Description
A comforting and classic homemade chicken soup featuring tender chicken, fresh vegetables, and aromatic herbs simmered to perfection. Ideal for a nourishing meal, this easy recipe can be customized with noodles or rice and garnished with fresh parsley for extra flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Soup Base
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 carrots, sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
Chicken and Broth
- 1½ lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 8 cups chicken broth
Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Optional Ingredients
- 1 cup egg noodles or rice
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Sauté Vegetables: In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion, sliced carrots, and sliced celery. Sauté for 5 to 6 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften, then add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
- Add Chicken and Broth: Place the chicken breasts or thighs into the pot, then pour in the chicken broth. Stir in the dried thyme, bay leaf, salt, and black pepper. Bring the soup to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to low and simmer gently for 25 to 30 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
- Shred Chicken: Remove the chicken from the pot and shred it using two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the pot.
- Add Noodles or Rice (Optional): If using, add the egg noodles or rice to the soup. Simmer for an additional 10 minutes or until the noodles or rice are fully cooked and tender.
- Final Seasoning and Serve: Remove the bay leaf from the soup. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt or pepper if needed. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve the soup hot for a comforting meal.
Notes
- For a richer flavor, add a splash of lemon juice or use bone-in chicken instead of boneless.
- This soup stores well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- It can also be frozen for up to 3 months—thaw completely before reheating.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course, Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
