s the ultimate cozy dish for any occasion.

Ingredients

Scale

Protein

2 cups cooked chicken breast or thighs, shredded
4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled (or 1/2 cup bacon bits)

Dairy

4 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup sour cream or heavy cream

Liquids

4 cups chicken broth, warmed

Seasonings

1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

Cook the Chicken: Start by cooking your chicken breasts or thighs in a skillet with a little oil over medium heat until golden brown and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes per side, then shred them into bite-sized pieces.
Cook the Bacon: In the same pan, cook bacon slices until crispy, then crumble and set aside. Keep some bacon fat in the pan to add extra richness to the soup base.
Prepare the Soup Base: In a large pot, combine the warmed chicken broth, cream cheese, sour cream (or heavy cream), garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Whisk gently over medium heat until the cream cheese is completely melted and the mixture is smooth and velvety.
Combine Ingredients: Add shredded chicken, bacon bits, and shredded cheddar cheese to the pot. Stir continuously until the cheese melts and all ingredients are evenly blended.
Final Simmer: Lower the heat and let the soup simmer gently for 5-10 minutes without boiling to allow the flavors to meld and maintain creaminess.

Notes

Use warm chicken broth to help melt the cream cheese smoothly and prevent lumps.
Simmer gently without boiling to keep the cheese creamy and avoid separation.
Shred chicken finely for better flavor distribution and improved soup texture.
Cook bacon last to utilize rendered bacon fat for extra depth in the soup base.
Adjust thickness by adding more broth to thin, or extra cheese to thicken to your preference.
Rotisserie chicken works as a convenient shortcut and adds extra flavor.
This soup is gluten-free if you use gluten-free chicken broth and check for gluten in seasoning and bacon.
For dairy-free options, substitute cream cheese and sour cream with dairy-free alternatives and use vegan, meltable cheese.
Make in a slow cooker by adding all ingredients except cheese and sour cream, cooking on low for 4-6 hours, then stirring in cheeses and sour cream before serving.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Appetizers
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories: 320
Sugar: 2g
Sodium: 750mg
Fat: 22g
Saturated Fat: 10g
Unsaturated Fat: 9g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 4g
Fiber: 0g
Protein: 25g
Cholesterol: 80mg

Keywords: Creamy Crack Chicken Soup, comfort food, cheesy chicken soup, creamy chicken soup, easy chicken soup