a casserole with chicken soup on a counter with a napkin and a wooden spoon
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5 from 1 vote

Simple & Satisfying Chicken Soup

A basic chicken soup recipe that can be made in under two hours, but yet tastes like it has been simmering in the oven all day! 
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time1 hr 30 mins
Total Time1 hr 40 mins
Course: Soup, Dinner
Cuisine: American, American, European
Keyword: Chicken Soup
Appliance: Large Saucepan, Skimmer spoon
Servings: 8 cups
Author: Raksha Hegde

Ingredients

  • 1 whole chicken, cut into pieces 4-5 lb
  • 8 cups water
  • 3 medium onions thinly sliced
  • 2 celery stalks sliced 1/4 inch thick
  • 6 medium carrots sliced 1/2 inch thick
  • 4 garlic cloves crushed
  • salt to taste
  • ground black pepper to taste
  • Rosemary or thyme sprigs optional

Instructions

  • In a large saucepan, add water, chicken, black pepper, and coarse salt and bring to a boil. With the help of a slotted spoon or a skimmer, remove the foam that rises to the top. Add celery, onion slices, and garlic. 
  • Cover partially with a lid. Simmer the chicken for 30 minutes. Remove the chicken breast pieces and set aside as white meat cooks faster than the rest of the chicken. 
  • Add carrots and simmer for another 40 minutes. You can add fresh or dried herbs too. 
  • Remove the chicken pieces. You can discard the wings. Cut the rest of the chicken into small pieces, and discard the bones. You can also choose to shred it. 
  • Stir in the desired amount of chicken into the soup and keep the rest aside for other uses. Skim the fat and check for seasonings. Your chicken soup is ready! 
  • You can use the leftover chicken to make delicious sandwiches or wraps! 
    cranberry salad stuffed in a sandwich with a blue background

Notes

You can collect chicken bones to make chicken stock as a base for delicious soups and curries.