Chicken and Vegetable Soup: A Comforting and Healthy Recipe
This hearty and flavorful chicken and vegetable soup is perfect for a chilly evening or when you're feeling under the weather. Packed with nutritious vegetables and tender chicken, this recipe is easy to customize to your liking and is sure to become a family favorite. Let's dive into the delicious details!
Ingredients You'll Need:
This recipe is designed to be flexible, so feel free to adjust the quantities based on your preferences and how many servings you need.
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For the Chicken Broth:
- 1 whole chicken (about 3-4 pounds), or 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 8 cups water
- 1 large onion, quartered
- 2 carrots, roughly chopped
- 2 celery stalks, roughly chopped
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
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For the Soup:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 cups chicken broth (homemade or store-bought, low sodium preferred)
- 1 cup chopped potatoes (Yukon Gold or russet)
- 1 cup chopped green beans
- 1 cup chopped zucchini
- 1 cup chopped corn (fresh or frozen)
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Cooked chicken, shredded (from the broth or pre-cooked)
Instructions: Making the Best Chicken and Vegetable Soup
Step 1: Preparing the Chicken Broth
- Place the whole chicken (or chicken pieces) in a large stockpot. Add water, onion quarters, carrots, celery, bay leaves, and peppercorns.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for at least 1 hour, or until the chicken is cooked through.
- Remove the chicken from the pot and let it cool slightly before shredding the meat. Discard the skin and bones. Strain the broth through a fine-mesh sieve, discarding the solids. Set aside.
Step 2: Building the Soup
- Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery and cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Pour in the strained chicken broth, add the potatoes, green beans, zucchini, and corn.
- Stir in the thyme and rosemary. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Stir in the shredded chicken.
- Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
Tips and Variations for Your Perfect Bowl:
- Spice it up: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a little heat.
- Add other vegetables: Feel free to experiment with other vegetables like peas, mushrooms, or spinach.
- Make it creamy: Stir in a splash of heavy cream or coconut milk for a richer soup.
- Boost the flavor: Add a tablespoon of tomato paste along with the garlic for a deeper flavor.
- Make it ahead: This soup tastes even better the next day! Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
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This detailed recipe, along with helpful tips and variations, should give you everything you need to create a delicious and satisfying chicken and vegetable soup. Enjoy!