Description
Warm, nourishing, homemade chicken soup. Like a comforting hug in a bowl.
Use fresh OR dry herbs, whatever you have on hand.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 whole chicken
- 1 Tbsp butter or olive oil
- 1 whole onion, diced
- 3-4 celery stalks, diced; divided
- 3-4 carrots, diced; divided
- fresh spring water, to cover
- fresh herbs: parsley, thyme, sage, rosemary (1-2 sprigs of each), OR
- dry herbs: substitute dry herbs if fresh are unavailable: 1/2 to 1 tsp. each
- salt and pepper to taste
For Serving:
- cooked brown rice or cooked brown rice noodles
Instructions
- Rinse and pat dry the chicken; remove any giblets and discard. Set chicken aside.
- Melt butter or oil in large stockpot.
- Add the onion, half the celery, and half the carrots. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5-7 minutes, until the onion begins to turn translucent.
- Stir in herbs (use either fresh or dry).
- Add the whole chicken to the pot. Carefully pour in enough water to cover the chicken.
- Bring pot to a slow boil; then turn down the heat and partially cover; allow chicken to gently simmer about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
- Remove the soup pot from the heat.
- Remove the chicken to a large platter to cool slightly.
- Place clean stockpot full of broth on the stove. Add the reserved carrots and celery. Bring to simmer; simmer, partially covered, until vegetables are tender (about 5-10 minutes).
- While the reserved vegetables are simmering, pull the cooked chicken off the bones; add the chicken to simmering broth.
To Serve:
- Measure your portion of chicken from the pot into a soup bowl.
- Measure your starch into the soup bowl.
- Fill soup bowl with broth. Enjoy!
Notes
- Add additional vegetables, or a side salad, for a complete meal.
- Leftovers keep 4-5 days in the refrigerator; freezes well for up to 3 months, too.
- Broth can be strained as called for in step 9, and then used for other recipes.
- Cooked chicken can also be used for other recipes, if not using for chicken soup.
- Do not store leftovers with rice or noodles in the broth, or they will become mushy.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 - 60 minutes
- Category: Protein, soup
- Method: Stove or Grill
- Cuisine: soup