Buffalo Chicken Soup Recipe (3 Ways!) - Wholesome Yum (2024)

Buffalo Chicken Soup Recipe (3 Ways!) - Wholesome Yum (1)

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Table Of Contents hide

  • Why You’ll Love This Buffalo Chicken Soup Recipe
  • How To Make Buffalo Chicken Soup
  • Storage Instructions
  • More Easy Soup Recipes
  • Tools To Make Buffalo Chicken Soup
  • Buffalo Chicken Soup Recipe (3 Ways!)

There’s nothing quite like a warm, healthy buffalo chicken soup recipe on a cold day. The combination of buffalo sauce and creamy soup is totally irresistible, and makes the perfect comfort food. Like my Instant Pot buffalo chicken dip, buffalo cauliflower bites, crispy baked buffalo chicken, or my personal favorite buffalo chicken wings, this soup is spicy and flavorful!

What’s great about this soup is that you can make it in 3 ways: your Crock Pot, your Instant Pot, or the stovetop! I’m a fan of using my Instant Pot, and if you are too, try using it for cabbage hamburger soup, Instant Pot broccoli, or egg bites.

Why You’ll Love This Buffalo Chicken Soup Recipe

  • Buffalo flavor – spicy, but not too spicy!
  • Creamy with chunks of chicken
  • Done in 30 minutes
  • Instant Pot, Crock Pot, and stovetop options
  • Naturally low carb and gluten-free
  • All the flavor of buffalo chicken wings in an easy soup!
Buffalo Chicken Soup Recipe (3 Ways!) - Wholesome Yum (2)

Ingredients & Substitutions

This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for chicken buffalo soup, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.

  • Olive Oil – For sauteing the onion, celery and garlic. You could also use whatever neutral cooking oil you like (or butter).
  • Onion– I used a white onion, but yellow onions would work well too. Dice into small equal pieces.
  • Celery– A natural pairing with buffalo flavors! You could also add carrots, potatoes or other veggies.
  • Garlic– I prefer to use fresh minced garlic for the best flavor, but you could use 2 teaspoons of jarred minced garlic for convenience instead. If you don’t have garlic on hand, you can substitute 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder — just add it at the same time as the chicken and broth.
  • Shredded Chicken– Cook this any way you like using chicken breasts or chicken thighs, but I prefer to shred pressure cooker chicken breast! You can also use any leftover chicken you have or a rotisserie chicken from the store.
  • Broth– You can use any kind of broth you like. I often use chicken bone broth for added nutrition, but regular chicken broth or vegetable broth would work as well.
  • Buffalo Sauce– This does add some heat. If you prefer less heat, use 2 tablespoons buffalo wing sauce instead of 3.
  • Cream Cheese– Warm to room temperature and cut into cubes so it will easily melt into the soup.
  • Half & Half– I opted for half and half to lighten this soup up a bit, but you can use heavy cream for richer results. For deeper flavor, you could also substitute ranch dressing.
Buffalo Chicken Soup Recipe (3 Ways!) - Wholesome Yum (3)

How To Make Buffalo Chicken Soup

This section shows how to make buffalo chicken soup in the Instant Pot, Crock Pot, or stovetop, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.

  1. Saute vegetables. Heat the oil using the Saute setting on theInstant Pot, a skillet on the stovetop for the Crock Pot version, or a Dutch oven on the stove for the stovetop version. Add chopped onion and celery. Cook until onions are translucent and start to brown.
  2. Saute garlic. Add garlic. Saute until fragrant.
  3. Combine. For the Instant Pot or stovetop methods, add the shredded chicken, broth, and buffalo sauce directly to the pot. For the Crock Pot method, place these in the slow cooker, along with the veggies from the skillet.
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Buffalo Chicken Soup Recipe (3 Ways!) - Wholesome Yum (5)
  1. Cook. Simmer the buffalo chicken soup recipe, either using the Soup setting (under pressure) in the Instant Pot, on the Low setting in the Crock Pot, or just simmer on the stove.
  2. Puree. Ladle about a cup of liquid (without chicken) from the pot and pour into ablender. Add cubed cream cheese. Puree until smooth.
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Buffalo Chicken Soup Recipe (3 Ways!) - Wholesome Yum (7)

Buffalo Chicken Soup Recipe (3 Ways!) - Wholesome Yum (8)

TIP: For best texture, you must blend.

Don’t make the mistake I first made and add the cream cheese directly to the buffalo chicken soup. It will form chunks and not melt. No good!

It works much better to blend the cream cheese with a little liquid first, then add it in. Make sure it’s softened and not too cold, or it won’t blend either.

  1. Stir. Pour the cream cheese mixture back into the Instant Pot, Crock Pot, or Dutch oven. Add half and half and stir until smooth. The soup already has enough heat and salty ingredients, so I didn’t need any additional salt or pepper, but you can add to taste if needed.

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OPTIONAL: Add toppings!

For classic wing flavors, try finishing this soup with a sprinkle of crumbled blue cheese (or a drizzle of blue cheese dressing), sliced green onions, or shredded cheddar cheese.

Storage Instructions

  • Store: Keep creamy buffalo chicken soup covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
  • Meal prep: Cut vegetables, prepare shredded chicken, and store separately in the refrigerator until ready to use.
  • Reheat: Warm on the stovetop or in the microwave, until heated through.
  • Freeze: Cool soup to room temperature, then pour into zip top freezer bags. Lay flat in the freezer until solid, and after that you can move them upright to save space if needed. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
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More Easy Soup Recipes

Warm up with some delicious, easy, and healthy soup recipes! These are some of my favorite quick and easy ones.

Broccoli Cheese Soup

Easy Taco Soup

Roasted Cauliflower Soup

Mexican Chicken Soup

  • Instant Pot– Makes a much quicker soup compared to other cooking methods.
  • Slow Cooker – Another option for making this buffalo chicken soup recipe. It’s simple and inexpensive, but I love it for all my slow cooker recipes!
  • Dutch Oven – The best option for the stovetop version. Goes beautifully from stove to table!
  • Blender – A must to create the creamiest results.

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Recipe Card

Buffalo Chicken Soup Recipe (3 Ways!) - Wholesome Yum (18)

4.76 from 41 votes☝️ Click stars to rate or click here to leave a review!

Buffalo Chicken Soup Recipe (3 Ways!)

This buffalo chicken soup recipe has the perfect blend of spice and cream, complete with hot sauce and tender chicken. 3 ways to cook it!

Prep: 10 minutes

Cook: 20 minutes

Total: 30 minutes

Author: Maya Krampf from WholesomeYum.com

Servings: 6 (adjust to scale recipe)

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Ingredients

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Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.

Instant Pot / Pressure Cooker Instructions:

  1. Press the Saute button on the Instant Pot. Add the oil, chopped onion, and celery. Cook for about 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions are translucent and start to brown.

  2. Add garlic. Saute for about 1 minute, until fragrant. Press the Off button.

  3. Add the shredded chicken, broth, and buffalo sauce.

  4. Cover and seal the Instant Pot. Press the Soup button and adjust time to 5 minutes. After cooking is complete, let pressure release naturally for 5 minutes, then switch to quick release and open the lid.

  5. Ladle about a cup of liquid (without chicken) from the edge of the Instant Pot and pour into a blender. Add the cubed cream cheese. Puree until smooth. (If it's hard to blend, you can add a little more liquid.)

  6. Pour the mixture back into the Instant Pot. Add the half & half or heavy cream. Stir until smooth.

Crock Pot / Slow Cooker Instructions:

  1. Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, and celery. Cook for about 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions are translucent and start to brown.

  2. Add garlic. Saute for about 1 minute, until fragrant.

  3. Place the shredded chicken, broth, and buffalo sauce into the slow cooker. Add all the ingredients from the pan and stir.

  4. Cook for 3-4 hours on low.

  5. Ladle about a cup of liquid (without chicken) from the edge of the slow cooker and pour into a blender. Add the cubed cream cheese. Puree until smooth. (If it’s hard to blend, you can add a little more liquid.)

  6. Pour the mixture back into the slow cooker. Add the half & half or heavy cream. Stir until smooth.

Stovetop Instructions:

  1. Heat the oil in a large dutch oven or pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, and celery. Cook for about 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions are translucent and start to brown.

  2. Add garlic. Saute for about 1 minute, until fragrant.

  3. Add the shredded chicken, broth, and buffalo sauce. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 20 minutes.

  4. Ladle about a cup of liquid (without chicken) from the edge of the Instant Pot and pour into a blender. Add the cubed cream cheese. Puree until smooth. (If it's hard to blend, you can add a little more liquid.)

  5. Pour the mixture back into the pot. Add the half & half or heavy cream. Stir until smooth.

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Recipe Notes

Serving size:1 cup

Nutrition Facts

Amount per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.

Calories314

Fat20g

Protein28.2g

Total Carbs4.5g

Net Carbs4.1g

Fiber0.4g

Sugar2.5g

Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.

Course:Main Course, Soup

Cuisine:American

Keywords:buffalo chicken soup, buffalo chicken soup recipe

Calories: 314 kcal

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. 🙂

Buffalo Chicken Soup Recipe

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FAQs

How do you make chicken soup taste richer? ›

Add Umami: Add a teaspoon of toasted sesame oil, mushroom powder, or a few dashes of fish sauce for an ultra-satisfying, umami-packed soup. Add More Veggies: Swirl in fresh spinach or kale at the end of cooking for more of a vegetable-heavy soup.

How to make chicken soup without drying out the chicken? ›

Cold-poaching the chicken breasts, then removing them until the end of the cooking process, guarantees a perfectly tender and juicy texture. Using stock reinforces the flavor of the broth, creating a more deeply flavorful soup.

How do you make soup richer? ›

"If your broth is lacking in savory richness, try adding roasted onion, tomato paste, mushrooms, seaweed, soy sauce, or miso. These ingredients add umami flavor and depth to broth," she says. The choice of ingredient depends on the recipe, though.

Why do you put lemon juice in chicken soup? ›

Lemons are a chicken soup game changer. Why? They brighten up and balance the salty, rich flavors of the dish, and make all of the ingredients come into line. Like a vinaigrette on a salad, the pickle on a burger, and the sour cream in a coffee cake, a squeeze of lemon gives chicken soup a game-changing brightness.

What can I add to my chicken soup to give it more flavor? ›

How To Add More Flavor To Chicken Noodle Soup
  1. Homemade Chicken Broth. The secret to a flavorful chicken noodle soup lies in the broth. ...
  2. Add Fresh Herbs. ...
  3. Splash of Acid. ...
  4. Soy Sauce or Fish Sauce. ...
  5. Spice it Up. ...
  6. Roasted Vegetables. ...
  7. Experiment with Spices. ...
  8. Parmesan Cheese.
Jan 31, 2024

Is it OK to put raw chicken in soup? ›

You can cook the chicken at a high-enough temperature to kill bacteria by turning up the heat on the broth, but for a much safer and tastier method, brown your chicken first. Browning or searing the chicken in a separate pan is not only far more foolproof, but adds richness and extra umami to your soup.

How do you keep chicken moist in chicken soup? ›

Don't BOIL, only ever a slow gentle simmer - Not just Chicken all Meat. If you insist on putting your Chicken in there at the start of cooking you make be better off with boneless thighs as they contain slightly more fat and sinew (good for keeping meat moist).

Can I use chicken stock instead of water for soup? ›

When should you go through the trouble of using stock instead of water? Only in cases where the flavor of the stock is really essential—it wouldn't be chicken soup without good chicken stock—or when not many other aromatics are worked into the recipe, as for risotto or French onion soup.

What is the secret ingredient in soup? ›

It may sound a bit strange and unusual for some, but vinegar is a common ingredient in some soup recipes, and there is a good reason for it. If you think about it, vinegar is really a flavor-enhancer (umami). That's why it is so often used in cooking, sauces, and salad dressings. The same is true with soups.

What is the most important ingredient in soup? ›

For clear, brothy soups, stock is your most important ingredient. If you want to make a good soup, you need to use an excellently flavored stock — otherwise, the entire pot could be tasteless.

How to make soup secrets? ›

Soup Secrets make it easy for you to make hearty, homemade soup for your family. Add one bag of instant soup mix to four cups of water and bring to a boil, cooking until noodles are tender.

How do you fix tasteless chicken soup? ›

A few great choices are thyme, bay leaf, parsley, and rosemary. 4. Try adding some acidity. A splash of lemon juice or a tablespoon of white wine vinegar can brighten the flavors of the soup.

What ingredient can be added to a soup to make it thicker and richer? ›

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute. For the best results, never add flour or cornstarch directly to your soup. If you do, it will clump up on top. Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool.

How to enhance chicken stock flavor? ›

Add aromatics: Adding fresh herbs, such as thyme or parsley, or aromatic vegetables like onions, carrots, and celery, can help enhance the flavor of the stock.

Does chicken soup taste better the longer you cook it? ›

While broth and stock both get richer and richer the longer you cook them, the problem is that the chicken meat will dry out and get tough if you let it go too long.

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