Chicken Paprikash Soup

You guys...today marks the official start of my favorite time of year!  Fall!  Although, let's be real - I bought a pumpkin cinnamon candle, pumpkin spice coffee and had pumpkin-flavored ice cream from Mitchell's last week.  I guess you could say that I've never been one to appreciate the present.  But now that the temperature is going down into the mid-50s every night and I've been waking up freezing every morning, I think I can justify some cozy cool weather food!   Like soup.  Like Chicken Paprikash Soup.  Oh my gosh, I think I love fall so much because soup season officially commences.  And trust me, this Chicken Paprikash Soup is the ultimate comfort food!  It's creamy - but not heavy -and full of roasted chicken, potatoes, onions and garlic in a light herb broth filled with a delicious paprika flavor.  It's the perfect one-pot-meal for a chilly fall day!

Are you confused by the roasted chicken picture??  So I know this is a soup recipe...but trust me when I say use your oven, at least initially!  To me, a good soup is comprised of very simple ingredients put together in a mind-blowingly delicious way.  You have to get the most bang out of your buck for each ingredient to make it taste extra special.  Do I simply boil the chicken - the star ingredient in the "Chicken" Paprikash Soup - in water like almost every other recipe calls for?  NOPE.  I smother the bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts with olive oil and my favorite herbs and roast them in the oven for an hour and 15 minutes.  I know it's a little extra time.  In fact, I'd say this is definitely a weekend recipe...but it's sooooo worth it!

The only thing you need to accompany this warm, hearty Chicken Paprikash Soup is some cheesy garlic bread.  I actually try to incorporate cheesy garlic bread into any meal that I can.  I guess French baguettes are an acceptable substitute.  Nommmmm #carbsforlife

Enjoy!