Description
Hearty chicken soup celebrates comfort with tender meat and nourishing broth. Grandma’s classic recipe delivers warmth and healing in each spoonful you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 whole chicken (4 – 5 lbs/1.8 – 2.3 kg), cut into pieces
- 8 cups/1.9 L chicken broth
- 4 cups/950 mL water
- 1 large onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 large carrots, sliced
- 3 celery stalks, sliced
- 2 parsnips, peeled and sliced
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried parsley (or 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 cup/240 mL egg noodles
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Fill a spacious pot with chicken pieces, broth, and water. Heat until boiling, then lower temperature to a gentle simmer for 30 minutes, carefully removing any foam that accumulates on the surface.
- Incorporate aromatic vegetables including onions, garlic, carrots, celery, and parsnips along with herbs like bay leaf, thyme, and parsley. Continue simmering for 35-40 minutes until chicken is thoroughly cooked and vegetables reach optimal tenderness.
- Extract chicken from the liquid and allow it to cool slightly. Carefully separate meat from bones, shredding into bite-sized pieces. Reintroduce shredded meat back into the simmering broth.
- For noodle variation, gently fold egg noodles into the soup. Cook for 9-11 minutes until noodles become perfectly soft and absorb the rich flavors.
- Enhance the soup’s flavor profile by seasoning with salt, freshly ground black pepper, and a splash of bright lemon juice. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed for balanced flavor.
- Ladle the steaming soup into serving bowls, garnishing with delicate sprigs of fresh parsley for an elegant finishing touch. Serve immediately while piping hot.
Notes
- Select bone-in chicken pieces for richer, deeper flavor and more gelatin, which enhances soup’s texture and nutrition.
- Use homemade chicken stock instead of store-bought to control sodium levels and boost overall taste profile.
- Chop vegetables uniformly to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the soup.
- For gluten-free version, replace egg noodles with zucchini noodles or rice to maintain meal’s heartiness while accommodating dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg