Quick and Easy Healing Chicken Soup Recipe

Is there anything more healing and comforting than a bowl of warm chicken soup made with love? It is a form of hands-on caring and comfort that I grew up with and love being able to provide for my own family. However, life is busy, Arizona is hot, and I can’t usually spend hours in the kitchen, especially when the family is sick! This recipe balances a need for speed with TLC!

As you’ll see in my quick and easy recipe, measurements are rough and ingredients change depending on what is available in my fridge or pantry and what we’re in the mood for. The kids love to get involved by choosing which herbs and spices to add.  

Notably, chicken soup is getting research interest as a possible treatment for upper respiratory tract infections.

See the end of this article for some of my favorite traditional chicken soup recipes from around the world. I’ve also linked some recipes with really detailed instructions and videos that are helpful if you’re a beginner cook. 

Quick & Easy Healing Chicken Soup Recipe

Prep time: 5 minutes – Cook time: 35 minutes – Servings: 6

Ingredients

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs (1 lb)
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil
1 small onion (diced)
2 or more cloves of garlic (minced)
2 stalks of celery (chopped)
3 carrots (chopped)
Liquid (water and/or organic chicken, vegetable, or bone broth)
Starch (potatoes, rice, or gluten-free noodles)
Spices (any combination of bay leaves, cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, or black peppercorn)
Herbs (any combination of parsley, rosemary, oregano, thyme, or basil)
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

In a saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium. Add onion, celery, and carrots and saute over medium-low heat until they are translucent (8-10 minutes). Add garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Add liquid to the pot and bring to a boil. The amount of liquid added depends on your preference and if you would like a soup with more or less broth. I usually add approximately 4 cups of broth and 2 cups of water. Add chicken and spices and reduce heat to a simmer. I often let the kids choose which spices to use. I like to add a bay leaf, a cinnamon stick, and an inch of ginger. If I am adding rice or potatoes, I add them at this point. If we are having soup with noodles, I prefer to cook them in a separate pot so that they don’t get soggy. Simmer the soup until the chicken is cooked through, stirring occasionally. Add desired herbs during the last 2-5 minutes of cooking. Remove large spices before serving (e.g. bay leaves, ginger chunks, and cinnamon sticks). 

Chicken Soup Recipes From Around The World

Chicken soup is a staple in households around the world. There are countless variations of this recipe! These are some of my favorites for flavor inspiration. Alternatively, look to your family’s culture and traditions for recipes to connect you to your heritage. 

Pastina Soup is great for kids who are picky or who have a low appetite. Ultra-Satisfying Chicken Noodle Soup is similar to mine, but this post has in-depth instructions and a video in case you are a visual learner. This homemade chicken soup recipe is the easiest and most hands-off of all the recipes. 

Homemade Chicken Soup Recipe | Allrecipes
Ultra-Satisfying Chicken Noodle Soup
BEST Authentic Avgolemono Soup Recipe | the Mediterranean Dish
Spicy Thai Coconut Chicken Soup Recipe | MyRecipes
Pastina Soup (Italian Chicken Noodle Soup) – Inside The Rustic Kitchen
Arroz Aguado (Nicaraguan Chicken and Rice Stew) Recipe
Simple African Chicken pepper soup – Chef Lola’s Kitchen
Simple Homemade Chicken Ramen – Fork Knife Swoon
Lebanese Chicken and Lentil Soup – Cookin’ with Mima
Dak Gomtang (Korean Chicken Soup)
Jewish Chicken Soup Recipe | Allrecipes
Caldo de Pollo (Homemade Chicken Soup) + Video – Muy Bueno Cookbook
Chicken Yakhni | Simplest and most AROMATIC chicken broth EVER! 

References:

Rennard, B. O., Ertl, R. F., Gossman, G. L., Robbins, R. A., & Rennard, S. I. (2000). Chicken soup inhibits neutrophil chemotaxis in vitro. Chest, 118(4), 1150–1157. https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.118.4.1150

Rennard, S. I., Kalil, A. C., & Casaburi, R. (2020). Chicken Soup in the Time of COVID. Chest, 158(3), 864–865. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chest.2020.04.044

Babizhayev, M. A., Deyev, A. I., & Yegorov, Y. E. (2013). Non-hydrolyzed in digestive tract and blood natural L-carnosine peptide (“bioactivated Jewish penicillin”) as a panacea of tomorrow for various flu ailments: signaling activity attenuating nitric oxide (NO) production, cytostasis, and NO-dependent inhibition of influenza virus replication in macrophages in the human body infected with the virulent swine influenza A (H1N1) virus. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology, 24(1), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1515/jbcpp-2012-0037