Description

This Ultimate Chicken Soup recipe is a hearty and comforting dish featuring tender shredded chicken breast simmered with a medley of sautéed vegetables and fresh herbs in a flavorful low-sodium chicken broth. It’s perfect for a nourishing meal any time of year, balancing simple, wholesome ingredients with delicious depth of flavor.

Ingredients

Scale

Vegetables

4 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
3 parsnips, peeled and sliced
3 celery ribs, sliced
½ medium onion, diced
1 leek, halved lengthwise, sliced, and rinsed
4 garlic cloves, minced

Proteins & Herbs

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 sprigs fresh thyme
2 sprigs fresh tarragon
1 bay leaf
¼ cup roughly chopped fresh parsley

Other Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
5 cups low-sodium chicken broth

Instructions

Saute the veggies: Heat the extra virgin olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the sliced carrots, parsnips, celery, leek, and diced onion. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently to soften the vegetables. Then, add the minced garlic, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper, stirring for about one more minute until fragrant.
Poach the chicken: Add the fresh thyme, tarragon, bay leaf, the boneless skinless chicken breasts, and low-sodium chicken broth to the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and cover the pot. Let it simmer gently for 15 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked through.
Shred the chicken: Using tongs, carefully remove the cooked chicken breasts from the pot and transfer them to a cutting board. Gently shred the chicken with two forks until it is pulled into bite-sized pieces. Return the shredded chicken to the pot and allow it to simmer for an additional 1 to 2 minutes to absorb more flavor.
Serve the soup: Remove the sprigs of thyme, tarragon, and the bay leaf from the soup. Stir in the roughly chopped fresh parsley. Garnish with additional parsley and freshly ground black pepper if desired before serving hot.

Notes

For optimal flavor, follow the precise order of adding ingredients: sauté veggies, then garlic, salt, and pepper last before simmering to prevent garlic from burning.
You can shred the chicken faster using a stand mixer if preferred, as mentioned in the recipe video.
This soup pairs well with crusty bread or a light salad for a complete meal.
Use low-sodium chicken broth to control salt levels and keep the soup healthy.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Soup
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Keywords: chicken soup, homemade chicken soup, shredded chicken soup, comforting soup, easy chicken soup