The Best Ever Healing Chicken Soup

This is the Best Ever Healing Chicken Soup, packed with healthy ingredients and so much flavour. You’ll feel better in no time!

This is my go-to soup recipe for when I’m feeling under the weather. The turmeric and ginger especially will help with inflammation AND flavour so you really can’t go wrong. Find out why this is my fave soup recipe!

Why you’ll love this recipe

• Healing soup: It’s packed with healthy ingredients that will help you heal if you’re sick.
• Comfort in a bowl: Even if you’re perfectly healthy, who doesn’t love a bowl of hot soup on a chilly day?!

Ingredients and substitutions

• Olive oil ­– or another neutral cooking oil like avocado oil.
• Chicken breasts – chicken thighs, leftover chicken or turkey would all work.
• Celery – double up on the carrots if you don’t have any celery.
• Carrots – substitute for more celery or use leeks instead.
• Yellow onion ­– white onion or shallots would also work.
• Fresh rosemary – use 1 tsp dried rosemary instead.
• Fresh thyme – use 1 tsp dried thyme instead.
• Garlic – freshly minced garlic is best but jarred minced garlic will work in a pinch.
• Lemon juice ­– freshly squeezed is best but bottled can be used.
• Fresh ginger – swap out for ½ tsp dried ginger powder.
• Lemon zest – use extra lemon juice instead.
• Turmeric – you can use saffron, but it doesn’t have the health benefits and has a sweeter taste; you can leave it out too.
• Chicken broth – vegetable broth is the best substitute here.
• Mini pasta shells – or another small shaped pasta like macaroni.
• Fresh parsley ­– substitute for 2 tsp dried parsley instead, or use any fresh herbs you have on hand.

How to make this chicken soup

Step 1: Cook the chicken.

Sear the chicken until lightly browned, then remove from the pot.

Step 2: Sauté the veggies.

Sauté the veggies until fragrant, scraping up any chicken bits from the bottom.

Step 3: Add the rest of the ingredients.

Add the chicken back to the pot with the seasonings and lemon juice.

Step 4: Simmer the soup.

Add the broth, bring to a boil and simmer for 20 mins. Add the pasta in the last 10 mins.

Step 5: Shred the chicken.

Remove the chicken from the soup and shred with two forks.

Step 6: Add the chicken back.

Add the chicken back to the pot, stir in the fresh parsley and serve.

Frequently asked questions

Does chicken soup actually help when you’re sick?

When you’re sick, your body needs lots of liquids (like soup). Turmeric also has powerful anti-inflammatory qualities, while fresh ginger helps reduce congestion and inflammation, and soothes sore throats.

Can I make it in the crockpot or Instant Pot instead?

Crockpot instructions: Cook it in the crockpot on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours, adding the pasta during the last 30 minutes of cooking time

Instant Pot instructions: If you’re making it in the Instant Pot, cook on high pressure for 5 minutes then do a quick release of the pressure.

How do you add extra flavour?

I highly recommend using fresh herbs, fresh lemon juice and lemon zest. It’ll give your soup plenty of amazing flavour!

Storing and reheating

Storing: Store leftovers in the fridge for 5 days.

Reheating: Reheat in a pot on the stovetop or in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.

Freezing: Freeze the soup for 3 months (I recommend storing individual portions), then thaw in the fridge overnight or reheat from frozen.

Reheating from frozen: Reheat individual portions in the microwave for 6-7 minutes, stirring a couple times partway through.

Meal prep tools

• Grab some glass meal prep bowls if you plan on turning this soup into leftovers.
• I get all my free-range chicken from Butcher Box, conveniently delivered to me frozen.
• Freeze individual portions of this soup in Souper Cubes for up to 3 months.