The Best Healing Chicken Soup (Printable Version)

Comforting chicken soup with tender meat, fresh vegetables, and healing herbs in a savory broth.

# What You Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1.5 lbs bone-in, skinless chicken thighs

→ Vegetables

02 - 2 medium carrots, sliced
03 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
04 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
05 - 4 garlic cloves, minced
06 - 1 parsnip, peeled and sliced
07 - 1 medium zucchini, diced
08 - 2 cups baby spinach or kale, chopped
09 - 1 small lemon, juiced

→ Broth & Seasoning

10 - 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth
11 - 1 bay leaf
12 - 1 tsp dried thyme
13 - 1 tsp dried oregano
14 - 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
15 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
16 - 1 tsp sea salt
17 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
18 - 1 tbsp olive oil

# How to Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, celery, and parsnip. Sauté for 5 minutes until vegetables soften.
02 - Add garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Place chicken thighs into the pot. Pour in chicken broth and add bay leaf, thyme, oregano, turmeric, black pepper, and salt.
04 - Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook for 35–40 minutes, until chicken is cooked through.
05 - Remove chicken and set aside to cool slightly.
06 - Add zucchini and spinach to the pot. Simmer 8–10 minutes until just tender.
07 - Shred chicken meat, discarding bones. Return shredded chicken to the soup.
08 - Add lemon juice and parsley. Stir well and taste for seasoning. Heat through for 2–3 minutes. Serve hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The turmeric and fresh lemon give your immune system a gentle boost without tasting medicinal
  • Every spoonful feels like a warm hug from someone who knows exactly what you need
02 -
  • I once added the lemon juice too early and it made the vegetables slightly mushy, so always add it right at the end
  • Using bone-in thighs instead of breasts makes a huge difference in flavor depth and the meat stays infinitely more tender
03 -
  • If you have time, roasting the chicken thighs first adds incredible depth to the final broth
  • A Parmesan rind simmered in the broth adds umami richness without any dairy in the final soup

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