Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup
Ingredients:
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1 whole chicken (at least 4 lbs, antibiotic-free and hormone-free preferred)
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1 heaping tablespoon ghee
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6 cups clean water
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1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
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1/2 teaspoon crushed rosemary (optional)
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1/2 teaspoon thyme (optional)
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1/2 teaspoon black pepper (optional)
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1 cup heavy cream (grass-fed preferred)
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2 tablespoons butter
Instructions:
Defrost the Chicken:
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If frozen, place the chicken in the refrigerator to fully defrost.
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Remove the innards (if included) and set them aside for other uses.
Prepare the Cooking Pot:
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Rinse the chicken and pat it dry.
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In a stainless steel crockpot or slow cooker with a sauté function, melt the ghee.
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Add salt, rosemary, thyme, and black pepper to the melted ghee.
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Allow the spices to warm slightly to release their flavors.
Brown the Chicken:
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Place the chicken breast-side up in the pot.
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Sauté for about 15 minutes, until the bottom is browned.
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Flip the chicken and brown the other side for another 5-10 minutes.
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Browning deepens the broth’s flavor.
Slow Cook the Chicken:
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Add 6 cups of clean water to the pot.
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If in a hurry, bring the water to a boil using the sauté function before switching to slow cook.
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Cover and set the slow cooker on low for 4 hours (or until the chicken is fully cooked and tender).
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At 3.5 hours, check for doneness by pulling on a leg; if it detaches easily, the chicken is ready.
Strain and Shred:
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Remove the chicken and set it aside to cool slightly.
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Strain the broth through a fine mesh sieve, reserving the liquid.
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Debone the chicken, shredding or dicing the meat into bite-sized pieces.
Final Assembly:
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Return the chicken to the strained broth.
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Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
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Add the butter and heavy cream, stirring gently to combine.
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Let the residual heat melt the butter and warm the cream without boiling.
Serve and Enjoy:
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Ladle into bowls, ensuring equal portions of chicken and broth.
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Optionally, garnish with extra rosemary or black pepper.
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Serve immediately while hot.
This homemade cream of chicken soup is rich, nourishing, and deeply flavorful. It’s built on the same simple bone broth method we use for our other soups, just enriched with cream and butter. Perfect for a cozy meal!