Description
Ultimate Chicken Soup is a hearty, nourishing soup filled with tender poached chicken, fresh vegetables like carrots, parsnips, celery, leek, and onion, and fragrant herbs. Perfect for cold weather, this wholesome soup combines a savory broth with fresh parsley for a comforting meal that’s simple to prepare on the stovetop.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 4 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
- 3 parsnips, peeled and sliced
- 3 celery ribs, sliced
- ½ medium onion, diced
- 1 leek, halved lengthwise, sliced, and rinsed
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- ¼ cup roughly chopped fresh parsley
Meat and Herbs
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 sprigs fresh tarragon
- 1 bay leaf
Other
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 5 cups low-sodium chicken broth
Instructions
- Sauté the Veggies: Heat the extra virgin olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the sliced carrots, parsnips, celery, leek, and diced onion. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently until the vegetables soften. Add the minced garlic, kosher salt, and black pepper and stir for an additional minute to release the garlic’s aroma.
- Poach the Chicken: Add the fresh thyme, tarragon, bay leaf, boneless skinless chicken breasts, and low-sodium chicken broth to the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for about 15 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
- Shred the Chicken: Carefully remove the chicken breasts with tongs and place them on a cutting board. Use two forks to gently shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Return the shredded chicken to the pot and let it simmer for another 1 to 2 minutes to combine the flavors.
- Serve: Remove and discard the sprigs of thyme, tarragon, and bay leaf from the soup. Stir in the roughly chopped fresh parsley. Garnish with additional parsley and freshly ground black pepper before serving the soup warm.
Notes
- This nourishing chicken soup is packed with vegetables and fresh herbs, making it both comforting and healthy.
- Ideal for chilly days or when you need a comforting homemade meal.
- Use low-sodium chicken broth to control sodium content.
- Fresh herbs add bright flavor, but dried herbs can be substituted in a pinch.
- Watch a step-by-step video to see how to prepare this soup in your kitchen.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 319 kcal
- Sugar: 11 g
- Sodium: 822 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.01 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 9 g
- Protein: 21 g
- Cholesterol: 36 mg
