Here’s a classic homemade Chicken Soup—simple, comforting, and perfect anytime 🍲
Classic Chicken Soup
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken (3–4 lb) or 2 lb bone-in chicken thighs/drumsticks
- 10 cups water or chicken broth
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 carrots, sliced
- 3 celery stalks, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp salt (to taste)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- Optional: fresh parsley, noodles, rice, or potatoes
Instructions
- Cook Chicken
- In a large pot, add chicken, water/broth, salt, pepper, thyme, and bay leaf
- Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce to simmer
- Cook 30–40 minutes until chicken is tender
- Remove & Shred
- Remove chicken, let cool slightly
- Shred meat, discard skin and bones
- Sauté Vegetables
- In same pot (or a separate pan), heat olive oil
- Sauté onion, carrots, and celery for 5 minutes
- Add garlic and cook 1 minute
- Simmer
- Return shredded chicken to pot
- Simmer 15–20 minutes
- Finish
- Adjust seasoning
- Add noodles or rice during last 10 minutes if using
- Garnish with parsley
Tips & Variations
- Extra flavor: add a Parmesan rind or ginger slice
- Healing-style: add turmeric + lemon juice
- Creamy: stir in ½ cup cream at the end
- Low-carb: skip noodles, add zucchini or cauliflower
Want a slow cooker, Instant Pot, or Mexican caldo de pollo version?
