Description
A creamy soup filled with shredded chicken, cheddar cheese, bacon crumbles, baby kale, and homemade ranch seasoning.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried dill weed
- 1 teaspoon dried chives
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 6 to 8 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled, plus more for garnish
- Bacon grease
- 8 ounces cream cheese, cut in cubes
- 1 to 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 3 cups chopped baby kale (optional, you can also use baby spinach)
- Chopped scallions
Instructions
1. Place chicken breasts inside the slow cooker.
2. Season chicken breasts with onion powder, garlic powder, dried dill weed, dried chives, salt, and pepper. Rub seasoning all around the chicken breasts.
3. Pour chicken broth around the chicken breasts and not over them.
4. In the meantime, cook 4 slices of bacon to a crisp. Crumble the bacon and add to the slow cooker. Add in the bacon grease, too.
5. Add cubed cream cheese.
6. Cover and cook on LOW for 5 to 6 hours OR cook on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours.
7. Remove lid and transfer chicken breasts to a cutting board; using two forks or shredder claws, shred the chicken.
8. Return shredded chicken to the slow cooker and stir in the shredded cheddar cheese.
9. Stir in the chopped kale.
10. Cover and cook for 5 to 8 more minutes, or until cheese is melted, kale is wilted, and everything is heated through.
11. Taste for salt and pepper; adjust accordingly.
12. Ladle into soup bowls.
13. Garnish with more bacon crumbles and scallions.
14. Serve.
Notes
You can substitute baby spinach for kale if preferred.
Use full-fat cream cheese for the creamiest result.
To make it spicier, add red pepper flakes or a diced jalapeño before cooking.
Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for 2 months.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Soup
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 378kcal
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 593mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 126mg