Creamy Chicken Spinach Soup Recipe

Plain and simple — soup is good for the soul. No matter what kind of soup that you have the pleasure of enjoying, it's usually always something that hits the spot. Let's be honest: Have we have ever met a soup we didn't like? While you can surely eat soup in the summer months, it's appreciated even more once the weather turns cold. Just imagine sitting nestled up by a cozy fire on a gloomy evening with a bowl of soup in hand, perhaps while streaming your favorite Netflix show in the background. If that doesn't give you all the warm and fuzzies, then we don't know what will!

The great part about this chicken soup is that it's super filling, but it's also full of wonderful, healthy veggies that will make you feel good about eating it. Recipe developer and private practice registered dietician Kristen Carli came up with this fantastic recipe that hits the spot. "This recipe is a hearty meal, but still very nutritious," she raves. Keep reading to find out how to make this tasty soup.

The first step you need to take is gathering all of the items required to put this dish together. For starters, you will need some olive oil and a diced yellow onion. The recipe also calls for some white mushrooms and a few cups of chicken broth, which is a common ingredient in most soup recipes.

Moving down the list, be sure to get some heavy cream, salt, and pepper. The last two items that you will need are spinach and a few skinless chicken breasts. As a reminder, make sure to check your pantry and fridge first for items you may already have at home.

Are you ready to get started on this hearty soup? If so, grab a large pot, and put it on your stove. This is the only dish that you will need for the recipe, which makes it really easy to clean up. 

Crank the heat up to medium, and drizzle the olive oil inside the pot. Once the pot and oil get hot, toss in the onion. (Remember, you should have chopped it in advance to save time.) Sauté the onion until it turns translucent. "You can stir the onions occasionally," Carli notes. This shouldn't take more than five minutes.

Once you have finished sautéing the onions, just keep them in the pan. Then, add the mushrooms into the mix. These two veggies go together like peanut butter and jelly! (As a reminder, you should have purchased pre-sliced mushrooms, making this step easier, too.)

Continue to sauté the mushrooms until they shrink in size. As with the onions, this should only take about five minutes or so. "Feel free to add other veggies in this soup, too! Carrots, celery, parsnips, or cauliflower," Carli notes. Choose your favorites, and make the dish your own.

Go ahead and add the chicken broth to your pot. Next, add the heavy cream and the salt and pepper for a little added flavor. The chicken broth and the heavy cream will give the soup a nice, thick consistency. 

Stir the mixture to combine everything well. Then, add your spinach and chicken. The chicken should already be shredded, making this step super quick and easy for you to add in. It won't take long for the spinach to wilt, and while it may seem like you are putting a lot in, remember that it will cook down a ton. 

Now that you have all of your ingredients added to the pot, turn the heat up, and bring the liquid to a boil. Once you see bubbles reach the top of the surface, lower the heat to a simmer for at least 10 minutes. Once those 10 minutes are up, you can take the soup off the heat, and serve it.

"I like it best served with a hunk of bread for dipping," Carli notes. We also think that some oyster crackers would go well. If you happen to have some soup left over, Carli has provided some storage tips. "Leftovers store best in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days," she shares. Whether you are serving this scrumptious dish for lunch or dinner, we are sure this bowl of soup will hit the spot!