Ultimate Chicken Soup
Published 1/7/2023
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This Ultimate Chicken Soup is made with whole grains, a whole head of garlic, and delicious vegetables. Finished with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a warm piece of bread makes the perfect bowl of soup.
Ultimate Chicken Soup
When we say this is the ultimate chicken soup, we mean it. This chicken soup has so much flavor it will blow your mind. We use a whole head of garlic (trust us on this one) and simmer the soup until the chicken and barley cook to perfection.
What makes this chicken soup different
- We use a whole head of garlic.
- There are no noodles, we use barley instead.
- It is baked with so many vegetables.
- This soup is brightened up with lemon juice.
Featured Ingredients
The ingredients for this flavorful chicken soup are all ingredients we usually have at home. Here are some more details on some of the featured ingredients
Garlic- a whole head of garlic is used in this soup. Use all of your best garlic tricks to peel and mince the garlic before adding it to the soup.
Chicken Breast: Chicken breast is a lean protein that is lower in calories, but high in protein. You can always swap out the breasts for thighs or even omit to make this recipe vegetarian.
Veggies: this chicken soup calls for all the classic chicken soup veggies: carrot, celery, garlic, and onion. Other veggies that would work well in this recipe are potato, sweet potato, parsnip, or squash.
Chicken Broth: while you can make your own homemade chicken broth, we’re keeping things simple with store-bought chicken broth. An option here is to swap your chicken broth out for vegetable broth or even beef broth if that’s what you have.
Barley: we skipped the noodles and used barley for a nice bite. Barley also adds a delicious creaminess to this chicken soup.
Lemon: Not every chicken soup recipe calls for fresh lemon, but let me tell you, this is a game-changer. A bit of citrus goes a long way, and a hint of lemon is wonderful in this soup.
Try it!
Homemade Chicken Broth
Make this homemade chicken broth and use it in your favorite soup recipe! This broth is the most flavorful chicken broth on the internet. You can use it in soups, chilis, sauces, and more!
Quick Glace at Directions
Make sure to scroll all the way down to the recipe card to get the full ingredient list and written recipe.
- Cook down the vegetables in a large pot or Dutch oven. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant.
- Add the chicken broth, lemon juice, and barely to the pot, and then submerge the chicken into the liquid. Bring the liquid to a boil and then turn the heat to low and allow the soup to simmer for 30 minutes.
- When the chicken is fully cooked, remove the chicken from the pot and shred it with two forks and add it back into the pot along with the chopped kale.
- Simmer the soup one last time until the kale is wilted. Serve hot.
the best
Chicken Noodle Soup
Our classic chicken noodle soup is one of the most popular soup recipes on FFF!
Chicken Soup FAQ
Chicken soup is healthy especially if you make it in your own home. It’s made with lean chicken breast, tons of veggies, warm spices, and your favorite noodle.
Homemade chicken soup can often be under-seasoned. Before making any major changes to your soup, try adding 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of kosher soup at a time. Stir and taste.
If that still doesn’t do the trick try adding more lemon juice, a teaspoon of vinegar, or a teaspoon of hot sauce.
Yes, you can put the raw chicken into soup. Just be sure to simmer the chicken until cooked completely. Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of the chicken.
Storage
Store chicken soup in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freezing Instructions
Let the chicken soup freeze completely and then transfer the chicken to a freezer-safe container and freeze the soup for up to 3 months
Reheating Instructions: Remove the soup from the freezer and let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Pour the soup into a pot and add 1 cup of chicken broth. Bring this soup to a simmer and enjoy.
Tutorial
How to Freeze Soup & Chili
Learn how to freeze soup and chili with this easy How to Freeze Soup tutorial. We’ll share all of our tips and tricks to perfect freezer soup.
Ultimate Chicken Soup
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, minced (~1 cup)
- 2 cups chopped carrots, (~4 carrots chopped into half moons)
- 1 large russet potato, cut into ½-inch cubes (~1.5 cups)
- 8 oz. sliced Bella mushrooms
- 1.5 teaspoons kosher salt, separated
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 head garlic, minced (~23 garlic cloves)
- 8 cups chicken broth
- ⅔ cup fresh lemon juice, ~2 medium lemons
- 1 cup uncooked barley
- 1.5 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breast
- 6 sprigs fresh thyme
- 4 cups chopped fresh kale, deboned and packed
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large stock pot over medium/high heat. When the olive oil is fragrant, add onion to the pot and season with 1⁄4 teaspoon salt. Sauté for 3-4 minutes.
- Add the carrots, potatoes, mushrooms, 1 teaspoon of salt, and pepper to the pot and toss all of the ingredients together. Cook for 3-4 minutes. Add the garlic and toss and cook for another 2 minutes.
- Add the chicken broth, lemon juice, and barley into the pot and mix until combined. Then, submerge the chicken into the broth and add the thyme sprigs. Bring the soup to a boil over high heat, stir, and then turn the heat to low. Cover the soup and let it simmer for 25-30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked.
- Remove the chicken from the pot and carefully shred the chicken and transfer it back into the pot. Add the chopped kale and mix to combine.
- Let the soup simmer for another 10 minutes to allow the kale to soften.
- Remove the thyme sprigs from the pot and serve with fresh lemon slices.
Tips & Notes
- If you don’t have barley, you can use farro.
- Feel free to substitute kale for spinach.
Watch It
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Photography: photos taken in this post are by Ashley McGlaughlin from The Edible Perspective.
I can almost taste the savory goodness just by looking at it. Great job!
Really yummy! I only added 6 cloves of garlic because I was honestly nervous to put in a whole head! Maybe next time I’ll be brave enough to do the whole amount. Easy to make and really delish. Love the lemony taste (adds a nice bright taste to a winter soup).