High Protein Creamy Chicken Soup: A Cozy and Healthy Recipe

Craving a warm and comforting bowl of chicken noodle soup, but want to boost your protein intake? This high-protein creamy chicken soup is the perfect solution! It’s incredibly flavorful, wonderfully cozy, and ideal for those chilly weeknights. This soup boasts a remarkable 30g of protein per serving, thanks to the clever addition of blended cottage cheese, tender rotisserie chicken, and hearty butter beans. We’re confident that you and your family will love this soup as much as we do!

Recipe Highlights

• Protein-Packed: This soup is a protein powerhouse! Blended cottage cheese, shredded chicken, butter beans, and a flavorful chicken broth work together to deliver an impressive 30g of protein per serving. It’s a delicious and satisfying way to meet your protein goals.
• Creamy and Delicious: The secret to the incredible creaminess of this soup is blended cottage cheese. It not only adds a delightful tang of flavor but also creates a luxuriously smooth texture without the need for heavy cream. Enjoy a guilt-free creamy soup!
• Perfect for Chilly Weather: There’s nothing quite like a warm bowl of chicken noodle soup on a cold winter day, especially when you’re feeling under the weather. This high-protein version takes that classic comfort to the next level with added nutritional benefits. It’s the perfect remedy for a chilly day.

Why This Soup is High-Protein

The magic behind this soup’s high protein content lies in a combination of simple, yet effective ingredients. We’re talking about blended cottage cheese, tender chicken, hearty butter beans, and, of course, a rich chicken broth. When you combine all these elements, you get a whopping 30g of protein per serving! It’s hard to beat that for a comforting and nutritious meal.

Ingredients You’ll Need

To create this protein-packed and creamy delight, you’ll need the following ingredients. Each ingredient plays a vital role in contributing to the overall flavor, texture, and nutritional value of the soup.

• Rotisserie Chicken: This is an excellent soup to utilize leftover rotisserie chicken (or even cooked chicken breasts or thighs). You’ll need approximately 4 cups of shredded chicken, so feel free to use whatever you have on hand. Using rotisserie chicken is a convenient way to shorten the cooking time and adds a delicious savory flavor.
• Fun Pasta: We love using mafalda pasta (as pictured in the photos!), but you can easily substitute it with your favorite pasta shape. We’ve also made this soup with bow tie, penne, and rigatoni pasta with great results. The choice is yours!
• Veggies: A classic combination of chicken soup vegetables, including carrots, celery, and onions, is essential for building a flavorful broth. These vegetables not only add depth of flavor but also provide valuable nutrients.
• Butter Beans: Butter beans not only add a wonderful creamy texture to this soup, but they also contribute a significant amount of protein per serving. If you’re not a fan of beans, feel free to omit them, but keep in mind that you’ll be reducing the overall protein content.
• Blended Cottage Cheese: This is our go-to ingredient for adding creaminess (and a boost of protein!) to soups. It’s important to add the blended cottage cheese right at the end and remove the soup from the heat before doing so. Adding cold cottage cheese to a hot soup can cause it to curdle. If curdling does occur, simply continue stirring the soup until it becomes smooth again.

How to Make High Protein Creamy Chicken Soup

Now, let’s dive into the easy-to-follow steps for creating this delicious and healthy soup. Each step is designed to ensure that you achieve the perfect balance of flavor, texture, and creaminess.

1. Sauté the Veggies: In a Dutch oven or large pot, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until it begins to soften, about 3-5 minutes. Then, add the chopped celery, carrots, and garlic to the pot and sauté for an additional 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Sautéing the vegetables first helps to develop their flavors and create a richer base for the soup.
2. Add the Aromatics and Broth: Add the bundle of fresh thyme and chicken broth to the pot and bring to a boil. The thyme infuses the broth with a wonderful aroma and earthy flavor.
3. Cook the Pasta: Add your chosen pasta shape to the same pot and cook according to package directions until the pasta is al dente (slightly firm to the bite). Be careful not to overcook the pasta, as it will continue to cook slightly in the hot soup.
4. Incorporate Chicken and Beans: Keep the cooked pasta in the pot and add the shredded rotisserie chicken and drained butter beans. Reduce the heat to low. These ingredients provide the bulk of the protein and add heartiness to the soup.
5. Temper the Cottage Cheese: This step is crucial! Remove about 2 cups of the hot broth from the pot and whisk it thoroughly with the blended cottage cheese in a separate bowl. This process, known as tempering, gradually raises the temperature of the cottage cheese, preventing it from curdling when added to the hot soup.
6. Combine and Heat Through: Slowly pour the tempered cottage cheese mixture back into the pot with the soup, stirring continuously to combine. Heat the soup gently until it is warmed through, but do not allow it to boil. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed with salt and pepper.
7. Serve and Enjoy: Ladle the creamy chicken soup into bowls and serve immediately. Garnish with fresh thyme sprigs or a sprinkle of black pepper, if desired. Enjoy your delicious and protein-packed creation!

Serving Suggestions

This creamy chicken soup is delicious on its own, but it can be elevated with a few simple accompaniments. Here are some of our favorite serving suggestions:

• Crusty Bread: A slice of warm, crusty bread is perfect for dipping into the creamy broth and soaking up all the delicious flavors.
• High-Protein Dinner Rolls: If you have some extra time, our high-protein dinner rolls are a fantastic addition to this soup. They’re incredibly delicious and add even more protein to your meal.
• Caesar Salad: For a lighter meal, pair the soup with a classic Caesar salad. The crisp lettuce and tangy dressing provide a refreshing contrast to the rich and creamy soup.

Storage & Reheating

Proper storage is key to maintaining the quality and freshness of your leftover soup.

• Storage: Allow the soup to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for 5-7 days. Cooling the soup before refrigerating prevents condensation and helps to preserve its texture and flavor.

When you’re ready to enjoy your leftover soup, reheating is simple.

• Reheating: Reheat the soup over medium heat on the stovetop until it is warmed through. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave. To minimize cleanup, we often reheat our leftover soup in the same Dutch oven we used to make it!

Freezing Instructions

This soup freezes remarkably well, making it a great option for meal prepping or saving for later. Follow these simple steps for successful freezing:

• Allow the soup to cool completely before transferring it to a freezer-safe container. We often use freezer-safe ziploc bags, which are convenient for storing flat in the freezer.
• Remove as much air as possible from the container to prevent freezer burn.
• Label the container with the date and a “use by” date (up to 3 months).
• Store the soup in the freezer for up to 3 months.

When you’re ready to enjoy your frozen soup, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight or use the defrost setting on your microwave. Then, reheat as described above.

More of My Favorite Soup Recipes

If you enjoyed this high-protein creamy chicken soup, you might also like some of our other favorite soup recipes. Each recipe offers a unique blend of flavors and nutritional benefits.

• High Protein Marry Me Chicken Soup
• Chicken Wild Rice Soup
• 20 Minute Thai Coconut Dumpling Soup
• 30 Minute Creamy Pumpkin Soup
• Ultimate Chicken Soup
• Creamy Chicken Orzo Soup

High Protein Creamy Chicken Soup Recipe

This creamy chicken soup is cozy, protein-packed, and perfect for chilly weeknights. Thanks to blended cottage cheese, shredded chicken, butter beans and flavorful chicken broth, this soup packs a whopping 30g of protein per serving.

By: Emily Richter

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ½ large white onion, minced
• 1 teaspoon sea salt, separated
• 4 stalks celery, chopped
• 4 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• A bundle of fresh thyme, tied with butcher’s twine
• 10 cups chicken broth
• 6 oz. pasta, any kind (mafalda recommended)
• 4 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
• 15 oz. butter beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup blended 2% cottage cheese

Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium/high heat. Add the onion and season with ¼ teaspoon salt. Sauté the onion for 3-5 minutes or until it begins to soften.
   
2. Add the celery, carrots, and garlic to the pot and saute for an additional 2-3 minutes. Add the bundle of fresh thyme and chicken broth to the pot and bring to a boil.
   
3. Add the pasta to the pot and cook until the pasta is al dente. Keep the pasta in the pot and add the rotisserie chicken and butter beans to the pot. Turn the heat to low.
   
4. Remove 2 cups of broth from the pot and whisk the broth with 1 cup of blended cottage cheese to temper the cottage cheese. Add the mixture to the pot and stir to combine.
   
5. Serve when the soup reaches the desired temperature.
   

Tips & Notes

• You can cook chicken at home and shred it yourself.
• Mafalda pasta is great for texture but you can use any type of pasta you would like.
• Do not skip tempering the cottage cheese with warm broth in step #4 to ensure the cottage cheese doesn’t curdle.

Nutrition

Calories: 333kcal, Carbohydrates: 33g, Protein: 30g, Fat: 9g, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 6g

Disclaimer: Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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