Creamy Italian Chicken Soup
Published Aug 31, 2022 Updated Dec 10, 2024
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This hearty chicken soup is packed with protein and will fill you up and keep you full for hours! The perfect blend of boneless skinless white chicken, dairy-free cream cheese, tomatoes, spices, nutritional yeast, spinach, onions and topped with crispy bacon. The result is mouth-watering, soul-warming flavor that you’ll want to savor with every bite!
Table of Contents
What Makes This Recipe Great
This easy Italian chicken soup will have your whole family asking for seconds. It is the ultimate healthy comfort food for a chilly day. My Creamy Chicken Fajita Soup is another fall favorite that hits the spot every single time. For this recipe, I’ve included an instant pot, stovetop, and slow cooker instructions. So take your pick, and enjoy this cozy soup!
This hearty chicken soup is packed with protein and will fill you up and keep you full for hours! The perfect blend of boneless skinless white chicken, dairy-free cream cheese, tomatoes, spices, nutritional yeast, spinach, onions and topped with crispy bacon. The result is mouth-watering, soul-warming flavor that you’ll want to savor with every bite!
- Dairy-Free
- Gluten-Free
- Paleo and Whole30
- Perfect for Meal Prep
- Easy Storage & Freezes Well
How to Make This Italian Chicken Soup
Ingredient Notes
- Chicken Breast: I like to use skinless, boneless chicken breasts with the fat cut off.
- Spices: Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Garlic Cloves: You can mince fresh garlic cloves or use minced garlic from a jar.
- Veggies: Spinach and sweet yellow onion.
- Nutritional Yeast: This is an amazing way to add a nutty, cheesy flavor without adding real cheese. You can omit all together or use your favorite shredded cheese in place if you are not dairy-free.
- Olive Oil: You can also use avocado oil or regular butter if preferred.
- Chicken Broth: You can also use chicken stock or chicken bone broth.
- Coconut Milk: Use canned coconut milk or if you are not dairy free use heavy cream.
- Kite Hill Cream Cheese: You can also use a different brand of dairy-free cream cheese, but this is my favorite. If you’re not dairy-free, use regular cream cheese if preferred.
- Bacon: For a yummy crunch, I love topping this soup with crispy bacon. You can also use turkey bacon if desired.
Step by Step
Crockpot Method
- OPTIONAL: Heat a small skillet over medium/high heat. Once hot, add the ghee or olive oil along with the diced onions and garlic. Cook for 1-2 minutes. Stir often. (This step does add additional flavor to the soup but isn’t a must. Feel free to add the raw onions and garlic to the crockpot without sauteing.
- Add To Crockpot/Cook: Add everything else except for the cream cheese, nutritional yeast, spinach, and coconut milk into a 6qt Crockpot. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-7 hours.
- Shred Chicken: Once cooked, remove chicken, shred and then return chicken to the Crockpot.
- Add In Other Ingredients: Add in cream cheese, nutritional yeast, and coconut milk. Stir together and let cook until cream cheese is melted, another 20-30 minutes or so. Add the baby spinach and let this simmer another 5 minutes.
- Enjoy: Serve immediately with fresh chopped tomatoes, parsley, and bacon crumbles.
Stovetop
- Saute Onions/Garlic: Add a large pot or dutch oven over medium/high heat add the ghee or olive oil along with the onions and garlic. Cook for 1-2 minutes. Stir often.
- Cook: Add everything else except for the spinach, cream cheese, nutritional yeast, and coconut milk. Cook on medium heat until the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165F, around 30 minutes. Do not bring to a boil, this will make the chicken tough and chewy.
- Shred Chicken: Once cooked, remove chicken, shred and then return chicken to the pot.
- Add In Other Ingredients: Add in the cream cheese, nutritional yeast, and coconut milk. Stir together and let cook until cream cheese is melted, another 20-30 minutes or so. Add the baby spinach and let this simmer another 5 minutes.
- Enjoy: Serve immediately with fresh chopped tomatoes, parsley, and bacon crumbles.
Instant Pot
- Saute: Press the saute function on the Instant Pot, and once hot, add the ghee or olive oil. Once the oil is hot, add the onions and garlic. Cook for 1-2 minutes. Stir often.
- Pressure Cook: Press cancel to turn off the saute feature. Add the chicken breasts (whole), along with the rest of the ingredients except for the cream cheese, spinach, nutritional yeast, and coconut milk. Secure the lid, turn to seal, and set the pot to high-pressure cook for 5-7 minutes.
- Quick Release: Carefully quickly release the pressure. Open the lid and shred the chicken using 2 forks or tongs. It will shred easily. Add in the cream cheese, nutritional yeast, and coconut milk. Stir together. Stir until melted and incorporated into the soup. Add the spinach 5 minutes prior to serving.
- Melt Cream Cheese: Turn the saute function back on if the cream cheese is not melting well.
Mac’s Pro Tip
Recipe Tips
- Shredding the Chicken: An easy way to shred your chicken after it’s cooked is to grab two forms and tear the chicken before adding it back into the soup. This is super easy and works every time!
- How to Serve: Serve warm out of the pot. Can even be served over the top of a sweet potato or regular potato. A side option to pair with this soup is a lovely tossed Cesar salad.
- Storing Leftovers: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the fridge. Reheat on the stove or in the microwave.
- Dairy Substitutes: If you are not dairy-free, feel free to use regular cream cheese
Recipe FAQs
What can be served with this Italian chicken soup?
This Italian soup is delicious served by itself. Bread is the classic choice including breadsticks, dinner rolls, garlic bread, or any type of crusty bread. However, it also pairs well with vegetables, a salad, and potatoes. Of course, a soup and sandwich combo is my all-time favorite.
Can this soup be frozen?
Yes, most types of soup actually freeze well. Make sure your soup has cooled and pour it into an airtight container. It can then be frozen for up to 6 months.
How to fix a salty soup?
First off, the best way to avoid this is by tasting as you go. The main method would be to dilute the broth by adding small increments of water or broth, tasting as you go. You can also balance the saltiness with acid by adding a squeeze of lemon or splash of vinegar.
Can I make this Italian chicken soup in the instant pot or on the stovetop?
Absolutely! Both of those methods will work with this recipe and the instructions are located in the recipe card below.
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Creamy Italian Chicken Soup
This hearty chicken soup is packed with protein and will fill you up and keep you full for hours! The perfect blend of boneless skinless white chicken, dairy-free cream cheese, tomatoes, spices, nutritional yeast, spinach, onions and topped with crispy bacon. The result is mouth-watering, soul-warming flavor that you’ll want to savor with every bite!
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds chicken breast
- 4-5 cups chicken broth more or less depending on preference
- 1 small yellow onion diced
- 3-4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/3 cup nutritional yeast
- 3/4 cup dairy-free cream cheese
- 3/4 cup canned coconut milk
- 1 14.5 oz can of tomatoes drained
- 1 8 oz bag of spinach
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- salt and pepper to taste
- 3 slices cooked bacon crumbled
- Garnish- fresh diced tomatoes parsley
Instructions
Crockpot Method
- Sauté Onions/Garlic: Heat a small skillet over medium/high heat. Once hot, add the olive oil, diced onions, and garlic. Cook for 1-2 minutes. Stir often. (This step adds flavor to the soup but isn't a must. You can add the raw onions and garlic to the crockpot without sauteing.
- Add To Crockpot/Cook: Add everything except spinach, cream cheese, nutritional yeast, and coconut milk into a 6-quart Crockpot. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-7 hours.
- Shred Chicken: Once cooked, remove the chicken, shred and then return the chicken to the slow cooker.
- Add In Other Ingredients: 30 minutes before serving add in the cream cheese nutritional yeast and coconut milk. Stir together and let cook until cream cheese is melted. Finally, add in the baby spinach and let this simmer another 5 minutes.
- Enjoy Serve immediately with fresh chopped tomatoes, parsley, and bacon crumbles.
Stovetop
- Sauté Onions/Garlic Add a large pot or Dutch oven over medium/high heat add the olive oil along with the onions and garlic. Cook for 1-2 minutes. Stir often.
- Cook: Add everything else except for the spinach, cream cheese, nutritional yeast, and coconut milk. Cook on medium heat until the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165F, around 30 minutes. Do not bring to a boil, this will make the chicken tough and chewy.
- Shred Chicken: Once cooked, remove the chicken, shred and then return the chicken to the pot.
- Add In Other Ingredients: Add in the cream cheese, nutritional yeast, and coconut milk. Stir together and let cook until cream cheese is melted, another 20-30 minutes or so. Add the baby spinach and let this simmer another 5 minutes.
- Enjoy: Serve immediately with fresh chopped tomatoes, parsley, and bacon crumbles.
Instant Pot
- Sauté: Press the sauté function on the Instant Pot, and once hot, add the olive oil. Once the oil is hot, add the onions and garlic. Cook for 1-2 minutes. Stir often.
- Pressure Cook: Press cancel to turn off the sauté feature. Add the chicken breasts (whole), along with the rest of the ingredients except for the cream cheese, spinach, nutritional yeast, and coconut milk. Secure the lid, turn to seal, and set the pot to high-pressure cook for 5-7 minutes.
- Quick Release: Carefully quickly release the pressure. Open the lid and shred the chicken using 2 forks or tongs. It will shred easily. Add in the cream cheese, nutritional yeast, and coconut milk. Stir together. Stir until melted and incorporated into the soup. Add the spinach 5 minutes prior to serving.
- Melt Cream Cheese: Turn the sauté function back on if the cream cheese is not melting well.
Notes
- Dairy Substitutes: If you are not dairy-free, feel free to use regular cream cheese, and shredded cheese of choice for the nutritional yeast, and heavy cream for the coconut milk.
- Shredding the Chicken: An easy way to shred your chicken after it’s cooked is to grab two forms and tear the chicken before adding it back into the soup. This is super easy and works every time!
- How to Serve: Serve warm out of the pot. Can even be served over the top of a sweet potato or regular potato. A side option to pair with this soup is a lovely tossed salad.
- Storing Leftovers: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the fridge. Reheat on the stove or in the microwave.
Nutrition
Serving: 1g | Calories: 409kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 100mg | Sodium: 1004mg | Potassium: 1228mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 4208IU | Vitamin C: 24mg | Calcium: 127mg | Iron: 4mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Tried this recipe?Mention @healthylittlepeach or tag #healthylittlepeach!
This sounds amazing and I’m making it tonight? What is the serving size?
It serves 6 people. Hope you enjoy!
The cream cheese never melted and I used the same kind as you
So easy and delicious!
So yummy and cozy! I was unsure of making a creamy dairy free soup and this exceeded expectations. Great flavor and consistency. Husband approved! I’d maybe add some red pepper flakes. I’ll definitely be making this again!
Just made this with full dairy and shredded rotisserie chicken. Delish!
So delicious and easy to make. I used a rotisserie chicken and the family loved it! Even my picky teen adult had second AND has leftovers today! Unheard of.
Thank you!!!!
This is so great to hear. Glad it was a hit
Instant Pot instructions do not include spinach.
I would add the spinach 5 minutes prior to serving. I’ve updated the recipe to reflect this, thank you.