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Ultimate Chicken Soup Recipe

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3.9 from 11 reviews

This Ultimate Chicken Soup recipe offers a hearty and flavorful dish made with a medley of fresh vegetables, tender poached chicken, and fragrant herbs. Perfect for a comforting meal, it combines sautéed veggies and poached chicken in a savory broth, finished off with fresh parsley for a refreshing touch.

Ingredients

Vegetables

  • 4 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 3 parsnips, peeled and sliced
  • 3 celery ribs, sliced
  • ½ medium onion, diced
  • 1 leek, halved lengthwise, sliced, and rinsed
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced

Other Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 2 sprigs fresh tarragon
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 5 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • ¼ cup roughly chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

  1. Saute the veggies: Heat the extra virgin olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the carrots, parsnips, celery, leek, and onion to the pot. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently until the veggies start to soften. Add the minced garlic, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper, stirring for an additional minute to release the flavors.
  2. Poach the chicken: Add the fresh thyme, tarragon, bay leaf, chicken breasts, and low-sodium chicken broth to the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover the pot and let the soup simmer gently for 15 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked through.
  3. Shred the chicken: Using tongs, carefully remove the chicken breasts to a cutting board. Shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces using two forks. Return the shredded chicken back to the pot, stirring it into the soup, and simmer for an additional 1 to 2 minutes to meld the flavors.
  4. Serve: Remove the sprigs of thyme, tarragon, and the bay leaf from the soup. Stir in the roughly chopped fresh parsley. Garnish with extra fresh parsley and a sprinkle of black pepper. Serve hot and enjoy the comforting flavors.

Notes

  • Use low-sodium chicken broth to control salt levels and enhance flavor.
  • Leeks should be thoroughly rinsed to remove any grit.
  • Shredding the chicken ensures tender, easy-to-eat pieces throughout the soup.
  • Fresh herbs add a delicate flavor, but dried herbs can be substituted if needed, using about one-third the amount.
  • This soup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months.