Classic, cozy, cures-everything vibes 🫶 Let’s do a proper homemade chicken soup—clear, flavorful, and comforting.
Homemade Chicken Soup
Serves: 6–8
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken (3–4 lb) or 2 lb bone-in chicken thighs/drumsticks
- 10 cups water (or half water, half chicken broth)
- 1 large onion, quartered
- 3 carrots, sliced
- 3 celery stalks, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, smashed
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tsp salt (add more to taste)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- Optional herbs: thyme, parsley stems, or dill
- Optional add-ins: noodles, rice, or potatoes
Instructions
- Start the broth
- Add chicken, water, onion, garlic, bay leaf, salt, and pepper to a large pot.
- Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce to a low simmer.
- Simmer low & slow
- Skim off any foam from the top.
- Simmer uncovered 60–75 minutes, until chicken is very tender.
- Remove chicken
- Take chicken out and let it cool slightly.
- Remove skin and bones, shred meat, and set aside.
- Add vegetables
- Add carrots and celery to the broth.
- Simmer 15–20 minutes until tender.
- Finish the soup
- Return shredded chicken to the pot.
- Add noodles or rice now if using (cook until tender).
- Taste and adjust salt and pepper.
- Serve
- Remove bay leaf.
- Garnish with fresh parsley or dill if you like.
Pro Tips
- Clear soup: Keep the simmer gentle—boiling makes it cloudy.
- Extra flavor: Add a splash of lemon juice right before serving.
- Rich broth: Let it simmer longer (up to 2 hours) if time allows.
- Freezer-friendly: Freeze without noodles; add them fresh later.
If you want, I can switch this up into:
- Creamy chicken soup
- Chicken noodle soup
- Chicken & rice soup
- Spicy chicken soup
- Pressure cooker / slow cooker version
Just tell me the vibe 🍲💛
