Creamy Sweet Potato Chicken Soup
User Reviews
4.6
-
Prep Time
15 mins
-
Cook Time
30 mins
-
Total Time
45 mins
-
Servings
12 cups
-
Calories
267 kcal
-
Course
Lunch
-
Cuisine
International
Creamy Sweet Potato Chicken Soup
Description
The Creamy Sweet Potato Chicken Soup begins by poaching boneless skinless chicken breasts in salted water, ensuring tender, moist meat. While the chicken cooks, onions, carrots, celery, and garlic are sautéed in olive oil to build flavor. Chicken stock, diced sweet potatoes, and spices like oregano and coriander are added to develop a savory broth.
After simmering until the potatoes soften, the shredded chicken is incorporated along with spinach for freshness. A splash of half-and-half enriches the soup, creating a creamy consistency without heaviness. Optionally, cayenne pepper adds a mild heat to deepen the profile. The soup is ideally served hot as a satisfying main meal.
Use leftover or rotisserie chicken for convenience, and start seasoning cautiously before adjusting to taste. The dish is flexible to accommodate omitted dairy or added mushrooms for variety.
Ingredients
- 1.25 pounds chicken breast boneless, skinless
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 yellow onion white, or sweet Vidalia onion, diced small, medium
- 3 carrot peeled and diced small, medium
- 1 celery diced small, stalk
- 3 to 5 cloves garlic finely pressed or minced
- 64 ounces chicken stock 8 cups, reduced sodium
- 1.25-1.50 pounds sweet potato peeled and diced into 1-inch pieces
- 2 teaspoons oregano or to taste (See Notes, dried
- 2 teaspoons ground coriander or to taste
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt or to taste
- 1 teaspoon black pepper or to taste, freshly ground
- 6 ounces portobello mushroom optional, diced
- 4-5 cups spinach 4-5 heaping handfuls, fresh
- ½ cup half-and-half heavy cream may be substituted; or the dairy can be omitted all-together
- 1/8-1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional and to taste
Instructions
- Being by poaching chicken. To a medium kettle, add the chicken breasts, cover with about 2 inches of water, salt the water to taste (about 1 or 2 teaspoons kosher salt), bring to boil over medium-high heat, and allow the chicken to boil for about 10 t0 15 minutes, or until poached and cooked through. Tips - Don't overcook your chicken once it's done. Cooking time will vary on how thick the chicken breast(s) are, how rapidly your water is boiling, etc. While chicken in poaching, start sautéing the vegetables in step 3 so that you are multi-tasking and saving time. You can also use store bought shredded rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken if you have it on hand.
- When the chicken is done, remove it from the water, and allow it to rest for 5-10 minutes on a cutting board before shredding it with two forks. I save the poaching water and add this into my stockpot in step 5 although it's optional.
- To a large Dutch oven or stockpot, add the olive oil, onion, carrots, celery, and saute the vegetables over medium-high heat for about 7 minutes, or until they're beginning to tenderize; stir intermittently.
- Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, or until fragrant; stir nearly continuously.
- Add the chicken stock (it will bubble up vigorously and steam when it makes contact with your hot pan so use caution), sweet potatoes, oregano, coriander, salt** (See Notes about staring with half the quantity of the spices and seasonings), pepper, and allow mixture to boil for about 12 to 15 minutes, or until sweet potatoes are fork tender and done. If you poached chicken rather than using rotisserie or leftover, I add the poaching water now to the Dutch oven for extra flavor. If you like a super thick soup/stew, then don't add it; it's probably only about 1.5 cups liquid but add it optionally and to taste.
- Halfway through boiling the sweet potatoes, add the optional mushrooms if you're using them, and add in the shedded chicken so that it can rewarm a bit.
- Turn off the heat, add the spinach, and stir for about 1 minute, or until wilted.
- If you're adding dairy, add it now. As stated in the blog post, the broth is great without the addition of the half-and-half or cream, so add it to taste, if you desire.
- Taste the broth and if it tastes at all flat, boring, or dull, and you're not afraid of cayenne pepper, I like to add a generous pinch. I don't think it makes the soup spicy, rather it enhances and marries flavors together, but if you're very heat-sensitive you should probably omit it and add a bit more freshly grond black pepper. Tip - Additionally, I always recommend adding a pinch more, or a teaspoon+ more, of kosher salt if the broth tastes lackluster; always go light with the salt at first and increase after you're sure it needs a bit more.
- Soup will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 4 months. Reheat leftovers very gently in the microwave or on the stove.
Notes
- Use 3 to 4 cups of shredded rotisserie or leftover chicken as a convenient substitution for poached chicken.
- Start with half the suggested amounts of all spices, salt, and pepper, then adjust to taste at the end of cooking.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 12cups
Amount Per Serving
Calories 267 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1 | |
| Calories | 267kcal | 13% |
| Carbohydrates | 29g | 10% |
| Protein | 22g | 44% |
| Fat | 8g | 12% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 5g | 29% |
| Cholesterol | 44mg | 15% |
| Sodium | 796mg | 33% |
| Fiber | 6g | 24% |
| Sugar | 10g | 20% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.