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Chicken Soup

A warm and comforting chicken soup recipe that is simple to make and perfect for chilly days, packed with flavor and can be customized with various ingredients.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Course, Soup
Cuisine: American
Calories: 350
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 whole whole chicken (about 3-4 pounds) Bone-in pieces add more flavor to the broth.
  • 8 cups water Can substitute with store-bought chicken broth.
  • 2 medium onions, chopped
  • 3 carrots, sliced
  • 3 stalks celery, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 cup noodles (optional) Cook them according to package instructions.
  • Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Rinse the whole chicken under cold water and place it in a large pot.
  2. Pour 8 cups of water over the chicken in the pot, ensuring it is fully covered.
  3. Turn on the heat to medium-high and add the chopped onions, sliced carrots, chopped celery, and minced garlic.
  4. Add the salt, black pepper, bay leaf, and dried thyme to the pot and stir well.
Cooking
  1. Once the water reaches a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer for about 1 to 1.5 hours until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
  2. Carefully take the chicken out of the pot and let it cool on a plate.
  3. Remove the skin and bones from the chicken, and shred the meat using two forks.
  4. Return the shredded chicken to the pot.
  5. If adding noodles, bring the soup back to a gentle boil and add the noodles. Cook them according to the package instructions, usually around 7-10 minutes.
  6. Taste the soup and adjust seasoning if needed. Remove the bay leaf before serving.
Serving
  1. Ladle the chicken soup into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley if desired.

Notes

Storing chicken soup is easy; let it cool completely before storing in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days in the fridge or freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat on the stove or in the microwave.