This thick and hearty Chicken Potato Soup with Bacon is the perfect comfort food for chilly evenings. Packed with tender chunks of chicken, creamy potatoes, and crispy bacon, this soup is a satisfying and flavorful meal. It's easy to make and perfect for leftovers, too. Serve with crusty bread for a delicious and filling dinner.
4slicesthick cut smoked bacon,cut into shorter pieces
1small onion,diced
2ribs celery,diced
1medium carrot,diced small or grated
1poundYukon gold potatoes,cut into 1/2” pieces
2tablespoonsall-purpose flour
2tablespoonsDijon mustard
1teaspoonItalian herb blend
1teaspoondried chives
3cupslow-sodium chicken broth
1teaspoonchicken bouillon(such as Better Than Bouillon), optional
1teaspoonWorcestershire sauce
3cupscooked chicken,cubed or shredded (leftover or rotisserie is great)
1cuphalf and half
2green onions,sliced on the diagonal
1cupchopped spinach leaves
1pinchred pepper flakes
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Suggested garnishes:
Crumbled bacon
Sliced green onions
Snipped fresh chives
Shredded cheese
A dollop of sour cream
Instructions
Heat wide bottom Dutch oven or soup pot over medium
Cook bacon til crispy, flipping often and moving around the pan so it doesn’t burn to the bottom of the pot (about 15 minutes).
Transfer to paper towel-lined plate to drain and rest.
There should be 1 to 2 tablespoons of bacon grease in the pot. Carefully drain off excess, if necessary.
Add the onions, celery, carrots and potatoes to the pot. Sauté, stirring frequently, until the aromatics are softened (the potatoes might not be cooked through at this point; that’s okay). As the veggies exude their liquids, it will deglaze any crusty brown fond left from the bacon. Be sure to stir frequently. (About 8-10 minutes)
Spoon in the flour, mustard, and dried herbs over the veggies, and stir everything together. If very stiff and pasty, add a splash of the chicken broth to loosen. Let this mixture cook for a minute or two to remove the rawness of the flour.
Raise the heat to medium high and begin stirring in the broth 1 cup at a time. This will help the flour thicken the broth.
Add the Worcestershire sauce and bouillon (if using). Bring the soup up to an active simmer and let bubble gently for 10 minutes.
When the bacon has cooled, crumble into small bits and set some aside for garnish at serving.
Reduce heat to low.
Stir in the half-and-half, followed by the cooked chicken, crumbled bacon, spinach, green onions (reserve some if using for garnish), red pepper flakes and a pinch of black pepper.
Let the soup rest for 5 or 10 minutes. The spinach will wilt, and the soup will continue to thicken.
Taste, and adjust with salt and black pepper as needed.