Homemade Chicken Soup Recipe | The Gracious Pantry (2024)

ByTiffany McCauley

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There’s just something about a bowl of homemade chicken soup on a cold winter day. Especially if you or someone you know is feeling a little under the weather.

There’s nothing that feels as warm and soothing as a big bowl of poultry and broth. Am I wrong? Add to that some carrots, parsnips, and herbs, and well… let’s just say it’s pretty tough to top.

Homemade Chicken Soup Recipe | The Gracious Pantry (1)

Lots of folks prefer chicken and noodle soup. I enjoy a bowl of that every now and again myself. But my real love is chicken and rice. Something about the texture of the rice mixed in with all those other delectable and nourishing ingredients hits the spot every single time.

I adapted this recipe from the Cooking Basics for Dummies Homemade Chicken Soup Recipe | The Gracious Pantry (2)book. It’s a “must-have” for anybody’s recipe box. Freeze some for those days when you don’t feel good, and eat the rest for lunch or dinner any day of the week.

About The Ingredients

Oil – Any type you are comfortable cooking with.

Leeks – White parts, chopped.

Yellow onion

Carrots – Peeled and sliced.

Parsnips – Peeled and sliced

Chicken broth – No sugar added.

Water – Use good, filtered water that doesn’t taste like chlorine.

Garlic granules – Or garlic powder

Dried marjoram – If you don’t have it or like it, use dried parsley instead.

Raw chicken breasts – Boneless and skinless, or use boneless, skinless chicken thighs.

Whole grain pasta– Cooked separately according to package directions.

How To Make Homemade Chicken Soup

In a large skillet, sauté the onions, leeks, carrots, and parsnips in the olive oil until the leeks and onions wilt (about 5 – 7 minutes).

Transfer your vegetables to a large soup pot and add your broth, water, and herbs. Cook for half an hour.

Add chicken breast and cook for another 1/2 hour.

When done, put some noodles in a bowl and ladle the soup over them. (Store them separately in the fridge if you want to avoid soggy noodles.)

Season with salt and pepper and serve.

Storing Homemade Chicken Soup

Store leftovers in an airtight container, in the fridge, for up to three days.

Freezing Homemade Chicken Soup

Freeze this without rice or noodles in it for the best results. Pack it well and freeze for up to 4 months.

Reheating Homemade Chicken Soup

Thaw in the fridge overnight if frozen.

Reheat in a microwave or on the stovetop in a pot.

More Healthy Soup Recipes

  • Potato Soup
  • Black Bean Soup
  • Leftover Turkey Soup

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Homemade Chicken Soup Recipe Card

Homemade Chicken Soup Recipe | The Gracious Pantry (4)

Homemade Chicken Soup Recipe

Love chicken noodle or chicken and rice soup? Then this is your recipe!!

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 16 cups

Calories: 26kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • 2 large leeks, white parts chopped
  • 1 large yellow onion
  • 6 small carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 2 medium parsnips, peeled and sliced
  • 4 cup chicken broth, no sugar added
  • 4 cups water
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp. marjoram
  • 4 large raw chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
  • whole grain pasta (cooked separately to package directions)

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • In a large skillet, sauté the onions, leeks, carrots and parsnips in the olive oil until the leeks and onions wilt (about 5 – 7 minutes).

  • Transfer your vegetables to a large soup pot and add your broth, water and herbs. Cook for half an hour.

  • Add chicken breast and cook for another 1/2 hour.

  • When done, put some noodles in a bowl and ladle the soup over them. (Store them separately in the fridge if you want to avoid soggy noodles.)

  • Season with salt and pepper and serve.

Notes

Please note that the nutrition data below is a ballpark figure. Exact data is not possible. Data does not include the pasta. Add as much or as little as you like.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 26kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 232mg | Potassium: 138mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 3205IU | Vitamin C: 6.4mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 1mg

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  1. My Family and I ate this yesterday! LOVE IT!

    Reply

    1. Angie – I’m so excited you like it!!! That’s fabulous!

      Have a great week!

      Reply

  2. Love your website! On this recipe do you cook the chicken first or put the chicken in raw?

    Reply

    1. Susan – You could go either way, so long as the chicken gets cooked, you’re fine. I’ve done it both ways.

      Reply

  3. ya know Tiffany, I must say this recipe does hit the spot, my whole family enjoyed this very much and now I have some in the freezer for “just in case” Thanks

    Reply

    1. Trude – Fantastic!! And it’s great to know that even if you’re feeling good, you have a great bowl of soup in the freezer!

      Reply

  4. Made this one yesterday. My husband and I both love it! Thanks for all of these great recipes.

    Reply

    1. Laura – You’re welcome! So happy you’re enjoying them!

      Reply

  5. I’ll be making this with my leftover Thanksgiving turkey. Great recipe!

    Reply

    1. KozyNook – That’s what I did this year, and it turned out great! Enjoy!

      Reply

  6. Hi, I just found this site about a day ago and I have been on it ever since! LOL All your recipes look super delisshhh…and this one is no excepton! I have a problem with binge eating anything that taste good lol soo I switched to clean eating so I don’t feel as guilty after eating serving #3 🙂 Imma be sure to try out so many of these recipes…keep ’em coming girl!! luv ur site!!

    Reply

    1. Melissa – Thanks! I’m happy to have you as a reader! Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss a recipe!
      I think you’ll find that if you are truly eating clean, binge eating will no longer be an issue for you because your body will be getting all the nutrients it needs. You won’t have the cravings any longer.
      Welcome to clean eating!

      Reply

  7. I’ve never tried this type of soup before but I’m so tempted to make it this week. I love both directions for crock pot and stove top!

    Reply

    1. CJ – Really? Wow! I can’t imagine a winter without this type of soup!! Hope you enjoy it!

      Reply

  8. Do you add the cooked rice into the slow cooker or add it right before serving?

    Reply

    1. Rinneice – You cook it separately first. What I do is put some in a bowl and then pour the soup over it. That way my rice doesn’t get mushy in the fridge if I have leftovers.

      Reply

  9. Kim – Yes, it’s correct. I’m trying to think what could have gone wrong, but I’m not sure. Did you follow the recipe exactly?

    Reply

  10. Hi I just discovered you site and it has inspired me to try and start clean eating, i think i will be starting slowly because I cant afford to clean out my cupboard and start again, but i’m going to start by making this soup for dinner! Do you have any tips for me and any snacks ready made i can buy that are clean?

    Reply

    1. Dannielle – The only “ready made” snacks that are truly clean are nuts and fruit. The whole idea of clean eating is to avoid things that are processed and packaged, so it can be tough to find stuff. There are a few snack bars out there like, “Pure bars” and Lara bars that are clean. Maybe that will help?

      Reply

  11. My pleasure!

    Reply

  12. If you are just making the switch to clean eating, it will take some time for your taste buds to change. What tastes bland now, will be full of flavor in just a couple short months. So hang in there. As for the chicken, that could have been a lot of things. How did you cook it?

    Reply

    1. I made this in the crock pot and I cut the chicken into small cubes and put it in with everything else. Maybe next time I should wait to add it?

      Reply

      1. No, because you need the chicken to be fully cooked. You could just add more spices and a little salt.

        Reply

  13. Hi, ive been looking through your recipes which look wonderful but im curious as why you are suggesting garlic and onion powers in the recipes other than the real thing?

    Reply

    1. The powders are clean, and I use them simply as a matter of convenience. I hate chopping onions. Feel free to sub with the real thing though.

      Reply

  14. I made this yesterday and it was delicious!! Only question I have is that the recipe says it makes 16 cups…I didn’t get 16 and I didn’t add rice. How many 1 cup servings should the recipe make without adding the rice?? I followed it exactly… thanks!

    Reply

    1. It should make 16 cups. But it’s possible you just boiled it a little longer than I did. How many cups did you end up with?

      Reply

  15. What are the crockpot/slow cooker directions for this recipe?

    Reply

    1. mljohn – I haven’t done this in a slow cooker, but I would think it would be about 4-6 hours on low.

      Reply

  16. Hello,
    I am new to clean eating & I am loving your site! Thank you! I made my own chicken stock. If I use that- should I still use distilled water? & why distilled water? Thank you.

    Reply

    1. Barbara – Yes, you would still use the water. Use whichever kind you usually use.

      Reply

  17. Currently, I’m sick as a dog. I don’t often eat meat. I usually only eat fish or egg whites if I do consume animal protein. But this recipe is very similar to my friend’s chicken soup salad. You make your chicken, veggies, lots of garlic and ginger and pour it all over fresh baby spinach and fresh herbs. I will try your recipe and pour it over the greens! If I did want to do a pescertarian version of this, what kind of fish would I use and how would I prepare it?

    Reply

    1. Halley – I’m afraid you have me there. I’m drawing a completely blank. Fish is not my strong point. You could possibly try cod just because the flavor is so mild. But beyond that, I’m really not sure. Sorry!

      Reply

Homemade Chicken Soup Recipe | The Gracious Pantry (2024)

FAQs

Why does Grandma's chicken soup work when you are sick? ›

Compared with hot water alone, studies show chicken soup is more effective at loosening mucus. The herbs and spices sometimes used in chicken soup, such as pepper and garlic, also loosen mucus. The broth, which contains water and electrolytes, helps with rehydration.

How to make can chicken soup taste better? ›

Herbs: Fresh chives, thyme, or cilantro stirred in just before serving. Spices: Your soup is probably salty enough, but what about simmering a bay leaf in there for a while (don't forget to remove it before serving)? Depending on the soup's flavor profile, you could shake in some cumin or red pepper flakes.

What makes homemade soup taste better? ›

7 Easy Ways to Make Any Soup Better
  1. Brown or Sear the Meat. ...
  2. Roast the the Veggies. ...
  3. Mix up the Texture. ...
  4. Use Homemade Stock Whenever Possible. ...
  5. Put Your Cheese Rinds to Work. ...
  6. Perk up a Bland Soup With Simple Pantry Staples. ...
  7. Add Fresh Herbs or Dairy When Serving.

What makes a bowl of soup more flavorful? ›

Vinegar – A spoonful of vinegar is a quick fix when you find yourself with a bowl of dull, flat-tasting soup. Just a small amount of acid will brighten up the flavors. 2. Soy Sauce – Soy sauce is another item that's ideal for brightening up and adding depth of flavor to an otherwise dull soup.

Does chicken soup really make you feel better when you're sick? ›

The warm broth itself may also help to open up congested nasal and throat passages, which helps to better manage cold and flu symptoms.” Also, chicken soup is an easy way to get important micronutrients, macronutrients, and fluids when you're sick and may not have an appetite for other foods.

What is the best broth to drink when sick? ›

Bone broth serves as a great way to replenish the fluids that you're losing, while also providing your body with valuable electrolytes from the sodium in the broth. These electrolytes will also help you absorb the water more easily.

How do you add depth of flavor to chicken soup? ›

For a deeply flavorful chicken soup, get some boneless, skinless chicken thighs, season them, brown them in a skillet, then finish them in a 375 F oven. You can refrigerate them until you're ready to make the soup, then simply dice them up and add them to the soup at the very end.

Does chicken soup taste better the longer you cook it? ›

While broth and stock both get richer and richer the longer you cook them, the problem is that the chicken meat will dry out and get tough if you let it go too long.

How to make chicken soup thicker? ›

Add flour or cornflour

Put a tablespoon of either into a small bowl and stir in 2-3 tbsp of the soup until you have a smooth mixture. Stir this back into the soup and bring it to a simmer. Cook for a few minutes to allow the starch granules to burst to thicken, and to cook out any flour flavour.

What not to put in soup? ›

The Worst Things to Put in Your Soup
  1. By Sara Butler. If there's one good thing about fall and winter, it's soup. ...
  2. Heavy Cream. Heavy cream creates an inviting texture for soups but that's where its positive contributions end. ...
  3. Juice. ...
  4. Turkey Bacon. ...
  5. Cheese. ...
  6. Croutons.

What is the most important ingredient in soup? ›

For clear, brothy soups, stock is your most important ingredient. If you want to make a good soup, you need to use an excellently flavored stock — otherwise, the entire pot could be tasteless.

What's the secret to a good soup? ›

To make sure that every spoonful of soup is richly flavored, with juicy meat and/or tender vegetables, follow these kitchen-tested tips.
  • Use a Sturdy Pot. ...
  • Sauté the Aromatics. ...
  • Start with Good Broth. ...
  • Cut Vegetables to the Right Size. ...
  • Stagger the Addition of Vegetables. ...
  • Keep Liquid at a Simmer. ...
  • Season Just Before Serving.
Oct 9, 2022

How to deepen the flavor of soup? ›

"If your broth is lacking in savory richness, try adding roasted onion, tomato paste, mushrooms, seaweed, soy sauce, or miso. These ingredients add umami flavor and depth to broth," she says. The choice of ingredient depends on the recipe, though.

What seasoning makes soup taste better? ›

Some of our favorites are Dried Shallots, Dehydrated Red Bell Pepper, Dehydrated Green Bell Pepper, Tomato Flakes, Minced Onion and Roasted Garlic Flakes.

How to fix bland chicken soup? ›

Ok, several things you can do.
  1. Salt and pepper are your friend.
  2. If you can find it, use chicken bone broth. It has some of the best flavor, I find.
  3. You can roast your chicken first and add to the soup to finish. ...
  4. Stir in spinach or kale at the very end for added texture and flavor.
Jan 30, 2020

Why does chicken soup make you feel so good? ›

As it does with turkey, the body uses tryptophan from chicken to make melatonin—which can help you rest—and serotonin, the chemical that signals your nerves and makes you feel happy and at ease. Both of these are reasons chicken soup is associated with comfort food: you literally feel a physiological sense of comfort.

Why do I feel better after eating chicken noodle soup? ›

Chicken is also high in tryptophan, which helps your body produce serotonin that can enhance your mood and give you the feeling of 'comfort' that helps make chicken noodle soup a true comfort food,” Allonen says.

Why is chicken soup immune boosting? ›

Chicken soup contains vitamins A and C, magnesium, phosphorus, gelatin and antioxidants, which are known to build a strong immune system and fight off viruses. The protein from chicken provides amino acids that are used to build antibodies to fight infection.

Why does chicken soup make your stomach feel better? ›

Chicken soup is a staple for upset stomachs for a reason. It provides vitamins, protein and other nutrients, and it can help keep you hydrated. You don't need to use a lot of different ingredients to get the benefits either. This basic chicken soup recipe can help you feel better in no time.

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