Name: Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Soup
Total time: 55 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 2 large skinless, boneless chicken breasts (about 1½ lb.); 1½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1 tsp. Morton kosher salt, plus more; 4 Tbsp. plus ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided; 10 oz. mixed mushrooms (such as maitake, shiitake, or button), trimmed if needed, torn into bite-size pieces; 3 large shallots, finely chopped; 7 garlic cloves, 5 thinly sliced, 2 finely grated; 1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour; 1½ tsp. dried thyme or 1 Tbsp. chopped thyme; 1 cup dry white wine; Freshly ground pepper; 3 Tbsp. finely chopped parsley; 1 cup heavy cream; 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce; Country-style bread (for serving; optional)

Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Soup in a green bowl with a spoon moving through it

Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Kendra Vaculin, prop styling by Emma Ringness

No stock required! The cozy, rich-but-not-heavy soup skips the boxed stuff, instead favoring a method where you make your own quick broth by poaching chicken breasts in an aromatics-loaded pot of water. The resulting liquid makes the ideal base for mushrooms, shredded chicken (it does double duty!) and heavy cream. Don’t skip the garlic-parsley oil drizzle at the end—it’s what made some members of the test kitchen call this a restaurant-worthy dish.

What you’ll need

Dutch Oven
$90 At Amazon
Pyrex 4-Cup Measuring Cup
$8 At Bed Bath and Beyond
Wooden Spoon
$9 At Amazon

Recipe information

Total Time
55 minutes
Yield
4 servings

Ingredients

2 large skinless, boneless chicken breasts (about 1½ lb.)

1½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1 tsp. Morton kosher salt, plus more

4 Tbsp. plus ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided

10 oz. mixed mushrooms (such as maitake, shiitake, or button), trimmed if needed, torn into bite-size pieces

3 large shallots, finely chopped

7 garlic cloves, 5 thinly sliced, 2 finely grated

1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour

1½ tsp. dried thyme or 1 Tbsp. chopped thyme

1 cup dry white wine

Freshly ground pepper

3 Tbsp. finely chopped parsley

1 cup heavy cream

2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

Country-style bread (for serving; optional)

Preparation

Step 1
Pat 2 large skinless, boneless chicken breasts (about 1½ lb.) dry with paper towels. Season with kosher salt on both sides. Set aside.
Step 2
Heat 3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil in a medium Dutch oven over medium-high. Cook 10 oz. mixed mushrooms, trimmed if needed, torn into bite-size pieces, stirring occasionally, until softened, 5–7 minutes. Season with salt and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until browned and crisp, 5–9 minutes more, depending on type. Transfer to a bowl.
Step 3
Pour 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil into same pot, then add 3 large shallots, finely chopped, and 5 garlic cloves, thinly sliced, and season with salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Add 1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour and 1½ tsp. dried thyme or 1 Tbsp. chopped thyme and cook, stirring often, until combined, about 1 minute.
Step 4
Pour in 1 cup dry white wine, scraping up browned bits, and bring to a simmer. Cook until liquid is slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Add half of the mushrooms, 1½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1 tsp. Morton kosher salt, reserved chicken, and 5 cups water; season with freshly ground pepper. Bring to a rapid boil. Cover pot; remove from heat. Let sit until chicken is cooked through, about 15 minutes.
Step 5
Meanwhile, mix 3 Tbsp. finely chopped parsley, 2 garlic cloves, finely grated, remaining ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, and a big pinch of salt in a small bowl to combine.
Step 6
Uncover pot and, using tongs, transfer chicken to a plate; shred with 2 forks. Return to pot and add 1 cup heavy cream and 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce. Set over medium and heat until warmed through, about 4 minutes.
Step 7
Ladle soup into bowls and top with remaining mushrooms. Drizzle with parsley oil; season with more pepper. Serve with country-style bread if desired.