Name: Crack Chicken Soup
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup diced bacon; 4 cups cooked shredded chicken; 2 tablespoons unsalted butter; 1 yellow onion, diced; 2 celery ribs, diced; 2 large carrots, diced; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 6 cups chicken broth; 1 package dry ranch dressing mix; 1 cup sour cream; 8 oz cream cheese, cubed; 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (plus extra for garnish); 1 teaspoon black pepper; 2 teaspoons parsley, chopped; 2 cups baby spinach; Green onion, chopped (for garnish)

Description

The ultimate comfort food soup featuring shredded chicken, bacon, cream cheese, sour cream, and cheddar cheese in a rich, creamy broth with vegetables and fresh spinach. Ready in just 30 minutes!

Ingredients

The Protein & Flavor Base:

1 cup diced bacon
4 cups cooked shredded chicken
2 tablespoons unsalted butter

The Veggie Trio:

1 yellow onion, diced
2 celery ribs, diced
2 large carrots, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced

The Creamy Magic:

6 cups chicken broth
1 package dry ranch dressing mix
1 cup sour cream
8 oz cream cheese, cubed
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (plus extra for garnish)

The Finishing Touches:

1 teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoons parsley, chopped
2 cups baby spinach
Green onion, chopped (for garnish)

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Instructions

Cook the Bacon

Get that bacon crispy in your pot – about 6 minutes on medium-high heat. Don’t you dare drain the grease! Pull out the bacon, leave the good stuff behind.

Sauté the Vegetables

Drop butter into those bacon drippings because we’re not messing around here. Add your chopped onion, celery, and carrots. Cook until they smell amazing and look soft – takes about 5 minutes. Toss in garlic for one more minute.

Build the Base

Pour in everything else except the cheese and spinach – broth, ranch packet, pepper, parsley, chicken, sour cream, cream cheese cubes, and bacon. Stir like your life depends on it until that cream cheese disappears completely. Takes maybe 4 minutes of serious stirring.

Add the Cheese and Greens

Add cheddar and spinach, keep stirring until the cheese melts and spinach wilts down. Should look creamy and perfect now.

Finish and Serve

Taste it, add salt and pepper if needed. Serve hot with extra cheese and green onions on top. Watch everyone’s faces – that’s the good stuff right there.

Notes

Rotisserie chicken saves me 30 minutes every time. Just shred it up and throw it in.

Turkey bacon works if you want to be healthier, but keep those drippings – that’s where the flavor lives.

Add cheese slow or it gets stringy. Lower the heat if things start looking weird.

Don’t cook spinach too long – 30 seconds max or it gets slimy and gross.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: soup
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American