comfortfood – The Ardent Cook

Chicken and Dumplings

Chicken and Dumplings is a classic comfort food recipe. I grew up eating this on school nights, coming home from winter track practice to smells of chicken soup and biscuit batter. The base of this dish is a slightly thickened-up chicken soup…. not as thick as a chicken pot pie filling, but more stick-to-your-ribs than traditional soup. Then, free-form biscuits get dropped into the bubbling soup and steamed until you have a dozen pillowy dumpling floating and waiting to be devoured. It’s so good!

Ingredients needed to make Chicken and Dumplings

This recipe requires the typical myriad of chicken soup ingredients; celery, carrots, onions, sage, thyme, etc. I love this dish because of the versatility. It’s great for a warming family dinner, to serve to guests (if we can ever have those again), or to prep for a few days of lunches. It also transitions seamlessly between all-purpose flour and a 1-1 gluten free flour blend, so there are no issues if you need to eliminate the gluten. You’ll see options to make this meal dairy-free as well in the recipe section. Here’s the full list:

Butter (or olive oil)
Shredded chicken
Yellow onion
Carrots
Celery
Garlic
All-purpose flour (or 1-1 GF flour blend)
Chicken broth
Heavy cream (or full-fat unsweetened coconut milk)
Fresh sage
Fresh thyme
Frozen peas (optional)
Fresh parsley
Eggs
Baking powder
Baking soda
Milk (or full-fat unsweetened coconut milk)

Tools used to make Chicken and Dumplings

I can’t say it enough- I love soups. They require so few tools to pull off and they’re really hard to mess up. LOVE them. Here are all the tools you’ll need to make these Chicken and Dumplings easily:

Sharp knife
Cutting board
Large Dutch oven with lid (or a soup pot)
Medium mixing bowl
Measuring cups and spoons
A wooden spoon
A ladle, for serving
#40 (~1.5 tbsp) cookie scoop (optional, but very useful)

How to make Chicken and Dumplings

As mentioned above, this recipe is very akin to a traditional chicken soup crossed with a chicken pot pie filling. The process starts the same as any other soup, by chopping your onions, carrots, celery, and garlic and cooking them down in some butter. Once the veggies have started to take on a little color, you’ll sprinkle in some flour and fresh herbs to coat the veggies, then pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream. You’ll let the soup simmer over medium heat, stirring here and there, until it thickens up slightly.

While the soup thickens, you’ll prepare a basic biscuit batter of flour, an egg, butter, milk, and a few other ingredients. The batter will be a touch thicker than, say, a pancake batter, but you won’t believe how the dumplings cook up in the soup. It’s amazing!

Once the soup has thickened, add the shredded (and already cooked!) chicken and frozen peas, if using, to the pot. Taste for salt and pepper and adjust accordingly. Lower the heat so the soup is no longer boiling, then use a cookie scoop (or a small measuring cup) to drop roughly 2 tbsp worth of batter into the soup.. The batter will immediately come together to form floating dumplings once it hits the heat, then just keeping adding little scoops until all of the batter is used. Cover the pot completely and walk away for 15 minutes, then return to find the most amazing pot of chicken and dumplings! I love to serve this with fresh parsley over top and an extra crack of black pepper. That’s it!

Looking for other stick-to-your-ribs recipes?

Try these ideas from The Arden Cook!

Pork Chile Verde

Instant Pot French Onion Quinoa Beef Stew

Potato, Leek, and Corn Chowder

Recipe Ingredients

For the Soup

2 tbsp salted butter (or ghee)

1 medium yellow onion, diced

3 medium carrots, finely chopped

5 stalks celery, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 tbsp all-purpose flour (or 1-1 GF flour blend)

4 ½ cups chicken broth

½ cup heavy cream (or full-fat coconut milk)

1 tbsp fresh sage, chopped (or 1 tsp dried)

1 tbsp fresh thyme, chopped (or 1 tsp dried)

2 cups cooked, shredded chicken

1 cup frozen peas (optional)

Chopped fresh parsley, for serving (optional)

Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

For the Dumplings

1 cup plus 3 Tbsp all-purpose flour (or 1-1 GF flour blend)

1 ½ tsp baking powder

Rounded ¼ tsp baking soda

½ cup milk (or full-fat coconut milk)

5 tbsp butter, melted (or ghee)

1 large egg

¾ tsp salt

½ tsp freshly ground black pepper

Recipe Instructions

Heat butter in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Once melted, add onions, carrots, celery, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Sauté 4-5 minutes, until onions are translucent. Add garlic and cook 1-2 minutes more.
Sprinkle in 2 Tbsp flour and the fresh herbs, then stir to coat the vegetables. Pour in the chicken broth, stirring constantly to avoid flour clumping. Then, add the heavy cream. Simmer over medium-low for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the soup has thickened slightly.
Meanwhile, make the dumpling batter. Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix thoroughly. Set aside.
Once the soup has thickened, stir in the shredded chicken and frozen peas, if using. Lower the heat and ensure the soup is not bubbling, then use the cookie scoop or a small 1/4 cup measuring cup filled halfway to drop scoops of batter into the hot soup. The dumplings will immediately start to form and rise to the top. Repeat until all the batter has been scooped into the soup, then cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
Remove the lid and garnish the soup with fresh parsley and another crack of black pepper. Ladle into bowls, ensuring every bowl gets plenty of soup and at least 1-2 dumplings each, and serve hot. Enjoy!

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Instant Pot French Onion Quinoa and Beef Stew

The crossover recipe to end all crossover recipes….. this stew! Yes, I know that wasn’t a complete sentence. Two of my favorite winter meals are french onion soup and beef stew, and I never really thought of combining them until now. I’d say french onion is my top choice, but it’s frustrating that it never feels like a complete meal. It could be that it’s lacking variety in vegetables, there’s not really any protein, etc. So, I created a cross between the two comfort food recipes, added some quinoa for nuttiness and extra volume, and fully lost it when I tasted the first bite. It was that good.

This recipe is made in the Instant Pot, so it’s relatively quick and easy. The steps can be a bit confusing if you don’t read through the instructions fully, so make sure you actually pay attention before beginning the recipe. But, as long as you read everything, you’ll be left with a delicious, wholesome cold-weather dinner in under an hour. Let’s make it!

Ingredients needed to make Instant Pot French Onion Quinoa and Beef Stew

This stew has a fair amount of ingredients, which is part of the reason the flavors are so complex. I would not recommend leaving anything out. Here’s the full list:

Avocado oil
Beef stew meat
Yellow onions
Shallots
Garlic
Red wine
Beef broth
Water
Tomato paste
Carrots
Quinoa
Fresh rosemary
Fresh thyme
Sharp cheddar or goat’s milk cheddar cheese
Fresh parsley
Toasted bread or croutons

Tools used to make Instant Pot French Onion Quinoa and Beef Stew

As mentioned above, this recipe is made almost entirely in the Instant Pot. If you don’t have an Instant Pot but feel comfortable in the kitchen, you could absolutely try making this on the stovetop or even in a slow-cooker. I did not test the recipe using those methods, so I can’t provide specific instructions. However, it will certainly work as long as you adjust the cooking time accordingly (the Instant Pot works much faster than other methods, so any other method take longer to achieve the same beef tenderness and depth of flavor).

I use the Instant Pot Duo Nova 6-qt, linked here. I absolutely love it. I was NOT a gadget-lover in the kitchen until I bought one of these on a whim, and I promise you- it’s life changing. Other than the Instant Pot itself, you’ll want to gather a few more kitchen items to make this recipe a breeze: a cutting board, a sharp knife, a pair of tongs, measuring cups and spoons, aluminum foil, a rimmed baking sheet, and a stirring utensil. I prefer to use my favorite wooden spoon for stirring, as it’s the perfect length for reaching the bottom of the Instant Pot. That’s it!

How to make Instant Pot French Onion Quinoa and Beef Stew

This stew is not difficult to make, but it does require a few extra steps to ensure everything is cooked to perfection. It drives me nuts when I make a soup and the meat turns out too tough/chewy while the vegetables are so soft they’re falling apart, so I made sure that didn’t happen with this stew. To achieve the perfect tenderness for both the beef and the vegetables, we actually pressure cook the stew twice. The first time, it’s just for the beef, while the second time is for the vegetables and quinoa. It sounds fussy, but I promise it doesn’t take any extra time than if we were to make this on the stove!

You’ll begin by trimming the beef of any fat or cartilage, then cut down any very large pieces. The stew meat should come already cubed, but sometimes there are a few wild pieces that need to be cut in half. Aim for approximately 1-inch pieces of beef.

Once the beef is trimmed, we’ll work in batches to sear it on all sides using the Sauté feature on the Instant Pot. Working in batches is key to ensure our meat gets browned and crispy. If we tried to sear all of the beef at once, the pan would be overcrowded and no browning would occur. Remember: browning= flavor.

Once we’ve seared the beef, we’ll add all of the thinly sliced onions and shallots, garlic, and a little red wine to deglaze the Pot. It’s very important to scrape up all of the caramelized bits that stuck to the Pot as we seared the beef, as those provide amazing flavor in our stew. Once the onions and garlic have absorbed much of the wine and are becoming tender, we’ll transfer them to a plate and return the beef to the Pot.

Next, add a splash of beef broth and start the first round of pressure cooking. The first round takes about 35 minutes start-to-finish, including time for the Pot to pressurize, cook, and then release the pressure. While the beef cooks for the first round, we can prepare the carrots, herbs, and quinoa.

You’ll want to cut the carrots into uniform pieces, each about 1/2 inch thick. Gather your fresh herb sprigs, rinse your quinoa, and maybe even have a glass of wine while you wait.

Once the beef is finished the first round of pressure cooking, we’ll go ahead and add the par-cooked onions and garlic, quinoa, carrots, fresh herbs, and remaining beef broth to the Pot. Close the lid again, and pressure cook the entire stew one final time. We’ll only be cooking it for 2 minutes, however this second round of cooking takes more like 15 minutes start-to-finish, including time for the Pot to pressurize again, cook, and then release the remaining pressure.

Once the stew has finished cooking, taste it for salt and pepper, then season accordingly. Turn your oven to Broil and ladle the soup into oven-safe bowls or crocks. At this point, you can top the soup however you see fit. I love to use a piece of toast and freshly shredded goat’s milk cheddar cheese, while Jeff prefers to top his with salad croutons. Alternatively, this stew is excellent served over mashed potatoes, or eaten as-is. You can absolutely customize it and have a delicious meal!

Looking for other soup recipes?

Try these from The Ardent Cook!

Herbed Chicken Tortellini Soup

Chipotle Peanut Pumpkin Soup with Spiced Pepitas

Potato, Leek, and Corn Chowder

Recipe Ingredients

1 tbsp avocado oil

1.5 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes

1 large or 2 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced

2 medium shallots, thinly sliced

3 cloves garlic, minced

¼ cup red wine

One 32oz container beef broth, divided

1 cup water

2 tbsp Tomato paste

3 medium carrots, cut into ½ inch pieces

¾ cup quinoa, rinsed

2 sprigs fresh rosemary

2 sprigs fresh thyme

Toast or croutons, for serving

Shredded sharp cheddar cheese, for serving

Fresh parsley, chopped, for serving

Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Recipe Instructions

Trim beef of any fat or cartilage and ensure there are no excessively large pieces. Each cube should be roughly 1-inch in size. Season the beef on all sides with salt and black pepper. Turn Instant Pot to “Sauté” and sear the beef, working in batches to avoid crowding the pot.
Once all the beef has been seared on both sides, remove it from the pot and add the onions. Stir to coat in the beef drippings and cook for 3-4 minutes until the onions begin to take on some color. Add the garlic and cook for an additional minute.
Stir in the red wine to deglaze the Instant Pot. The onions and garlic will soak up some of the wine and start to become tender. Cook for 2-3 minutes until most of the wine has been absorbed by the onions or evaporated, then transfer the mixture to a bowl.
Add the beef back into the Instant Pot along with ¼ cup beef broth. Close the lid and ensure the vent is in the “Sealing” position. Turn the Instant Pot to “Pressure Cook” and then “High Pressure.” Set the timer for 20 minutes and let it go. Once the time is up, let the Pot naturally release pressure for 10 minutes, then carefully quick-release the remaining steam by opening the vent.
To the Pot with the cooked beef, add the water, par-cooked onions, quinoa, carrots, herbs, tomato paste, and remaining beef broth. Return the lid to the Pot and follow the same process as above to pressurize the Pot, this time setting the timer for 2 minutes. Let the soup pressure cook once more, allowing for 5 minutes of natural release once the time is up. After 5 minutes, quick-release the steam and safely take the lid off.
Turn your oven to broil and line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Ladle soup into oven-safe bowls or crocks and top with a piece of toast or handful of croutons, followed by the shredded cheddar. Place the filled crocks onto the lined baking sheet and broil for 1-2 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and slightly golden brown. Top with fresh parsley and enjoy hot!

Creamy Sausage and Kale Rigatoni

The holidays always bring about strong feelings of comfort food, and this Creamy Sausage and Kale Rigatoni fills the void so incredibly well. If gluten and dairy aren’t for you, I’ve tested this recipe using a grain-free pasta alternative as well as dairy-free milk and cheese. Luckily, there are loads of swaps you can make to create the dish that works for you based upon your dietary needs, or just use the real stuff. I love this as an easy weeknight dinner or as a solution to your Christmas Eve dinner needs for gatherings large and small. I hope you enjoy it!

Ingredients needed to make Creamy Sausage and Kale Rigatoni

This dish uses all the traditional Italian pasta ingredients like rigatoni, ground sausage, herbs, and cheese. Here’s a full list of everything you’ll need, plus links to some swaps I used to make this compliant with my current gluten- and dairy-free eating habits:

Rigatoni or other cylindrical pasta shape (I like this brand if GF)
Ground Sweet Italian sausage
Olive oil
Kale
Fresh garlic
Crushed red pepper flake
Heavy cream (substitute non-dairy milk or cream alternative if DF)
Pasta cooking water
Mozzarella (substitute non-dairy cheese or goat cheese, if tolerated)
Lemon zest
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Tools used to make Creamy Sausage and Kale Rigatoni

I love pasta dishes because they take close to no equipment to pull off. This dish comes together with only a few tools, most of which you likely already have. Here’s the complete list:

Large skillet or deep pot
Pasta pot
Stirring utensil, such as this wooden spoon
Large chef’s knife
Cutting board
Microplane
Measuring cups and spoons

How to make Creamy Sausage and Kale Rigatoni

This pasta recipe is very straightforward, making it a welcome addition to any weekly meal plan. It’s also the perfect recipe to throw together the night before a big holiday, such as, ahem, Christmas Eve… particularly if you haven’t finished wrapping gifts for the big day.

You’ll start by cooking your pasta in the pasta pot according to package directions. Be sure to reserve approximately 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking liquid before draining, as this helps us achieve a silky creamy sauce that adheres to each noodle.

While the pasta cooks, brown your sausage in a large skillet or deep pot. I prefer to use my Dutch oven for this step. Once browned, push the sausage into a ring at the outside of the pan to make space in the middle for the garlic. Add the olive oil, garlic, and crushed red pepper flakes, stirring it around until fragrant, then stir to combine with the sausage. Add the kale and stir again, allowing it to wilt slightly.

Once the pasta is drained, add it directly into the pot with the sausage and kale while still hot. Add the heavy cream, pasta cooking water, and cheese, folding everything together. If needed, you may turn the burner on low to encourage melting of the cheese and thickening of the sauce.

Once the pasta is creamy and all ingredients are incorporated, fold in the freshly grated lemon zest and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately! Leftovers keep well in the fridge or freezer.

Looking for other weeknight comfort food ideas?

Try these recipes from The Ardent Cook!

Favorite Roast Chicken

Curried Pumpkin Chickpeas with Cucumber Raita

Wild Mushroom Farro with Parmesan and Microgreens

Recipe Ingredients

1lb Rigatoni

1lb ground sweet Italian sausage

1tbsp olive oil

3 cloves garlic, minced or grated

1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, more or less to taste

1 head kale, stems removed and roughly chopped

3/4 cup heavy cream, plus more if needed

1/2 cup pasta cooking liquid

1 cup mozzarella cheese

1 tbsp fresh lemon zest

Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Recipe Instructions

Cook pasta according to package instructions Before draining, reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid and set aside.
While the pasta cooks, brown sausage in a large skillet or deep pot. Once browned, push sausage to the sides of the pan and make an open area in the center.
Add olive oil, garlic, and crushed red pepper flakes to the center of the pan and cook 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Mix to incorporate with the sausage. Add the kale and stir again, allowing it to wilt.
Add the pasta directly to the pan with the sausage and kale, turn the pan to low heat, then stir in the heavy cream, pasta cooking liquid, and mozzarella. Fold consistently until a creamy sauce forms. You may use additional cream to achieve your desired sauce consistency, if needed.
Stir in the freshly grated lemon zest, salt, and pepper, and serve hot! Enjoy!

Wild Mushroom Farro with Parmesan and Microgreens

Wild Mushroom Farro with Parmesan and Microgreens is a quicker, easier take on a creamy risotto. Ditch the constant stirring and broth-adding that is required of risotto and replace it with earthy wild mushrooms, nutty farro, and the perfect salty punch of parmesan in every bite. I love this recipe because it highlights one of my new-found favorite ingredients: wild mushrooms harvested by my boyfriend’s sister and brother-in-law. They are foraging extraordinaires and have taught me so much about mushrooms and their amazing properties. Did you know mushrooms form intricate communication networks that cover miles in order to signal other mushrooms of impending danger?

I wasn’t always a mushroom lover, but I’ve really been enjoying experimenting with them in my recipes. I hope you love this recipe as much as I do!

Ingredients needed to make Wild Mushroom Farro with Parmesan and Microgreens

This recipe calls for wild mushrooms. I was lucky enough to score some maitake, or “hen of the woods,” from my boyfriend’s sister and brother-in-law, which is what I used here. You could use any variety of mushroom you like or that is available locally in-season. Other great options would be oyster mushrooms, chanterelles, or morels. If you aren’t experienced at foraging, I would not recommend going out into your own backyard and pulling up whatever mushroom you see. Be sure to ask an expert to identify any mushrooms you find, or visit local farm stands for the freshest options available for purchase. In addition to the mushrooms, here’s what else you’ll need:

Butter or olive oil
Yellow onion
Garlic
Fresh rosemary
Fresh thyme
Dry white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc
Farro
Parmesan cheese
Milk or cream
Salt and pepper
Microgreens

Many of the ingredients in this recipe are fresh, but I have linked a few of my staple pantry items that you’ll want to have on hand for this recipe. Also, as a quick note, if you are looking for a quick recipe, you’ll likely want to use pearled farro (linked above). “Pearling” is a process by which some of the bran is removed from the farro, which in turn removes some of the nutrients and fiber, but makes for a much faster cook time. If you don’t care about the time, I’d recommend this imported farro brand or this organic farro from Bob’s Red Mill.

This recipe uses wild maitake mushrooms, but any wild variety will work!

Tools used to make Wild Mushroom Farro with Parmesan and Microgreens

Because of the varying times required to cook farro (depending on what kind you buy), I call for pre-cooked farro in this recipe. Farro is a great grain to cook at the beginning of the week to use in loads of different meals just as you would rice or quinoa, so I’ll often do that on Sundays and have it ready in the fridge for easy dinners. I’d recommend cooking your farro ahead of time or give yourself extra time before starting on the mushrooms, which take very little time in comparison. You’ll need a medium-large pot to cook the farro, such as this one.

In addition, you’ll need a large skillet big enough to cook the mushrooms and then toss everything together at the end. I used my favorite Le Creuset cast-iron, but any non-stick skillet will work. You’ll also want a large cutting board, measuring cups and spoons, a well-sharpened chef’s knife, like this one, and a wooden spoon for stirring. That’s it!

How to make Wild Mushroom Farro with Parmesan and Microgreens

If you cook your farro ahead of time, this recipe takes all of 20 minutes. If not, don’t sweat it, just be prepared for a little extra time spent cooking! Begin by trimming any slimy areas from the mushrooms and brushing off excess dirt. If you can, try to avoid rinsing the mushroom as this prevents them from caramelizing (they’ll retain too much water and steam rather than caramelize). Next, chop the mushrooms into roughly 1-2 inch pieces while you melt your butter in a skillet.

Add the onions, salt, and pepper, and cook until the onions are translucent. Then, you’ll stir in the mushrooms and cook for another 5 minutes or so. You want the mushrooms to be softened, but not mushy. Add the garlic, rosemary, and thyme, and stir to coat the mushrooms and onions.

The best step? Adding the wine. This step is crucial in order to get all the caramelized bits from the mushrooms and onions up from the bottom of the pan. If you don’t care to cook with wine, you can easily substitute chicken or vegetable broth! Just make sure to use your wooden spoon to scrape up the goodness from the bottom of the pan as you add the liquid.

You’ll let this simmer on medium-low heat until all of the wine has evaporated and you’re left with delicious caramelized mushrooms. At this point, you’ll add your cooked farro and allow it to warm with the mushrooms for a minute or so. Then, add the parmesan, milk or cream, and a pinch more of salt and pepper. The goal is to have a light creamy coating, but this isn’t going to be a thick cream sauce by any means. If you want more of a thick cream sauce, you can certainly add more milk or cream and let it reduce slightly over low heat for a few minutes. I prefer just a touch of creaminess to really let the flavor of the mushrooms and farro shine.

That’s it! You’ll sprinkle on a handful of microgreens at the end for a little fresh bite, and serve immediately. It’s so delicious paired with a glass of wine and pair of cozy PJs, but elegant enough to serve for dinner- if we ever get to host dinner parties again!

Looking for other comforting vegetarian dishes from The Ardent Cook?

Ponzu Greens and Grains Bowl

Creamy Green Goddess Pasta

Potato, Leek, and Corn Chowder

Recipe Ingredients

2 tbsp butter or olive oil

½ pound wild mushrooms, such as maitake or oyster

½ medium yellow onion, diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 sprigs fresh rosemary

3-4 sprigs fresh thyme

½ cup dry white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc

2 cups cooked farro

⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese

2 tbsp milk or cream

Salt and pepper, to taste

1-2 handfuls bitter microgreens, such as micro arugula, for serving

Recipe Instructions

Prepare the mushrooms by trimming any slimy areas and brushing off excess dirt. Roughly chop the mushrooms into 1-2 inch pieces while you melt the butter in a cast-iron skillet over medium heat.
Add the onions, along with a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook for 3-5 minutes, until onions turn translucent. Add the mushrooms and cook for 5, until they are just softened. Stir in the garlic, rosemary, and thyme, then season again with a pinch of salt and pepper.
Pour the wine into the pan, stirring constantly to scrape up any caramelized bits from the bottom of the pan. Reduce the heat to medium-low and allow the wine to evaporate entirely, stirring occasionally.
Once the mushrooms are finished cooking and the wine has evaporated, stir in the cooked farro (make sure the farro is warmed before adding). Add the parmesan, milk or cream, and a pinch more of salt and pepper. Fold to combine until the cheese has melted and everything is incorporated. The final dish should be creamy, but not overly wet. Top with microgreens and an additional sprinkling of parmesan, and serve warm. This dish stands up on its own as a vegetarian main alongside a salad, or pair it with roast chicken and vegetables for a comforting fall dish. Enjoy!

Herbed Chicken Tortellini Soup

Herbed Chicken Tortellini Soup is a bowl of comfort, perfect for a chilly Tuesday evening such as this one (if you live in the northeast). While many traditional tortellini soups incorporate a basic cheese tortellini, I’ve chosen to use a variety filled with a mixture of chicken, herbs, and a little ricotta for a dose of protein and extra flavor. If you’d like to keep this soup vegetarian, simply swap the chicken-filled tortellini for a cheese variety and use vegetable or mushroom stock instead of chicken broth. Make this soup dairy free by choosing a vegan tortellini (with a non-dairy filling) and incorporating canned coconut milk instead of the heavy cream. There are loads of ways to make this soup fit into your diet preference, just as long as you enjoy it with a hunk of crusty bread, wrapped in a cozy blanket. I know you’re going to love it!

Ingredients needed to make Herbed Chicken Tortellini Soup

This soup calls upon a lot of long-lasting vegetables and canned goods, making it the perfect meal for weeks when it’s already Tuesday and you haven’t made it to the grocery store for the week yet. I’m having one of those weeks. The worst. Here’s the list of everything you’ll need:

Olive oil
Yellow onion
Carrots
Celery
Fresh thyme
Garlic
Chicken stock
Canned crushed tomatoes
Tomato paste
Heavy cream
Chicken and herb filled tortellini
Tuscan kale
Fresh squeezed lemon juice
Salt
Crushed red chili flakes
Black pepper
Parmesan cheese

Tools used to make Herbed Chicken Tortellini Soup

I know I’ve mentioned this before, but I love a good soup because of the minimal clean up. You pretty much always need a good sharp knife and large cutting board to make my recipes, but other than that, you’ll just want to get out your favorite large soup pot and a ladle for serving. Optional, but not necessary, is a citrus juicer for squeezing the lemons. This one is a force juicer and it makes my life in the kitchen so much easier!

How to make Herbed Chicken Tortellini Soup

As with most soups, the base is comprised of a mirepoix. Mirepoix is a term referring to a blend of diced celery, carrots, and onions. It’s the start of many popular dishes in classical French cooking, and it’s what we use to create ample flavor for this soup.

You’ll begin by sautéing the mirepoix with some fresh thyme in olive oil. Once the onions are translucent, you’ll add the garlic, tomatoes, tomato paste, and chicken broth, along with a few seasonings. This liquid gets simmered for 10-15 minutes or so, until the carrots have softened, as they take a bit longer to cook than the celery and onion.

The wonderful thing about this recipe is that it only takes about 25 minutes from start to finish, including prep time for chopping. Towards the end of the cooking, you’ll lower the heat and stir in your heavy cream, kale, and tortellini.

I recommend using fresh tortellini in this recipe, which is typically found in the refrigerated section by the deli or cheese area. Shelf-stable tortellini takes much longer to cook, and you run the risk of overcooking the vegetables in your base if you choose this variety. If you can’t find the fresh tortellini, simply add the dried tortellini (while the soup is still simmering) a bit earlier, before adding the heavy cream and kale.

At the very end, you’ll stir in the fresh lemon juice (it tends to get bitter if cooked for too long), ladle the soup into bowls, and garnish with parmesan cheese. It’s a complete meal packed with vegetables, starch, and protein, and the slightly creamy broth is so soothing.

I like to enjoy this soup with a hunk of crusty bread for dipping, or a batch of homemade garlic knots (if you’ve got the time). I don’t have my own recipe for garlic knots, unfortunately, but there are loads on the internet that don’t require too much time or effort. It’s a great Sunday project if you happen to make this soup over a weekend!

Looking for other cozy soup options from The Ardent Cook?

Chipotle Peanut Pumpkin Soup with Spiced Pepitas

Mom’s Checkerboard Chicken Chili

Potato, Leek, and Corn Chowder

Recipe Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil

1 medium yellow onion, diced small

1 medium carrot, diced small

2 stalks celery, diced small

3-4 sprigs fresh thyme

6 cloves garlic, minced

4 cups chicken stock

1 (14oz) can crushed tomatoes

2 tbsp tomato paste

1 cup heavy cream (or coconut milk if dairy free)

1 (10oz) package fresh tortellini, filled with chicken and herbs if available

1 bunch tuscan kale, ribbed and sliced into ribbons

1 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice (about ¼ lemon)

1 tsp salt

¾ tsp crushed red chili flake

Black pepper, to taste

Parmesan cheese, for serving

Recipe Instructions

Heat olive oil in a large dutch oven or soup pot. Add onions, carrots, celery, and thyme and cook until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, and cook for an additional minute.
Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and chicken stock. Stir until the tomato paste is fully incorporated. Season with the salt, crushed chili flakes, and pepper. Bring the soup to a boil and simmer for 10-15 minutes, until the carrots have softened.
Lower the heat and stir in the heavy cream, stirring constantly while pouring. Add the tortellini and kale, then let cook for the time specified on the package of tortellini (no more than 3-5 minutes for fresh tortellini). Stir in the lemon juice at the very end, then season with additional salt and pepper if needed.
Ladle into bowls and top with parmesan cheese, if using. Serve with crusty bread and a big salad, family style. Enjoy!

Chipotle Peanut Pumpkin Soup with Spiced Pepitas

Chipotle Peanut Pumpkin Soup is warming, satisfying, and perfect if you’re looking for a savory application for pumpkin. I love a good pumpkin spiced coffee, but sometimes the savory side of pumpkin is neglected when it shouldn’t be!

The soup is vegan, but feel free to make substitutions as needed. I happen to love the taste of the coconut milk in this soup, but if it’s not for you, simply swap it for some heavy cream instead. Same thing goes for the broth- I’ve used vegetable broth, but chicken or beef work too. I never stress over the exact recipe for a soup… if it gets too thick, you thin it. If it gets too salty, you thin it. See a theme? It’s pretty tough to mess up!

Ingredients needed to make Chipotle Peanut Pumpkin Soup with Spiced Pepitas

This soup packs a lot of flavor and therefore requires a few more ingredients than you might typically expect. I’ve talked about chipotle peppers in adobo before, but they are one of the key ingredients to creating the smoky flavor in this soup. You can find them in most grocery stores in the international foods aisle. Other than the chipotle peppers, here’s what you’ll need:

Olive oil
Yellow onion
Garlic
Ginger
Chipotle chili peppers in adobo sauce
Ground cinnamon
Unsweetened pumpkin puree
Vegetable broth
Full-fat coconut milk
Coconut sugar (or brown sugar)
Creamy natural peanut butter (unsweetened and unsalted, if possible)
Salt and pepper
Fresh cilantro

To make the spiced pepitas, which are optional, you’ll need these items:

Roasted, salted pepitas
Olive oil
Chipotle chili powder
Ground cinnamon
Ground nutmeg

Tools used to make Chipotle Peanut Pumpkin Soup with Spiced Pepitas

This soup comes together quite easily and with minimal equipment. You’ll need a sharp knife, cutting board, large soup pot or Dutch oven, wooden spoon, blender, mixing bowl, and a small skillet.

How to make Chipotle Peanut Pumpkin Soup with Spiced Pepitas

Like most soups, you’ll start by sautéing your aromatic base, which in this case consists of onion, garlic, and ginger. The recipe doesn’t call for this, but you’ll obviously need to prep those ingredients ahead of time by dicing and mincing.

Next, you’ll add the chipotle peppers plus sauce, cinnamon, pumpkin, and broth. Bring everything to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for a few minutes to let all the flavors mingle. For the creamy component, you’ll want to remove the soup from the heat and add in the coconut milk, coconut sugar, and peanut butter. Just trust me on the peanut butter, it makes this soup.

Because we need to blend the soup, I usually pause at this point and make the spiced pepitas. I like to let the soup cool so it doesn’t make the blender explode from the steam. The pepitas simply get tossed with the olive oil and spices, then warmed in a dry skillet over medium heat for a few minutes.

Blend the soup using either an immersion blender or regular blender, top with the pepitas (and cilantro, if using) and serve! It’s so delicious!

Looking for other cozy recipes from The Ardent Cook?

Potato, Leek, and Corn Chowder

Stuffed Acorn Squash with Buttered Sage Breadcrumbs

Mom’s Checkerboard Chicken Chili

Recipe Ingredients

For the Soup

2 tbsp olive oil

1 medium yellow onion, diced

4 cloves garlic, smashed

1-inch piece ginger, minced

2 chipotle chili peppers in adobo sauce, plus 2 tsp adobo sauce

½ tsp ground cinnamon

1 (14oz) can unsweetened pumpkin puree

3 cups vegetable broth

1 (14oz) can full-fat coconut milk

1 tbsp coconut sugar (or brown sugar)

¼ cup creamy natural peanut butter (unsweetened and unsalted, if possible)

Salt and pepper, to taste

Fresh cilantro, for serving

For the Spiced Pepitas

¼ cup roasted, salted pepitas

½ tsp olive oil

⅛ tsp chipotle chili powder

⅛ tsp ground cinnamon

⅛ tsp ground nutmeg

Recipe Instructions

Heat oil over medium heat in a large Dutch oven or soup pot. Add the onions, garlic, and ginger and cook until the onions are translucent, about 3 minutes. Stir frequently to avoid burning.
Add the chipotle chili peppers, adobo sauce, ground cinnamon, pumpkin, and broth. Stir to combine. Bring the soup to a simmer, then reduce the heat to medium-low and let cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Remove soup from the heat and stir in the coconut milk, sugar, and peanut butter. Season with salt and pepper. Allow the soup to cool slightly.
Meanwhile, make the spiced pepitas. Heat a dry skillet over medium heat. In a mixing bowl, combine the pepitas, olive oil, chili powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Toss to combine, then add to the hot skillet. Toss for 1 minute or so, until the seeds are warm and the spices have adhered. Set aside.
Using either an immersion blender or high-speed standing blender, blend the soup until creamy (you may need to work in batches if using a standing blender). Ladle soup into bowls and top with the pepitas and cilantro, if desired. Serve warm.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. When reheating, be careful not to bring the soup to a boiling point. This can cause the oils in the coconut milk and peanut butter to potentially separate. Enjoy!

Mom’s Checkerboard Chicken Chili

Perfect for game day, a chilly afternoon, or a make-ahead dinner, this Checkerboard Chicken Chili is a staple in my family. My mom used to make this for us kids at least once per week. Her secret ingredient? A jar of white queso blanco. This chili gets its name from the two different kinds of beans we use: black beans and white kidney beans (like a black and white checkerboard). It’s hearty, loaded with veggies and protein, and downright delicious.

Ingredients needed to make Mom’s Checkerboard Chicken Chili

When I asked my mom for the recipe for her chili, of course she responded by saying, “Well, you know I never really use a recipe.” Alas, I got her to give me a general idea of what she uses and how she prepares it. Here’s the full ingredient list:

Olive oil
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Red bell pepper
Yellow onion
Fresh garlic
Chili powder
Salt
Ground cumin
Ground coriander
Black beans
White kidney beans (cannellini beans)
Crushed tomatoes
Diced green chiles
Beer
Queso blanco

Tools used to make Mom’s Checkerboard Chicken Chili

The greatest part about soups, stews, and chilis is that they are always made in one pot. Way less mess! I’ve made this chili in both my Dutch oven and my soup pot, and both work well. You just want something large enough to fit all of your ingredients. Here’s the soup pot I love. Additionally, you’ll need a chef’s knife and a large cutting board for all of that chopping.

How to make Mom’s Checkerboard Chicken Chili

This recipe has a bit of chopping to get you started, but then you’re on your way. I recommend chopping everything before any of the cooking begins. You’ll start by chopping the chicken into 1-inch pieces and chopping all of your vegetables. Next, you’ll sauté the chicken until mostly cooked-through, then add the vegetables and spices. Cover with beer, stir, and let simmer until it smells like heaven in your house. For extra oomph, I stir in a cup of jarred queso blanco. This is certainly optional if you’d prefer a thinner soup consistency, or you don’t care for queso. But if you’re open to it, you should definitely try.

Looking for other hearty recipes?

Try these delicious options from The Ardent Cook

Pineapple Chipotle Chicken Enchiladas with Homemade Red Enchilada Sauce

Potato, Leek, and Corn Chowder

Aromatic Chicken Meatball Curry

Recipe Ingredients

3tbsp olive oil

2lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 red bell pepper, diced

1 medium yellow onion, diced

4 cloves garlic, minced

4 tbsp chili powder

2 tsp salt, plus more to taste

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp ground coriander

1 (15oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 (15oz) can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

1 (28oz) can crushed tomatoes

1 (4oz) can diced green chiles

1 (12oz) can beer

1 cup jarred queso blanco

Recipe Instructions

Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat. Chop chicken breasts into 1-inch pieces. Add to the oil, along with the bell pepper, onion, and garlic. Cook for 5-7 minutes, until chicken is mostly cooked through (it’s ok if it’s not all the way cooked, it will finish as the soup simmers).
Add the chili powder, salt, cumin, and coriander. Stir to coat the chicken and vegetables. Cook for a minute or so, then add the beans, tomatoes, green chiles, and beer.
Lower the heat and let the soup simmer for 25 minutes, uncovered. Remove the soup from the heat and stir in the queso.
Ladle into bowls and serve with loads of sour cream and fresh cilantro. Maybe a cold beer, too. Enjoy!