Name: Best Creamy Chicken Potato Soup
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: For the Soup:; 1 lb diced chicken; Onion (carrots, celery); 4 cups cubed potatoes; 4 cups broth; Creamy Finish:; 1 cup cream; Cornstarch slurry; Cheddar (optional)

Introduction

Best Creamy Chicken Potato Soup is a velvety, soul-warming bowl, perfect for chilly evenings, sick days, or cozy family dinners. This classic recipe, featuring tender chicken, buttery potatoes, and a rich cream base with aromatic vegetables, delivers diner-quality results with a silky texture and savory depth. Presented in a deep rustic bowl, optionally garnished with crispy bacon crumbles and chives, this Best Creamy Chicken Potato Soup recipe offers a charming, appetizing aesthetic that elevates any gathering. This recipe offers a simple one-pot stovetop method using pantry staples, adaptable to dietary preferences, and ideal for home cooks seeking a go-to soup that brings comforting, crowd-pleasing charm to any occasion.

Why you’ll love this recipe

40 minutes total: One pot, zero fuss—faster than takeout.
Naturally gluten-free: Potatoes + cornstarch thicken beautifully.
Freezer-friendly: Double batch; up to 3 months of comfort.
Veggie sneaker: Carrots, celery, and onions melt into flavor.
Endlessly riffable: Add corn, kale, or go dairy-free.

Ingredients

Soup Base

1 lb (450 g) boneless chicken breasts or thighs, diced
2 tbsp unsalted butter
1 medium onion, diced
2 medium carrots, diced (1 cup)
2 celery stalks, diced (1 cup)
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups (600 g) Yukon Gold or russet potatoes, peeled and cubed (½-inch)
4 cups (960 ml) low-sodium chicken broth
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp fine sea salt
½ tsp black pepper
½ tsp smoked paprika (optional)

Creamy Finish

1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream or half-and-half
2 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp cold water (slurry)
½ cup (50 g) shredded cheddar (optional)

Garnish

Crispy bacon bits
Fresh chives or parsley
Extra cheddar

Essential Tools and Equipment

Large Dutch oven or soup pot
Wooden spoon
Immersion blender (optional for partial purée)
Ladle
Measuring cups

Step-by-step process

Sauté base: Melt butter in a pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery; cook 5 minutes until soft. Add garlic for 30 seconds.
Brown chicken: Add diced chicken; cook 5–7 minutes until opaque.
Add potatoes & broth: Stir in potatoes, broth, thyme, salt, pepper, and paprika. Bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer. Cover; cook 15 minutes until potatoes are fork-tender.
Thicken: Whisk cornstarch slurry. Stir into soup; simmer 2 minutes until glossy.
Creamy finish: Reduce the heat to low. Stir in cream and cheddar (if using) until melted. Do not boil.
Optional purée: Use an immersion blender for 10-second pulses—chunky-creamy texture.
Finish: Taste; adjust salt/pepper.
Serve hot: Ladle into bowls; top with bacon, chives, and cheese.

Mistakes to avoid

Boiling cream: Curdles—low heat after adding.
Undercooked potatoes: Cube small—½-inch max.
Lumpy slurry: Cold water prevents clumps.
Flat flavor: Smoked paprika + fresh herbs at the end wake it up.
Over-purée: Baby food texture—pulse lightly.

Variations of the Best Creamy Chicken Potato Soup

Loaded Baked: Extra bacon, sour cream, green onions.
Dairy-Free: Coconut cream + nutritional yeast.
Veggie Boost: Add corn, peas, or spinach last 2 minutes.
Crockpot: LOW 6 hours; cream + slurry last 30 minutes.
Spicy Kick: ¼ tsp cayenne + hot sauce swirl.

Tips for better storage

Refrigerator: Cool completely; airtight up to 4 days.
Freezer: Omit cream; freeze up to 3 months. Add fresh cream when reheating.
Reheating: Stovetop low with ¼ cup milk; whisk smooth.
Meal prep: Portion in 16-oz jars; reheat with a splash of broth.
Revive thickness: Extra slurry or mashed potato flake.

Frequently Asked Questions

Rotisserie chicken? 3 cups shredded; add with potatoes.
No cream? Whole milk + extra cheddar; lighter but creamy.
Make it thicker? Mash 1 cup of potatoes in a pot.
Gluten-free? Cornstarch + GF broth.
Double batch? Use an 8-quart pot; same cook time.

Conclusion

Best Creamy Chicken Potato Soup is comfort in a bowl—each spoonful a velvet hug of tender chicken, buttery potatoes, and creamy bliss. One pot turns pantry staples into a meal that soothes colds, fills bellies, and disappears before you blink. Keep chicken and potatoes in the crisper, and a soul-warming dinner is 40 minutes away. Whether you’re feeding a crowd, craving nostalgia, or proving soup can be luxurious without the effort, this recipe delivers warmth and wonder in every steamy ladle. One slurp, endless healing, and the quiet joy of a classic done right.