Description
This Creamy Chicken Butternut Soup is a comforting and hearty dish that combines tender butternut squash with shredded chicken in a rich, velvety broth. Perfect for chilly days, it features savory onions, garlic, and warm spices, blended to smooth perfection and finished with a touch of heavy cream for extra richness. Easy to prepare in under an hour, this soup serves as a satisfying meal for the whole family.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound butternut squash, peeled and diced
- 1 pound cooked chicken, shredded
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
Seasonings and Oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Sauté aromatics. In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic, and sauté until they become translucent and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
- Add squash and chicken. Stir in the diced butternut squash and shredded cooked chicken, allowing them to combine and heat through for a few minutes while stirring occasionally.
- Simmer in broth. Pour in the chicken broth, bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Let the soup simmer uncovered until the butternut squash becomes tender, around 20 minutes.
- Blend until smooth. Use an immersion blender directly in the pot to puree the soup until it reaches a creamy, smooth consistency without any large chunks.
- Finish the soup. Stir in the heavy cream along with salt, black pepper, and paprika. Heat gently through the soup, just until warm. Adjust seasoning if needed before serving.
Notes
- Use cooked chicken from leftovers or rotisserie chicken for convenience.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or coconut milk.
- This soup can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
- Garnish with fresh herbs like parsley or thyme for added flavor and color.
- To make it spicier, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce.
