Crack chicken soup is one of my favorite cheesy chicken soup recipes because it’s so addictive! Filled with ingredients like shredded chicken, ranch, bacon, cream cheese, spinach, and a super creamy broth, this soup is the ultimate comfort meal. Quick and delicious, my 30-minute creamy crack chicken soup recipe always gets my family running to the table for dinner. Consider making a large batch of this soup, because people tend to want seconds!
Crack Chicken Soup Recipe
This one-pot soup recipe has everything I love about crack chicken–ranch, bacon, cream cheese, shredded chicken, garlic–cooked up into a creamy soup, and it’s just so easy to make. With ingredients this mouthwatering on their own, it’s no surprise that the soup is heavenly when they’re all combined!
I always have some leftover chicken in my fridge ready to shred and throw into this easy crack soup. And heavy cream is what makes the broth silky smooth. There’s really nothing cozier than this recipe!
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How to Store and Reheat
Store crack chicken soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 days. Reheat on the stovetop over medium heat, stirring regularly until fully heated through. I recommend adding a splash of heavy cream as the soup warms up to help make it creamy again.
How to Freeze
Let this shredded chicken soup cool completely before storing. Pour it into a freezer-safe container, and freeze for up to 3 months. Let it thaw before reheating. Keep in mind that because this soup contains cream cheese and heavy cream, the texture may become grainy upon reheating.
Notes and Tips
- It’s easiest to use pre-cooked and shredded chicken in this soup recipe. Shred up some rotisserie chicken, or make this Instant Pot shredded chicken.
- If you don’t have pre-cooked chicken, you can make this crack chicken soup with chicken breasts. Cut boneless, skinless chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces, and stir in 4 cups of chicken in Step 3. Simmer until cooked through, then continue with the recipe.
- To make your own Ranch Seasoning: Combine ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon dried dill, ½ teaspoon dried chives, and ½-1 teaspoon salt together. Add to the recipe in step 3.
- Other greens that work well in this soup include kale or escarole.
- Turn this recipe into crack chicken noodle soup by adding egg noodles! Simply toss them in dry in Step 3, along with the chicken broth and other ingredients.
5 Star Review
“I love this soup so much! My daughter and son-in-law introduced me to it one evening. I immediately fell in love with it. I can eat it breakfast, lunch & supper! I try to have a pot made and ready to eat!” – Melvin
Crack Chicken Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon diced
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (⅛ stick)
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 2 ribs celery diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons ranch seasoning mix
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4 cups cooked shredded chicken
- 8 ounces cream cheese cut into cubes
- 1 cup freshly shredded cheddar cheese plus more for garnish
- 3 cups chopped baby spinach
- ⅓ cup heavy cream room temperature
- fresh parsley optional for garnish
Instructions
- Heat a large Dutch oven over medium high heat. Add the diced bacon and cook until crisp. Set aside on a paper towel-lined plate.4 slices bacon
- Add the butter to the pot. Once melted, add the onion and celery. Cook for 5-7 minutes, until softened. Add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.1 tablespoon unsalted butter, 1 yellow onion, 2 ribs celery, 2 cloves garlic
- Stir in the chicken broth, ranch seasoning, and pepper. Bring to a simmer, add the chicken, and cook until warmed through, about 5 minutes.6 cups low-sodium chicken broth, 2 tablespoons ranch seasoning mix, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, 4 cups cooked shredded chicken
- Stir in the cream cheese and cheddar cheese until melted and smooth.8 ounces cream cheese, 1 cup freshly shredded cheddar cheese
- Add the spinach and cook for 2-3 minutes, until wilted.3 cups chopped baby spinach
- Stir in the cream and cook until warm. Serve and top each bowl with the cooked bacon, shredded cheese, and fresh parsley.⅓ cup heavy cream, fresh parsley
Notes
How to Make Crack Chicken Soup Step by Step
Cook the Bacon: Heat a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add 4 slices of bacon (diced) and cook until crisp. Then remove from the pot and set aside on a paper towel-lined plate.
Cook the Aromatics: Add 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter to the same pot. Once melted, add 1 diced yellow onion and 2 diced ribs of celery. Cook for 5-7 minutes, until everything is softened. Then add 2 cloves of minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
Add Ingredients and Simmer: Stir in 6 cups of low-sodium chicken broth, 2 tablespoons of ranch seasoning mix, and ½ teaspoon of ground black pepper. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then add 4 cups of cooked shredded chicken. Let it simmer until the chicken is warmed through, about 5 minutes.
Stir in the Cheese: Stir in 8 ounces of cream cheese (cut into cubes) and 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese, and keep stirring until everything is melted and smooth.
Add Spinach and Cream: Add 3 cups of chopped baby spinach and cook for 2-3 minutes, until wilted. Then stir in ⅓ cup of heavy cream and cook until warm. Serve warm and top bowls of creamy crack chicken soup with the cooked bacon, more shredded cheese, and fresh parsley.
I want to make this but I don’t have any cream cheese but I do have whole milk plain yogurt, could I sub that instead?
Hi Lindzann, we haven’t tested that, but we suspect the yogurt may separate and create an unpleasant texture!
This was so good! Even my picky kid enjoyed it! Thank you!
Crack Chicken Soup sounds like the ultimate comfort food! With shredded chicken, ranch, bacon, and that creamy broth—how could you resist? It’s quick, creamy, and always a hit at the dinner table. Definitely a recipe worth making in big batches!