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If you’re craving a soul-warming bowl of Amish church soup, you’re in the right place. This simple yet irresistibly creamy soup combines tender chicken, potatoes, and a rich broth thickened with buttery crackers—ready in just 30 minutes.
Perfect for busy weeknights or cozy family dinners, it’s budget-friendly and packed with comforting flavor. Imagine diving into a steaming bowl that’s as easy to make as it is delicious. Plus, if you enjoy this, be sure to check out my Amish Beef Stew Recipe for more hearty, down-home dishes!
What Is Amish Church Soup?
Picture this: a steaming bowl of pure comfort—creamy broth studded with tender chicken, vegetables, and topped with buttery crackers that soak up every last drop. That’s basically what “Amish church soup” is. Legend has it that Amish congregations would gather after Sunday services, pooling ingredients from everyone’s kitchen to make enough soup to feed a crowd. The result? A big pot of homestyle soup that warms hearts and bellies alike.
Some folks affectionately call it “amish cracker soup,” while others compare it to a “rivel soup recipe” (though rivel soup traditionally uses egg drop–style rivels instead of crackers). But whatever you call it, this is a recipe that feeds more than just your stomach—it feeds your soul. And as they say, “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach,” right? So grab your ladle and let’s dig in!
Why You’ll Love This Amish Church Soup
- Unbeatable Creamy Comfort • From the first spoonful, you’ll taste a velvety, silky broth enriched by a splash of whole milk (think of it as a cousin to your favorite amish milk soup). The combination of tender chicken, diced potatoes, and savory seasonings gives every bite a cozy, stick-to-your-ribs feel.
- Budget-Friendly & Practical • Pantry staples like chicken broth, inexpensive cuts of chicken, and pantry crackers make this soup easy on the wallet. No need for fancy ingredients—just good, honest food. It’s right up there with other thrifty favorites like amish gma soup (Grandma-style brothy goodness) or amish coffee recipe–inspired soups that stretch coffee grounds into dessert soup (a true Amish tradition!).
- Customizable & Crowd-Pleasing • You can add extra veggies, swap in leftover rotisserie chicken, or even stir in a handful of frozen corn if you like. The classic cracker topping adds just the right amount of texture—think amish cracker soup, but elevated. Once you try it, you’ll want to make it again and again (and share it at church potlucks, too!).
How to Make Amish Church Soup
In just 30 minutes, you’ll transform simple ingredients—chicken, potatoes, onions, broth, and milk—into a creamy, hearty soup. Seasoned to perfection, it’s finished off with buttery crackers that melt into the broth for extra body and flavor. This easy recipe proves that amish soup recipes don’t have to be complicated to be unforgettable.
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Amish Church Soup Recipe
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
This creamy and comforting Amish Church Soup is a traditional recipe made with tender chicken, potatoes, onions, buttery crackers, and whole milk. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s the perfect budget-friendly soup for chilly nights, family dinners, or church potlucks.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 cups buttery crackers, crushed
- Optional: chopped parsley or chives for garnish
Instructions
- In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat.
- Add diced onion and cook until soft, about 3–4 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
- Add potatoes and stir to coat. Pour in chicken broth and bring to a gentle boil.
- Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 10–12 minutes, until potatoes are fork-tender.
- Stir in the cooked chicken, salt, pepper, and thyme. Simmer for 5 more minutes.
- Add milk and stir gently. Do not boil after adding milk.
- Crush buttery crackers into the soup and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes.
- Serve hot, garnished with extra crackers and chopped herbs if desired.
Notes
Use rotisserie chicken for a quick shortcut.
Add a handful of corn or peas for extra texture.
To make it vegetarian, use vegetable broth and plant-based “chicken” or extra vegetables.
For a thicker soup, stir in more crackers until your desired consistency is reached.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Amish / American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (approx. 1.5 cups)
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 760mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
FAQs
What is Amish church soup?
Amish church soup is a creamy, hearty soup traditionally made in Amish communities for post-church gatherings. It typically combines chicken, potatoes, onions, and broth, finished with milk and crushed crackers for thickness. It’s sometimes called amish cracker soup or compared to rivel soup recipe variations, depending on regional traditions.
What is the secret ingredient in soup?
For this Amish church soup, the “secret” is the crushed crackers that thicken the broth and add a unique texture—creamy yet slightly crunchy. Additionally, using whole milk (or half-and-half) instead of just broth elevates the flavor, making it rich without overpowering the other ingredients.
What is Amish coffee soup?
Amish coffee soup is a sweet soup often served as a dessert. It’s made by brewing strong coffee, then simmering it with milk, sugar, and sometimes powdered egg noodles or crushed crackers. It’s a nostalgic treat in many Amish households.
What is the oldest type of soup?
While pinpointing the absolute oldest soup is tricky, many culinary historians agree that brothy soups made from bones and local vegetables date back to prehistoric times. In recorded history, Egyptian tombs show evidence of lentil and onion soups over 4,500 years ago. Closer to Amish traditions, simple soupy “porridge” made with grains and water or milk served as a staple in various cultures long before modern recipes emerged.
Related Recipes & Resources:
- Looking for more hearty stews? Don’t miss my Amish Beef Stew Recipe.
- For a wider array of amish soup recipes, browse my collection on Pinterest.