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Cozy Simple Chicken Soup

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An easy, comforting homemade chicken soup recipe perfect for cozy nights and quick comfort food cravings. Made with simple ingredients and a careful simmer for rich flavor.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs (about 1 lb / 450 g)
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 1 medium onion, diced (yellow or white)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 6 cups (1.4 liters) low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup (240 ml) water (optional)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tsp dried thyme or 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
  • 1 tsp lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
  • 1 cup egg noodles, rice, or small pasta (optional)
  • 1 tbsp olive oil or unsalted butter (for sautéing veggies)

Instructions

  1. Rinse and pat dry the chicken breasts or thighs. Cut into bite-sized chunks or leave whole for shredding after cooking.
  2. In a large pot, heat 1 tbsp olive oil or butter over medium heat. Add diced onion, sliced carrots, and chopped celery. Cook for 5-7 minutes until vegetables soften and onions turn translucent. Add minced garlic in the last minute, stirring gently.
  3. Place the chicken pieces on top of the softened veggies. Pour in 6 cups chicken broth and 1 cup water if desired. Add bay leaves and thyme. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
  4. Bring the soup to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes until chicken is fully cooked and tender.
  5. Remove chicken from pot. If bone-in, discard bones. Shred or chop chicken into bite-sized pieces and return to pot.
  6. If using noodles or small pasta, add about 1 cup to the simmering broth and cook for 6-8 minutes until tender, keeping the lid off.
  7. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Stir in 1 tsp fresh lemon juice. Remove bay leaves before serving.
  8. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve hot.

Notes

For richer broth, use bone-in chicken pieces and remove bones before serving. Add noodles last to avoid sogginess. If soup thickens after sitting, stir in broth or water when reheating. Avoid boiling aggressively to keep chicken tender. Fresh lemon juice added at the end brightens flavor.

Nutrition

Keywords: chicken soup, comfort food, easy chicken soup, homemade soup, cozy soup, simple chicken soup, healthy soup

Find it online: https://sagestirs.com/cozy-simple-chicken-soup-recipe-easy-homemade-comfort-food-guide/