Creamy Chicken Noodle Chowder

This is the most decadent soup I have ever made. It is SO good! The creamy broth is so smooth and rich. It really is a wonderful chicken soup, but it's much thicker than a regular soup and has diced potatoes in it, so I'm calling it a chowder. When you look at the ingredients you might be scared. Lots of butter and yep there's Cheez Whiz in it, but it's the butter and Cheez Whiz that make it so rich and creamy - trust me. I, nor your cardiologist, would not suggest making this all the time. It is certainly not healthy to consume this kind of meal regularly, but I think this could be a great once a year soup. I make homemade donuts once a year, so I think I can make this once a year too (actually I'm thinking it would be great around Christmas time). I served it with these crescent rolls and it was a meal my whole family loved. Oh, and this recipe makes a ton of soup so you can either plan on having leftovers or this is a great soup to make for your own family and also share with someone who is in need of some homey, comforting, soup.

Creamy Chicken Noodle Chowder

2 tablespoons butter
1 onion, diced
4 stalks celery, diced
6 carrots, diced
12 cups chicken stock or broth
6 russet potatoes, peeled and diced
3-4 cups cooked and cubed chicken (rotisserie chicken works great)
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
1 cup flour
8 oz or about 1 cup Cheez Whiz
1/2 tablespoon chicken bouillon granules
1 teaspoon onion salt
2 cups dry egg noodles
salt and pepper to taste

In a large stock pot melt 2 tablespoons butter. Add onions, celery, and carrots. Stir and cook for about 6 - 7 minutes or until vegetables are softened. Add in chicken stock, diced potatoes, and cubed chicken. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

In a separate saucepan melt 1 cup butter. Add flour and whisk and cook for a minute. Add this to the large stock pot of soup, whisking in to combine with soup. Add the Cheez Whiz, chicken bouillon, and onion salt. Bring to a boil, add in noodles, and simmer for another 15 minutes, stirring frequently, until noodles are cooked through. Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove pot from heat and allow to rest for 10 minutes before you serve.