Description
Hearty Buffalo Chicken Soup delivers spicy comfort with creamy textures that dance across your palate. Zesty hot sauce and tender chicken merge in a soul-warming bowl perfect for chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 2–3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 1.5 pounds or 680 grams)
- 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese, brick-style, softened
- 1.5 cups (170 grams) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
- 2 ribs celery, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Liquid and Seasoning:
- 6 cups (1.4 liters) low-sodium chicken broth
- 3/4 cup (180 milliliters) cayenne pepper sauce (Franks Red Hot recommended)
- 1 packet ranch seasoning (or 3 tablespoons homemade ranch seasoning)
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Optional Toppings:
- Blue cheese crumbles
- Chopped green onions or chives
- Crushed tortilla chips or Doritos
Instructions
- Prepare a large soup pot over medium heat. Melt butter and sauté diced onion, carrots, and celery for approximately 5 minutes until vegetables become tender and translucent.
- Add minced garlic and cook briefly until aromatic, about 30-60 seconds. Pour chicken broth into the pot, scraping the bottom to incorporate any caramelized bits.
- Submerge chicken breasts into the broth. Bring liquid to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20-25 minutes, rotating chicken midway. Ensure internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Extract chicken from pot and shred using two forks or a hand mixer until meat is completely pulled apart.
- Incorporate cayenne pepper sauce, ranch seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Cube cream cheese and add to pot, allowing it to sit 3-5 minutes before stirring until completely dissolved.
- Reintroduce shredded chicken to the pot. Simmer over medium heat for 5-10 minutes, allowing soup to gradually thicken.
- Fold in shredded cheddar cheese, cooking an additional 2-3 minutes until cheese melts completely and creates a smooth consistency. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
- Serve soup in individual bowls. Garnish with blue cheese crumbles, chopped green onions, and crushed tortilla chips or Doritos for added texture and flavor.
Notes
- Swap chicken breasts with rotisserie chicken to save time and add more flavor depth.
- Reduce cayenne sauce for milder versions or use hot sauce alternatives like sriracha for different heat profiles.
- Use low-fat cream cheese and reduced-fat cheddar to create a lighter, healthier soup option without compromising taste.
- Create a gluten-free version by using gluten-free ranch seasoning and verifying all ingredient labels for potential wheat contamination.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 330 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg