Go Back
+ servings
chicken pesto soup topped with a dollop of basil pesto sauce in a white bowl
Print Recipe
4.25 from 4 votes

Creamy Chicken And Pesto Soup (Slow Cooker Recipe)

Crockpot chicken pesto soup is a convenient and deliciously creamy soup you'll love making anytime. It features fresh veggies, chunks of juicy chicken, chewy barley, pesto, and Parmesan for a cozy meal that will leave you savoring each and every bite.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time6 hours
Total Time6 hours 10 minutes
Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main Course, Soup
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6
Calories: 1179kcal

Ingredients

  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 2 carrots shredded and finely diced
  • 2-3 ribs of celery finely diced
  • 1 tbsp dried chopped onion
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 heaping tbsp minced garlic
  • 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, thawed or frozen
  • 1/2 cup pearl barley not quick cooking
  • 1 1/2 cups milk room temperature (you can sub half/half or even cream for a richer soup)
  • 1/4 cup of shredded parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup pesto
  • 1/2 of a zucchini shredded

Instructions

  • To the bowl of a crockpot, add in the broth, carrot, celery, onion, oregano, garlic, and zucchini-- give it all a good stir.
  • Add in the chicken breasts.
  • Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours, or until the chicken is cooked through and the barley is soft and chewy.
  • Remove chicken to a plate, and use two forks to shred or a knife and fork to dice it up.
  • Put the shredded, or diced, chicken back into the crockpot.
  • Stir in the milk, Parmesan, and pesto.
  • Turn the heat up to high, and continue cooking for another ten minutes.
  • Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with additional Parmesan and/or pesto, as desired.

Notes

  • For a little brightness, you could add a squeeze of lemon to the soup prior to serving.
  • Don't have barley? Substitute with rice or orzo.
  • For the richest, creamiest pesto soup use half and half or heavy cream instead of milk. It's worth it!
  • You could sneak some greens into the soup too and fold in some kale, escarole, or chopped spinach when you add the milk or cream.

Nutrition

Calories: 1179kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 171g | Fat: 41g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 472mg | Sodium: 1090mg | Potassium: 3065mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 4001IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 217mg | Iron: 5mg