This easy creamy chicken soup is going to be your next family favorite! It's really easy to throw together, super versatile and the leftovers are out of this world.

Easy creamy chicken soup on a counter, from Shelf Cooking

Picture this. You're looking at your kitchen inventory working on your meal plan for the week. You've got some leftovers sitting in the fridge, along with some veggies, potatoes, rice, cheese and bread.

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Sure, you could reheat those leftovers and eat the same thing again, one of your family's absolute favorite things to do for dinner (not!). OR you could take that same old meal and turn it into something new! We're talking about trying out this soup-er (see what we did there?!) versatile, easy, creamy chicken soup recipe. You will. not. be. sorry. that you made it. Promise!

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EASY CREAMY CHICKEN SOUP MADE FROM LEFTOVERS

Two bowls of soup with spoons, from Shelf Cooking

Wanna know the absolute best (most efficient, #shelfcooking approved) way to make this soup? Take the leftovers from this Italian Cream Cheese Chicken recipe and turn them into a delicious, easy creamy chicken soup. It's definitely one of our favorite ways to repurpose leftovers and we love that you can get two entirely different meals out of it!

The only work that you may need to do before adding it to the soup is to shred the chicken if it's still whole or in big chunks. That way, it will stretch the meat further and it'll make eating your soup a whole lot easier since you won't have to worry about chunks that are too big for the spoon. If you made your original cream cheese chicken recipe from our Instant Pot shredded chicken recipe (find that HERE), then you won't have to worry about shredding anything!

CREAMY CHICKEN AND RICE SOUP

To help bulk up the recipe and stretch it further, try adding in some cooked rice to your soup recipe! It's a great way to use up any leftover rice that you have sitting in your refrigerator, just waiting to become the next best meal. Absolutely any type of rice will work. If you don't have any cooked up, toss uncooked rice in and cook it in the chicken broth and milk mixture. Just know that it'll take a while to get it fully cooked and ready to eat.

CREAMY CHICKEN POTATO SOUP

Delicious soup in a bowl, from Shelf Cooking

Another delicious way to bulk up this creamy chicken soup to make it go further and last longer is to use potatoes! They help to up the creamy goodness factor and make it that much more hearty.

If you're out of fresh potatoes, feel free to use leftover mashed or baked potatoes. They still work just as good and the soup will turn out as creamy as ever.

THE EASIEST SOUP RECIPE

Soup and bread on a counter, from Shelf Cooking

Okay, enough talking already! Let's get on to your new favorite soup recipe. Go check the pantry now to see if you have what you need to whip up something delicious tonight 😉

Easy creamy chicken soup on a counter, from Shelf Cooking

Easy Creamy Chicken Soup

You can make this easy soup by using leftovers, how great is that?! You can also make it from scratch if you don't have any leftovers to use.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Main Course, Soup
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

To Make Soup from Leftovers

  • 2 Tbsp butter
  • 1 cup sliced carrots
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 2 Tbsp flour
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 3 cups milk
  • 2-3 cups diced potatoes or rice
  • Leftover Italian cream cheese chicken and sauce
  • 1 can corn, drained
  • Salt, pepper, garlic powder, to taste
  • Cooked bacon or bacon bits, to taste

To Make Soup from Scratch

  • ½ cup butter
  • 2-3 chicken breasts
  • 1-2 Italian dressing seasoning packets
  • 2-3 cans cream of chicken soup
  • 8 oz cream cheese, cubed
  • 2 Tbsp butter
  • 1 cup sliced carrots
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 2 Tbsp flour
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 3 cups milk
  • 2-3 cups diced potatoes or rice
  • 1 can corn, drained
  • Salt, pepper, garlic powder, to taste
  • Cooked bacon or bacon bits, to taste

Instructions
 

To Make Soup from Leftovers

  • Melt butter in large stock pot and saute carrots and onions until soft.
  • Add flour on top of veggies and stir around.
  • Slowly whisk in the chicken broth and milk. Add potatoes, bring to a simmer, and let them cook until fork-tender.
  • Add in creamy chicken leftovers and corn, then bring to a simmer and allow to cook until heated all the way through. Add in a little more milk if soup is too thick.
  • Add garlic and bacon bits to taste.

To Make Soup from Scratch

  • Melt butter in pan over low-medium heat.
  • Add chicken breasts to pan and pour Italian dressing packets on top.
  • Cook chicken until done in the middle, then shred in the pan.
  • Add cream of chicken soup and cream cheese. Heat until melted.
  • Meanwhile, melt 2 Tbsp butter in large stock pot and saute carrots and onions until soft.
  • Add flour on top of veggies and stir around. Slowly whisk in the chicken broth and milk. Add potatoes, bring to a simmer, and let them cook until fork-tender.
  • Add in creamy chicken mixture and corn, then bring to a simmer. Add in a little more milk if soup is too thick.
  • Add garlic and bacon bits to taste.

Notes

Store leftovers in the fridge for 4-5 days and reheat in the microwave or on the stove.
Keyword cold-weather food, use leftovers

Doesn't that sound like your whole family is going to love it? Seriously, you won't be disappointed with this recipe. Try it out and see just how good it really is!

Soup with cheese on top, from Shelf Cooking

Wanting more?

Enjoy!