Cream Cheese Chicken and Vegetable Soup

Yesterday afternoon I was meal planning for the week and making my grocery list. I was looking for some new recipes to make, and I happened to come across this soup on Mel’s Kitchen Cafe. As soon as I saw it and how easy it was I put it on the list to make that night. It was huge success and now probably my 2# favorite soup (my number 1# favorite is my Baked Potato Soup)! So without further ado, here is a new recipe that is sure to become a family favorite!

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 yellow onion, finely diced
• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• 1/2 cup diced carrots (about 2 regular carrots or a handful of baby carrots)
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 2-3 potatoes, peeled and finely diced
• 1 cup milk
• 4 tablespoons flour
• 1 (8 oz. package) regular or light cream cheese
• 2-3 (about 1 pound) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and diced

All my veggies cut up!

How to Make:
1. Cook your chicken. (The recipe I used, said you can cook the chicken in the crock pot with some chicken broth. I just boiled mine until just done and it cut it up. It was perfect!)

2. In a large pot, melt the butter and add the onion, garlic, celery and carrots. Saute, stirring often, for 3-4 minutes, until the veggies are slightly tender and the onions are translucent.

3.  Add the chicken broth and potatoes. Bring the soup to a simmer and cook, partially covered, until the potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes.

4. In a liquid measuring cup, vigorously whisk the flour and milk together until smooth. Whisk the mixture into the soup, stirring quickly, and cook over medium heat for 3-4 minutes, until the soup begins to thicken slightly. Stir often to ensure the soup doesn’t burn.

5. Soften the cream cheese in the microwave until it is very soft/melty. Place the unwrapped cream cheese on a plate and microwave it (it took about 60 seconds for me). You need it really, really soft so it doesn’t leave lumps in the soup. Add the cream cheese to the soup in small tablespoon-size pieces. Let the pieces sit in the soup and warm through then whisk or stir the soup until the cream cheese melts and mixes in well.

6. Add the cooked chicken and heat through (I  made 3 chicken breasts and didn’t even add all the chicken. It was still too much. Next time I will probably only make half of what the recipe calls for). Season with salt and pepper. Serve. (I served with biscuits, perfect for dipping in the soup!)

Serves:  4
Original Recipe From: Mel’s Kitchen Cafe
To see more of my recipes click: HERE