We are in the thick of soup season and this creamy buffalo chicken soup might be one of the most comforting ways to do healthy buffalo chicken.
I am a huge fan of buffalo chicken – from casseroles to stuffed sweet potatoes and classic buffalo chicken tenders. It’s one of my favorite flavor combinations and the possibilities are endless.
What I love most about this buffalo chicken soup recipe is the creaminess factor. There is just something about a creamy soup that is so comforting. The kicker is, it gets its creaminess from potatoes blended with buffalo sauce, broth, and coconut milk. You don’t need any flour, starches, or dairy for thickeners!
It might sound a little different, but it is a simple and healthy way to thicken the soup. And I promise, absolutely delicious!
Why we love this buffalo chicken soup
- super thick and creamy!
- made in one pan (plus a blender)
- ready in about 45 minutes
- easy macro-balanced meal – it’s packed with protein from the chicken, has carbohydrates from the potatoes, some healthy fats from the coconut milk, and fiber from the veggies
- makes a lot and is great for meal prep
Ingredients
- ghee
- garlic
- onion
- carrot
- celery
- yukon gold potatoes – some will be diced and some will be quartered as the quartered ones will be blended to thicken the soup
- chicken breasts
- chicken broth
- full-fat coconut milk – for extra creaminess
- buffalo sauce – homemade or store-bought will work
- cayenne pepper
- lemon juice
- salt and pepper
How to make buffalo chicken soup
- Heat a large dutch oven or nonstick pot over medium heat. Add ghee and let it get hot, about 30 seconds. Add garlic and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute. Then add onion, carrots, celery, salt, and pepper and saute for 3-4 minutes until slightly softened.
- Make your soup. Add diced potatoes and mix well to combine. Make sure nothing is stuck to the bottom of the pan. Then add the chicken breasts (keep them whole) and the quartered potatoes on top (do not mix them, just layer them on top). Next, add your broth and make sure everything is covered. Add a little more broth if everything is not covered. Place the lid on the pot and let simmer, untouched, over medium to medium-low heat for 20-25 minutes. Be careful that the liquid doesn’t boil over. If needed, adjust the lid so a little air can get in.
- Blend soup. After 25 minutes the potatoes should be softened and the chicken cooked through. Remove the potato quarters and add to a blender. Remove the chicken and shred it with a fork. Add about 1/2-1 cup of the liquid from the soup along with the buffalo sauce, coconut milk, and cayenne pepper to your blender with the potatoes. Blend until smooth and creamy. Add back into the pot along with the shredded chicken and stir to combine.
- Let simmer. Add the lemon juice and a little more salt and pepper. Let simmer for 3-5 minutes until well combined.
- Enjoy! Top with optional toppings and enjoy!
To make it low carb
You can substitute cauliflower florets for the potatoes. You will want about the same amount (about 4 cups) and will want a little more than half to be in smaller bite-size pieces with the rest being in large chunks for blending.
If using cauliflower, you might not need the full 20-25 minutes for it to cook, but you still want to make sure the chicken is cooked through. Potatoes are pretty neutral in taste so the cauliflower might change the flavor a little, but the buffalo broth will still be the main star.
Using cauliflower will reduce the total number of carbs in this recipe.
How to serve buffalo chicken soup
This soup is super hearty and filling on its own. I love to customize it with toppings each time we have it. Here are some of my favorite things to dress it up or serve with it.
- salad – soup and salad is the perfect combo
- bread or crackers
- toppings – green onion, cilantro, a drizzle of coconut milk, more buffalo sauce/hot sauce, shredded cheddar cheese, blue cheese crumbles, yogurt, or sour cream
Storage
- fridge – keep it in an airtight container for 4-5 days in the fridge. Reheat it on the stove or microwave when you are ready to eat.
- freezer – this recipe would be perfect to freeze as it makes a lot. Freeze in a large container or in individual servings. Defrost in the fridge overnight. It should last up to 3 months in the freezer.
Substitutions
- ghee – butter or oil will work in place of ghee.
- garlic – garlic powder will work instead of fresh. Use 1 teaspoon worth. Just add it with the veggies if using (do not need to saute it).
- veggies – any kind of veggies will work to add to this soup. You can add more carrots, celery, and onion, or swap them with something else. Use make sure if using others, to dice them small.
- potatoes – any kind of potato or winter squash will work, including sweet potatoes and butternut squash. Using those will change the flavor. You can also use cauliflower as a lower-carb option (see the above section for recommendations).
- chicken – chicken thighs will work instead of breasts. This will a little more fat. To make this soup come together even faster, use cooked shredded chicken. Simply add the potatoes to the pot and cook for 15-20 minutes until softened and cooked through. Add your shredded chicken in with the blended broth or when you are ready to eat.
- broth – any kind of broth will work. Chicken, beef, or veggie. Using beef broth will give this soup a richer flavor.
- coconut milk – you can use low-fat coconut milk instead of full-fat if you like. Almond milk will also work, but the broth will not be as thick if using it or low-fat coconut milk. You can also use heavy cream if you do well with dairy.
- buffalo sauce – hot sauce (I like Frank’s) will work the same as buffalo sauce. I like using Frank’s (original).
More healthy soup recipes
If you love quick and easy meals and want to learn how to build a balanced plate, check out our FREE How to Build a Balanced Plate Guide!
Buffalo Chicken Soup
Creamy buffalo chicken soup will be your new favorite healthy chicken soup recipe. It’s hearty and comforting, full of protein, and thickened without any dairy or flour. Made in one pot on the stove and ready in 45 minutes. Gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo, and Whole30 approved!
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equipment
ingredients
- 1 tablespoon ghee
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 heaping cup diced yellow onion (140 grams)
- 1 heaping cup diced carrot (150 grams)
- 1 cup diced celery (120 grams)
- 2 1/2 heaping cups diced yukon gold potatoes (cut into 1-1 1/2 inch pieces) – see notes*
- 1 1/2 cups peeled and quartered yukon gold potatoes (cut into about 2-2 1/2 inches pieces) – see notes*
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cups buffalo sauce **
- 1/2 cup full-fat coconut milk (make sure fully combined when using canned coconut milk)***
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- salt and pepper, to taste
- optional toppings: green onion, coconut cream, hot sauce, cheese
instructions
- Heat a large dutch oven or nonstick pot over medium heat. Add ghee and let it get hot, about 30 seconds. Add garlic and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add onion, carrots, celery, salt, and pepper and saute for 3-4 minutes until slightly softened.
- Make your soup. Add diced potatoes and mix well to combine. Make sure nothing is stuck to the bottom of the pan. Then add the chicken breasts (keep them whole) and the quartered potatoes on top (do not mix them, just layer them on top). Add your broth and make sure everything is covered. Add a little more broth if everything is not covered. Place the lid on the pot and let simmer, untouched, over medium to medium-low heat for 20-25 minutes. Be careful that the liquid doesn’t boil over. If needed, adjust the lid so a little air can get in.
- Blend soup. After 25 minutes the potatoes should be softened and the chicken cooked through. Remove the potato quarters and add to a blender. Remove the chicken and shred it with a fork. Add about 1/2-1 cup of the liquid from the soup along with the buffalo sauce, coconut milk, and cayenne pepper to your blender with the potatoes. Blend until smooth and creamy. Add back into the pot along with the shredded chicken and stir to combine.
- Let simmer. Add the lemon juice and a little more salt and pepper. Let simmer for 3-5 minutes until well combined.
- Enjoy! Top with optional toppings and enjoy!
notes
*you want about 1 1/2 pounds (24 ounces) of potatoes in total. The number of potatoes will vary depending on how large or small they are.
**you can use either homemade buffalo sauce or store-bought. Both work great!
***when using canned full-fat coconut milk, it is usually separated with liquid/water on the bottom and cream on the top. Make sure to mix well so it’s fully combined before using.
nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Buffalo Chicken Soup
Amount Per Serving (1 cup)
Calories 236
Calories from Fat 65
% Daily Value*
Fat 7.2g11%
Saturated Fat 4g25%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.5g
Monounsaturated Fat 1.1g
Cholesterol 66mg22%
Sodium 554mg24%
Potassium 755mg22%
Carbohydrates 19.1g6%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 3.3g4%
Protein 21.7g43%
Vitamin A 183IU4%
Vitamin C 11mg13%
Calcium 31mg3%
Iron 0.9mg5%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?If you make this recipe or anything from Eat the Gains, leave a comment and rating to let people know how you liked it! Also, make sure to post it and tag me so I can see all of your creations!! @eatthegains and #eatthegains on Instagram!
Recipe by Kelly Nardo, Eat the Gains | Photography by The Mindful Hapa
Rosalyn says
Made this last night!!!! 5 ⭐️ it was delicious
Kelly says
Yay! Glad you enjoyed it, Rosalyn!
Angie says
This soup was easy to make and so delicious! I didn’t have potatoes so I subbed out Trader Joe’s frozen mashed cauliflower (I just that we’d and put it straight into blender as if it was the potatoes in the recipe). It might be a little thicker with potatoes, but I didn’t miss them at all! Definitely putting this on repeat!
Kelly says
Love that sub and am glad it worked so well! Thanks for trying it Angie!
Sarah says
Such a yummy, delicious, creamy, and comforting soup! I’ve made this recipe several times, swapping the potatoes with cauliflower, and it works perfectly! This recipe will definitely be staying in my meal rotation!
Kelly says
Love that the cauliflower works so well! Thanks for trying it Sarah and glad you enjoy it!
Carrie Houston says
Seriously love this recipe! I added the spicy stuff to my bowl only so that I could serve a non spicy bowl to my daughter as well. worked out perfectly! Everyone was able to add just the right amount of spice that they liked.
Kelly says
Oh, I love that idea of holding off on the spice! Glad it worked and everyone enjoyed it. Thanks, Carrie!
Suzanne says
I made your Buffalo Sauce and your Buffalo Chicken soup…..AMAZING!!! My family LOVES it and it will easily be on the regular rotation!!! I can’t wait to try the Buffalo sauce on a million other foods…SO good!
Easy, delicious, different and great to have extra of in the fridge:)
Kelly says
Yay, so happy to hear that! A homemade buffalo sauce is so dang good! Glad you enjoyed it Suzanne and thanks for trying it!
Nicole Triplett says
Made this soup today and it was so quick and easy. I love buffalo chicken and this soup was a nice twist on wings. Perfect for the cold Ohio winters! Thanks again Kelly for another great recipe!
Kelly says
So glad you enjoyed it, Nicole! Huge fan of buffalo any way I can get it too!
Melanie says
Made tonight with Cauliflower and it was super satisfying. Added white beans for my Son’s vegetarian GF and chicken for us and it was delish!
Kelly says
Oh I love the idea of white beans in this! Glad everyone enjoyed it, thanks for trying Melanie!
Jess says
Perfectly hearty winter meal! If you like buffalo chicken, this is the soup for you. We made this for Sunday game watching thinking we would have enough for the week for dinners and ended up eating almost all of it in one day between 2 of us! It’s relatively easy to make. We used pre-cooked shredded chicken and it made this a very fast recipe to make. We also doubled up on the buffalo sauce, but we love things spicy. Highly recommend. We will make again…and again!
Kelly says
Haha, my husband and I do that same thing! Love that you used pre-cooked chicken. So glad y’all enjoyed it and thank you for trying it Jess!