Best Homemade Chicken Soup is the ultimate comfort food, a nourishing broth brimming with tender chicken and vibrant vegetables, perfect for a cozy meal or when you’re feeling under the weather. This recipe offers a delicious and satisfying way to create this classic dish from scratch, saving you money and delivering unparalleled flavor.
Key Ingredients for Best Homemade Chicken Soup
- 1 whole chicken (about 3-4 pounds), or 3 pounds chicken pieces (like thighs and drumsticks)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 large carrots, peeled and chopped (about 1.5 cups)
- 3 celery stalks, chopped (about 1 cup)
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped (about 1.5 cups)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 cup egg noodles or other small pasta (optional)
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish (optional)
How to Make Best Homemade Chicken Soup
This Best Homemade Chicken Soup is remarkably easy to make, delivering a deeply flavorful and incredibly satisfying meal that will warm you from the inside out. In about 30 minutes of active prep time and simmering for about an hour, you’ll have a pot of golden goodness that’s far superior to anything store-bought and perfect for any occasion.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Prepare the Chicken: If using a whole chicken, pat it dry with paper towels. Season generously with salt and pepper. If using chicken pieces, simply season them as well.
Sear the Chicken (Optional but recommended for added flavor): Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sear for 3-4 minutes per side, until golden brown. Remove the chicken from the pot and set aside, leaving any rendered fat in the pot. If you’re using chicken pieces, you can skip removing them and proceed to the next step.
Sauté the Aromatics: Add the chopped carrots, celery, and onion to the pot. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften, about 5-7 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
Combine and Simmer: Return the seared chicken (if removed) to the pot. Pour in the chicken broth. Add the dried thyme, rosemary, and bay leaf. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for at least 45 minutes to an hour, or until the chicken is cooked through and tender. For a whole chicken, check that the juices run clear when pierced.
Shred the Chicken: Carefully remove the chicken from the pot. Allow it to cool slightly, then shred the meat from the bones, discarding any skin or bones. If you used chicken pieces, simply remove them from the broth, shred, and return them to the pot.
Add Noodles (Optional): If you’re adding egg noodles or pasta, bring the soup back to a gentle boil. Add the noodles and cook according to package directions, typically 7-10 minutes, until al dente.
Season and Serve: Remove and discard the bay leaf. Taste the soup and season with additional salt and freshly ground black pepper as needed. Ladle the Best Homemade Chicken Soup into bowls. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley, if desired.
Why You’ll Love This Best Homemade Chicken Soup
You’ll adore this Best Homemade Chicken Soup for its deeply comforting and soul-warming qualities; it’s a hug in a bowl crafted with simple, wholesome ingredients. Unlike many store-bought versions that can taste artificial or watery, this homemade rendition boasts a rich, aromatic broth simmered to perfection, brimming with tender shredded chicken and perfectly softened vegetables. The addition of fresh herbs elevates its flavor profile, making it a truly special meal that rivals any restaurant you’ve ever visited.
Beyond its incredible taste, the cost-saving benefit of making this Best Homemade Chicken Soup at home is significant, especially considering the amount of delicious soup you yield. It’s an incredibly economical way to feed your family, and the ability to customize it with your favorite vegetables or a handful of heart-warming egg noodles makes it even more special. So, gather your ingredients, embrace the simple joy of cooking, and give this delightful Best Homemade Chicken Soup a try – your taste buds and your wallet will thank you!
Storing and Reheating Tips
Storing:
- Allow the Best Homemade Chicken Soup to cool completely before storing.
- Transfer the soup to airtight containers.
- Refrigerate for up to 3-4 days. Ensure the containers are well-sealed to prevent odor absorption.
Reheating:
- Stovetop: Pour the desired amount of soup into a saucepan. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through. Avoid boiling vigorously, as this can break down the ingredients.
- Microwave: Place the soup in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat on medium power in 1-2 minute intervals, stirring between each, until thoroughly heated.
Freezing:
- Cool the soup completely.
- Ladle into freezer-safe containers, leaving about an inch of headspace for expansion.
- Alternatively, use freezer bags, pressing out as much air as possible before sealing.
- Freeze for up to 2-3 months.
- To reheat from frozen, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and then reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Final Thoughts
This Best Homemade Chicken Soup recipe is a testament to the power of simple, wholesome ingredients creating something truly magical. Give it a try; it’s a wonderfully rewarding dish that’s sure to become a new family favorite.
try also :
- Lentil and Sweet Potato Salad
- Cranberry Brie Bites
- Crispy Sweet Potato Bites
- Matcha Cake Recipe
- find more in Pinterest
Best Homemade Chicken Soup
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- If using a whole chicken, pat it dry with paper towels. Season generously with salt and pepper. If using chicken pieces, simply season them as well.whole chicken (about 3-4 pounds), or 3 pounds chicken pieces (like thighs and drumsticks), Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sear for 3-4 minutes per side, until golden brown. Remove the chicken from the pot and set aside, leaving any rendered fat in the pot. If you’re using chicken pieces, you can skip removing them and proceed to the next step.1 tablespoon olive oil, whole chicken (about 3-4 pounds), or 3 pounds chicken pieces (like thighs and drumsticks)
- Add the chopped carrots, celery, and onion to the pot. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften, about 5-7 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.3 large carrots, peeled and chopped (about 1.5 cups), 3 stalks celery, chopped (about 1 cup), 1 large yellow onion, chopped (about 1.5 cups), 4 cloves garlic, minced
- Return the seared chicken (if removed) to the pot. Pour in the chicken broth. Add the dried thyme, rosemary, and bay leaf. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for at least 45 minutes to an hour, or until the chicken is cooked through and tender. For a whole chicken, check that the juices run clear when pierced.whole chicken (about 3-4 pounds), or 3 pounds chicken pieces (like thighs and drumsticks), 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- Carefully remove the chicken from the pot. Allow it to cool slightly, then shred the meat from the bones, discarding any skin or bones. If you used chicken pieces, simply remove them from the broth, shred, and return them to the pot.whole chicken (about 3-4 pounds), or 3 pounds chicken pieces (like thighs and drumsticks)
- If you’re adding egg noodles or pasta, bring the soup back to a gentle boil. Add the noodles and cook according to package directions, typically 7-10 minutes, until al dente.1 cup egg noodles or other small pasta (optional)
- Remove and discard the bay leaf. Taste the soup and season with additional salt and freshly ground black pepper as needed. Ladle the Best Homemade Chicken Soup into bowls. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley, if desired.Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste, Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish (optional)