Homemade Chicken Soup

SERVES: 6

COOK TIME: 2 Hr 40 Min

Lots of chicken, carrots, onions, and celery make this one of the best chicken soup recipes around. It's beyond easy to make, and you'll forget all about store-bought canned soup in no time. Our Homemade Chicken Soup recipe will warm your hands, heart, and tummy, so grab your favorite bowl and dig-in!

What You'll Need

1 (2-1/2- to 3-pound) chicken, cut into 8 pieces
10 cups cold water
4 carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
3 celery stalks, cut into 1-inch chunks
2 medium-sized onions, cut into 1-inch chunks
1 tablespoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

What to Do

Combine all the ingredients in a soup pot and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low, then simmer for 2-1/2 to 3 hours, or until the chicken easily falls off the bones.
Serve the soup with the chicken (bones and all) or, if desired, use tongs to remove the chicken from the soup, allow the chicken to cool slightly, then bone and skin the chicken, cut it into small pieces, and return it to the soup.
Serve as is or with cooked noodles, rice, or matzo balls. (See Note.)

Notes

Store any leftover soup in the refrigerator. Before reheating, remove and discard any fat that has risen to the surface. For homemade matzo ball soup, prepare matzo balls and add them to the soup pot about 15 minutes before serving. For chicken noodle soup, add 1/4 pound medium egg noodles, cooked, to the soup just before serving, and for chicken rice soup, add 3 cups cooked rice.

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rac7431 2877525

Dec 31, 2018

DILL DILL DILL I always use some dill in my chicken soup. I suggested to a restaurant manager about using some dill in the matzo ball soup and he did start using it!!!!! I use dried. I hate to buy a bunch of dill and waste it.

gouchr 0236764

Oct 14, 2019

I use dill in everything.. But I purchase my breast @ the local farmers market,, "Sprouts". 3 of their breast are about 12 to 14.00.. And I use Bone/chicken broth.. 2 bay leaves,, "DILL" ,,,, "DILL",,,,,,, "DILL"....

rac7431 2877525

Dec 31, 2018

Better yet. Use the stock or broth and follow recipe BUT put in chicken after veggies are cooked. Use a deboned rotisserie chicken. Then you don't have to worry about bones cooking loose into the broth. Hey. I'm always for EASY.

rac7431 2877525

Jan 06, 2018

GUess not. But I would have messes up something and not be able to get back in! DUH on ME.

rac7431 2877525

Jan 06, 2018

Did my new name come up???

rac7431 2877525

Jan 06, 2018

Don't ever use water for any kind of soup. Use broth or stock of your choice of flavor. I NEVER use water. It really does take away from the taste of the soup.

Grilling Guy

Sep 04, 2018

I agree about the broth and stock, at least do half broth and half water if you don't want all stock.

patsyoo 0346738

Jan 29, 2016

This is not a cooking contest ronzeus. We are here to learn.

ronzeus 5346111

Jan 25, 2016

removing the scum should just be common sense, if you are any kind of a cook

jynx

Jan 25, 2016

Is there a crock pot version of this? I want to make it on the days when I can't be here to 'baby sit' the stove.

Test Kitchen Team

Jan 26, 2016

If you'd like to make this in your slow cooker, it'll take about 7 to 8 hours on LOW or 4 to 5 hours on HIGH. Enjoy!

jsciba 7463068

Feb 15, 2015

Only thing missing is the 5 or 6 whole allspice.

Jeanniegb

Feb 14, 2015

I make this all the time and then I just add a little thyme to mine and it is great! You can add noodles if you want to.

capalongr

Feb 14, 2015

I'm giving this only 4 stars for only one reason. the chicken doesn't need to be cut-up. The whole chicken can be put into the pot. The bones make the chicken taste good. As far as the scum goes on the top of the pot, once the water boils it is advisable to lower the temperature and bring it down to a simmer. You can remove the scum with a large spoon. Add the carrots first for about 5 min then add the onions, celery and by all means add the tops of the celery. It adds a lovely flavor to the soup. Other items may be added according to your liking but it is not necessary to add any more than the above items to make a lovely flavorful soup. Make sure you adjust the salt but don't overdue because celery has a lot of sodium content. Enjoy

Grandmaona 4188889

Feb 14, 2015

bubbegreta comment is absolutely right, about the scum and the forgotten herbs.

bubbegreta 9897142

Feb 14, 2015

Too many missing ingredients. You need parsnips, parsley root, parsley leaves, dill, leek. And this recipe says nothing about cleaning the scum off the top of the pot as the water starts to boil.