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The Best Chicken Vegetable Soup Recipe (+ Variations)

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Wellness Mama » Blog » Recipes » Poultry Recipes » The Best Chicken Vegetable Soup Recipe (+ Variations)

Oh, chicken soup… they call it food for the soul, and it certainly hits the spot on a cold winter day or when I’m under the weather. I also just love making this chicken soup (and other soups) during the winter to get some extra homemade bone broth into my diet.

It seems like even healthier canned soup brands include less and less meat these days. If you’ve never made chicken soup from scratch before, I encourage you to try this simple recipe and savor the difference.

It’s a must-try!

Chicken Vegetable Soup: A Time-Tested Recipe for Wellness

There’s a good reason why we think of chicken noodle soup when fighting a cold. True, we probably grew up being offered a steaming bowl at the first sign of sniffles, as our parents did before us. But there are practical reasons too for why soup is considered an elixir for good health.

Immune Boosting

With herbal ingredients like parsley, turmeric, basil, and oregano, this chicken vegetable soup recipe helps fight the colds and flu we are all prone to especially in the winter months. I’ve also made sure to add a heartier helping of veggies than found in traditional recipes to really boost the nutritional content.

I can’t go without mentioning the real star of this dish: homemade chicken broth, chock full of immune-boosting minerals and protein. Homemade bone broth (made from grass-fed beef, pastured poultry, or wild fish) offers so many health benefits.

Bone broth from grass-fed sources is:

  • high in calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous
  • rich in collagen for healthy hair, skin, and nails
  • soothing to the digestion
  • high in gelatin and a good source of protein and the important amino acids proline and glycine.

To make real bone broth, the animal bones need to be simmered for 20+ hours to extract all the nutrients. The Instant Pot shortens this job considerably. But don’t worry, there is a shortcut when there’s no time for homemade broth! I use this pre-made option when I need bone broth in a pinch. It’s grass-fed, organic, long-simmered, and avoids the hidden harmful ingredients in many other store-bought broths

If you want to know more about broth as a superfood, check out my podcast interviews with Chef Lance Roll and Justin Mares where we discuss the benefits of broth and the many ways it can be used to improve your health!

Low Glycemic

This chicken vegetable soup is a great low glycemic and high protein meal. It fits the profile of my Wellness Mama recipe requirements and for anyone trying to lose weight. It’s also gluten and dairy-free for those needing to avoid those ingredients.

Simple Prep

I’m opposed to extra dishes and like to keep as many meals as I can to one pot. This recipe calls for boiling a whole chicken right in the stockpot. Everything else can be given a rough chop and thrown in. In fact, this recipe takes only 15 minutes to prep and 30 minutes to simmer.

Freezable

It sounds simple and cliché, but the secret to successful meal planning is planning ahead. Consider making a big batch ahead of time and freeze it to have on hand if the sniffles hit.

Delicious Chicken Vegetable Soup Recipe

It sounds so good… let’s get simmering!

Chicken Vegetable Soup Recipe

A delicious and hearty warm vegetable soup that is packed with nutrients.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Calories 90kcal
Author Katie Wells

Servings

18 cups

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Pour the water into a large stock pot.
  • Add the chicken, bring to a boil, and boil until cooked. If using chicken breasts instead of a whole chicken, chicken broth can be used in place of water.
  • While the chicken is cooking, chop the celery, carrots, onions, amd garlic.
  • Crack the eggs into a small bowl and beat.
  • When the chicken is cooked, remove it from water and set it aside to cool slightly.
  • Meanwhile, add the chopped celery, carrots, onions, and garlic cloves to the boiling water.
  • Add all the herbs and spices.
  • Boil until the vegetables are cooked, but not mushy.
  • Meanwhile, chop the chicken into small pieces.
  • Dice the broccoli and mushrooms.
  • Add the broccoli, mushrooms, spinach, and chicken to the pot.
  • While stirring, add the beaten eggs slowly (it will look similar to egg drop soup).
  • Boil 2 minutes until eggs are cooked, remove from heat and serve.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Chicken Vegetable Soup Recipe
Amount Per Serving (1 cup)
Calories 90 Calories from Fat 36
% Daily Value*
Fat 4g6%
Saturated Fat 1.1g7%
Cholesterol 69mg23%
Sodium 138mg6%
Carbohydrates 6.1g2%
Fiber 2.1g9%
Sugar 1.9g2%
Protein 8g16%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Notes

Feel free to omit the eggs if you can’t have them.
This soup freezes great!

Like this recipe? Check out my new cookbook, or get all my recipes (over 500!) in a personalized weekly meal planner here!

Other Chicken Vegetable Soup Variations:

  • Chicken Pot Pie Soup – This creamy soup featured in the Wellness Mama cookbook uses arrowroot and coconut milk to thicken up the broth (and skips the need for a pie crust!)
  • Soothing Garlic Soup – A favorite for immune-boosting soup with a chicken broth base
  • Egg Drop Soup – Soothing soup in 10 minutes (and with the added benefits of ginger!)
  • Of course, substitute freely with seasonal vegetables or simply with what you have on hand!
  • Kettle & Fire Bone Broth — For when you’re short on time, and want pre-made bone broth that’s pretty gelatinous and made with organic ingredients.
  • Leftover Turkey Soup – A healthy soup variation I love to make after Thanksgiving or when turkey is on sale
  • Tomato Cabbage Soup – My favorite way to add extra veggies to seasonal tomato soup

What’s in your go-to chicken soup recipe? Please share!

Sources

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Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

102 responses to “The Best Chicken Vegetable Soup Recipe (+ Variations)”

  1. Steve L Avatar

    I just got done making this soup. I’m just one guy so I cut recipe basically in a fourth of it and only used 3 drumsticks, (even that was too many) I added some rutabaga, didn’t have spinach, didn’t put eggs in, but everything else I put in, I hated the smell when it was cooking!!!! So I figured, “Well, I’ll choke it down anyway. Just food and my stomach won’t know the difference.” But when it was done, got the meat all deboned and deiced up, it didn’t taste that bad. Not the best I ever tasted, but better than it smelled anyway.

    Steve

  2. Melissa Avatar

    5 stars
    Excellent!!! I made my own chicken stock and then followed almost everything you did in the recipe. It is delicious!!! I love the addition of the eggs too!

    1. Rebecca C Avatar
      Rebecca C

      Sounds great and I would love to make tonight, but unsure about how much water or broth. It’s looks like this question has been floated a few times with no response.

        1. Liz Waller Avatar
          Liz Waller

          what is the difference between broth and chicken stock?

  3. Cherrie Avatar

    5 stars
    Just made the soup for the first time. I don’t usually enjoy chicken soup, but the flavors…it’s like an explosion! I’ve never used Tumeric before, and I didn’t have curry on hand. But this soup is rich and hearty and sooo yummy! I’ll look forward to making it again soon 🙂

  4. Lenah Avatar

    Well I boiled a whole frozen chicken with everything on the recipe, besides the eggs for the egg drops. O forgot about them.and no spinach and dont like mushrooms. Anyways I had some trouble getting the bones out because of everything else in the pot, even though the chicken was falling off the bone, but that was my fault, great recipe for the adults,we all loved it with added salt and pepper and my oldest (5) tried the egg noodles I homemade for her since I doubted she would eat the rest of the soup and my son (4) wouldn’t even try it;( he ended up having bread when I left the room BC grandma gave him bread and butter; ( I don’t know what to do or how to get theme to eat healthy, my son use to be great, but know he won’t hardly eat anything and says he doesn’t like it and then my daughter never eats good because of her grandma spoiling her and letting her eat anything as long as she eats….mqc and cheese packaged, chicken nuggets frozen or mcds and pb&j and packaged noodles…and a couple other things…I am at a loss of what to do…I know my daughters encoragin my son not to like real food…but I can’t have them eat in seperate rooms and its to the point know that I don’t know if it would matter. Anyonanu advice would be welcomed! Thanks and Katie this recipe was great!!!!

    1. Shauna Avatar

      I would sit down and have a good hard talk with Grandma. They’re your children, and she can’t be always undermining your efforts by giving them things behind your back that you don’t want them to have. Other than that, I would say don’t have anything in the house you don’t want them to eat. At some point, they will be hungry enough to eat what you give them. My son often does the same thing, refusing to eat because he hates veggies. But now he will at least try a couple of pieces at meals. Hang in there, Mom, you can do this!

      1. Leah Hanley Avatar
        Leah Hanley

        5 stars
        As for the soup, I’d consider blending it and demanding the kids take a “No Thank You” bite. We still do it and my picky boy is 14 now. Texture is a big issue with him. My easiest answer for nutrition is make smoothies with fresh baby spinach. Initially I snuck it in adding enough blueberries or cherries to cover the green color but now my kids know what’s in it, they don’t care because they know they like it. I put in about 1c of OJ, 1 banana, 4c or more of baby spinach (really you can’t over do it but first time take it easy), Blend before adding bulk of frozen fruits to get leaves fully blended. Then add 4c of partially defrosted frozen fruits (mango, peaches, strawberries, pineapple, cherries and blueberries are great choices). My boys don’t love blackberries or raspberries due to the seeds. This will make about four 12 oz cups. Good luck!

      2. Linda Avatar

        An Italian lady once told me to add a 1/2 tsp sugar to the soup & grate veggies they don’t like into it. Well she actually said 1 Tbsp and I started with 1/2 tsp. Eventually didn’t add any!

  5. Lenah Avatar

    I am trying this recipe today! the kids have started school and are slightly coughing, sneezing and runny noses,,, it started of with allergies and went from there. Change of weather and leavon the fan and window open the last two nights didn’t help (hot at night, cold in the am)…the family, grandparents and kids are expecting homemade chicken noodle soup….so I hope the veggies and chicken will go over well with them. Not taking the chance to make noodles when there immune system is down. My oldest picky eater though so I might have to make her a small batch,,,,until I can figure out how to get her to eat Real Food. Anyways wish me luck. I’ll let you all know how it goes tonight! Thank for the recipe Katie…I’m on a mission to learn to be healthier and teach my kids as well. Hard in this day in age with contradicting info, and processed food galore, glad for you credit research! For ever in your debt for providing these articles!!!

  6. Elleng Avatar

    I am not really a soup lover but this was great.I halved the recipe because I don’t have that many people to feed and I used a cornish game hen instead. Adding the egg at the end made this a rich and really satisfying meal.

  7. Sallyanne Avatar

    When do you add the chicken back in? At the end since it is cooked already?

    1. Alex Avatar

      Same question – I didn’t see it answered yet. Does the chicken get added back at the end, or along with the vegetables after being cut up?

  8. Nicole Conner Avatar
    Nicole Conner

    How much turmeric adm other spices? Can you give me measurements? Thanks!

    1. Cheryl Avatar

      5 stars
      The recipe says 1-2 Tablespoons of all spices except cayenne, 1/2 teaspoon. I added a little more because I like spicy food. The hot curry adds a nice little kick.

  9. sarah Avatar

    Wow! I have been meaning to make this for awhile now, and tonight I finally made a batch for lunches this week. I was a bit skeptical about how it would taste while it was cooking, but it tastes wonderful! And so good for you! It’s also light enough to eat for a snack. This is just what I needed… I have been trying to find something I can keep on hand that tastes good and is really healthy, and this is it!

  10. Jacque Litle Avatar
    Jacque Litle

    I’ve made a chicken soup similar to this using kale, butternut squash, carrots, onion, celery. The rest basically the same. Think I’ll try yours for this weeks church fellowship dinner.

  11. lacey Avatar

    Question …. am I adding the vegetables to the same water I boiled the chicken in or a new pot of boiling water ? I will be using chicken breast…. thanks

  12. Lydia Willmore Avatar
    Lydia Willmore

    I love this soup! This is my fourth time making it and I just love it. I added fresh ginger and plan on topping it with fresh chopped parsley today. This is definitely a keeper. I combine this with all of the 24 hr flu remedies and I really feel like the combination of it all helps to nurse me and my fam back to health. Thanks!!

  13. Gabriele Hawthorne Avatar
    Gabriele Hawthorne

    Do you have a receipe how to make your own chicken stock

  14. Bachman Avatar
    Bachman

    What is the purpose of the eggs? Do you think it would taste good to omit the eggs – as we are egg free for allergy reasons. 

    1. Wellness Mama Avatar
      Wellness Mama

      You can definitely omit them, they just add some protein and an egg-drop soup type taste, but not necessary at all…

3.98 from 137 votes (108 ratings without comment)

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