HEALTHY COMFORTING CHICKEN SOUP
on Sep 27, 2024
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You can’t go wrong with this cold and flu season staple. Packed with lean protein, nutritious bone broth, veggies, and herbs, you’ll be like your same old self in no time.
Name a dish that serves up more memories than chicken soup. This is one meal that brings many of us straight to our childhood.
Whenever I was feeling sick or lousy, my mom would make a big batch of chicken soup with homemade noodles — a recipe that her grandmother would make for her growing up.
My Healthy Comforting Chicken Soup is my version of the classic, filled with anti-inflammatory, nourishing ingredients.
It’s a great recipe to have on hand for cold and flu season. At the first sign of a sneeze or sniffle, you know I’m making a big pot of this.
But that’s not to say you can only have chicken soup when you’re feverish. I made this one rainy night for myself when my husband Kyle was out of town. It soothed my soul and helped cheer me up.
So do yourself a favor and make this healthy chicken soup. I know you’ll feel better once you have a protein-packed, nutritious meal in you. Enjoy!
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Ingredients for Healthy Chicken Soup
What makes chicken soup so special is that it only requires a few basic ingredients. Here’s what to stock your pantry and fridge with so that when you’re in the mood for soup, you have everything you need.
- Chicken: This lean, quick-cooking protein will fill you up as you’re either recovering from sickness or just carving a warm bowl of goodness. I used chicken thighs but you can also use chicken breasts or even rotisserie chicken for an even easier recipe.
- Onion, Carrots, and Celery: A trifecta that is the base of most soups, including this one.
- Garlic: Great for the immune system, go ahead and throw in extra cloves if you’re under the weather.
- Herbs: Fresh rosemary and thyme bring warm, comforting vibes and they also have antioxidant properties to keep your immune system in tip-top shape. If you only have dried herbs, I’d say use about half of the amount. Dried herbs tend to have a stronger taste than fresh herbs.
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Pin It- Broth: Chicken bone broth is the ultimate feel-good ingredient. Packed full of gut-nourishing collagen, the broth will also keep you hydrated as you’re fighting off a bug or virus. You can also substitute regular chicken broth if that’s all you have on hand.
- Lemon: Vitamin C to the rescue! I like to serve my soup with an extra squeeze for more freshness and zing.
How to Make The Best Chicken Soup
Ready for comfort food? Let’s begin by heating one tablespoon of either olive or avocado oil in a large stock pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
Add the chicken thighs in a single layer and cook for 3 to 5 minutes on each side. You may need to repeat this step if there isn’t enough room to fit all the chicken. You’re looking for a good sear and a nice golden brown exterior.
Remove the chicken and set aside. Turn the temperature down to medium.
Add another tablespoon of oil to the pot along with the onion, carrots, and celery for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon or spatula.
Add the minced garlic, fresh rosemary, fresh thyme, salt, and pepper. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently.
Recipe Tip
A quick note on the salt: If the broth is salted, you may not need a lot of salt. I’d recommend starting with 2 teaspoons and adding more as needed. Remember, you can always add but you can’t always remove it!
Add the chicken thighs back to the pot along with the broth and bay leaves and bring to a boil.
Reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook for about 20 minutes.
Once the chicken is fully cooked through, remove it from the pot. Place the chicken on a cutting board or plate and shred using two forks. Return to the soup for a final few minutes. If you’re using a rotisserie chicken or pre-cooked chicken, shred and add to the pot now.
Stir in the lemon juice.
When ready to eat, serve with a garnish of parsley and more lemon. ENJOY!
Other Comforting Chicken Recipes:
- Viral One Pot Green Curry Chicken and Rice
- Skillet Chicken Thighs with Mushroom Gravy
- One Pan Roasted Lemon Chicken and Potatoes
- Sheet Pan Balsamic Chicken with Root Vegetables
- Gluten Free Dairy Free Chicken Piccata
HEALTHY COMFORTING CHICKEN SOUP
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds chicken thighs
- 2 tablespoons olive or avocado oil, divided
- 1 large white onion, diced
- 4 large carrots, cut into ¼-inch rounds
- 4 stalks celery, cut into ¼-inch moons
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 6 cups chicken broth or chicken bone broth
- 2 bay leaves
- ⅓ cup lemon juice
Serve With:
- Chopped parsley
- More fresh lemon
Instructions
- Heat one tablespoon of oil in a large stock pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
- Add the chicken thighs in a single layer (this may require working in multiple batches) and cook for 3 to 5 minutes on both sides.
- Remove the chicken from the pot and set aside. Turn the temperature down to medium heat.
- Add another tablespoon of oil to the pot along with the onion, carrots, and celery for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the garlic, rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently. (I’d recommend starting with 2 teaspoons of salt and 1 teaspoon of pepper and add more as needed. Additional salt will depend largely on whether your broth is salted).
- Add the chicken thighs back to the pot along with the broth and bay leaves and bring to a boil.
- Reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook for about 20 minutes.
- Remove the chicken from the pot and place on a cutting board or plate. Shred using two forks and return to the soup for a final few minutes. Stir in the lemon juice.
- Serve with a garnish of parsley and more lemon.
- ENJOY!
