Description
This Best Homemade Chicken Soup is hearty, flavorful, and comforting. Packed with tender chicken, fresh vegetables, and aromatic herbs, it’s perfect for cozy nights, family meals, or when you need a soothing bowl of soup.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken (3–4 lbs) or 4 chicken breasts/thighs
- 10 cups water or chicken broth
- 2 medium carrots, sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp dried thyme or 2 tsp fresh thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 cup egg noodles or rice (optional)
- Chopped parsley, for garnish
Instructions
Instructions
- Cook chicken: In a large pot, place chicken and cover with water or broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 45–60 minutes until chicken is cooked through.
- Remove chicken: Take out the chicken and let cool slightly. Shred or chop the meat, discarding bones and skin if desired.
- Cook vegetables: Add carrots, celery, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, thyme, and bay leaf to the pot. Simmer 15–20 minutes until vegetables are tender.
- Add chicken & noodles: Return shredded chicken to the pot. If using noodles or rice, add and cook until tender (about 8–10 minutes for noodles).
- Serve: Taste and adjust seasoning. Remove bay leaf, garnish with parsley, and serve hot.
Notes
For a richer flavor, simmer chicken with bones. Add lemon juice for brightness. Soup stores well in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
Keywords: homemade chicken soup, comfort soup, chicken noodle soup, healthy soup