Cold-Chaser Chicken Soup
A hearty, comforting chicken soup loaded with vegetables and herbs, perfect for warming up and nourishing family meals with rich flavors and wholesome ingredients.
Ingredients
- 1 pkg. 4 to 5 chicken thighs ⓘ
- 1 pkg. 4 to 5 chicken breasts ⓘ
- 1 large onion, chopped ⓘ
- 1 c. frozen spinach ⓘ
- 1 c. frozen broccoli ⓘ
- 1 c. frozen peas ⓘ
- 1 c. frozen corn ⓘ
- 1/2 c. sliced okra ⓘ
- 1 (12 oz.) can chopped tomatoes ⓘ
- 1 1/2 tsp. chopped garlic ⓘ
- 1/8 tsp. salt ⓘ
- 1 tsp. black pepper ⓘ
- 1 tsp. oregano ⓘ
- 1 tsp. rosemary ⓘ
- 2 large bay leaves ⓘ
Instructions
- Place chicken thighs and breasts in a large Dutch oven, crock-pot, or stew pot; fill the pot three-quarters full with water.
- Add chopped onion, frozen spinach, frozen broccoli, frozen peas, frozen corn, chopped tomatoes, chopped garlic, salt, black pepper, oregano, rosemary, and bay leaves to the pot.
- Simmer the mixture for 3 hours.
- Add sliced okra and cook for an additional 30 minutes.
- Remove bones from the chicken, then replace the meat in the soup before serving.
Tips & Substitutions
For enhanced flavor, consider marinating the chicken in spices overnight. If you don't have fresh herbs, dried herbs can work well, but reduce the amount by half. Feel free to swap in other frozen vegetables like green beans or carrots for variety. If you're looking for a quicker option, pre-cooked rotisserie chicken can be added towards the end of cooking to save time.
Serving Suggestions
Serve the Cold-Chaser Chicken Soup with crusty bread or a light salad for a complete meal. It pairs beautifully with Golden-Glazed Chicken Breasts for a comforting dinner. For an extra kick, consider adding a squeeze of lemon juice or a sprinkle of fresh herbs just before serving. This hearty soup is perfect for chilly days or when you're feeling under the weather.
Storage & Reheating
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, simply warm the soup on the stovetop over medium heat until heated through, adding a splash of water if it thickens too much. This soup also freezes well for up to 3 months; just ensure to cool it completely before freezing.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Cold-Chaser Chicken Soup contains roughly 489 calories, with 23g protein, 78g carbohydrates, and 17g fat. It is an excellent source of dietary fiber (105% of the Daily Value), iron (103% of the Daily Value), and calcium (63% of the Daily Value), and a good source of vitamin A. Note that it is relatively high in sodium, at 1761mg per serving (77% of the Daily Value).
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use different types of chicken in this recipe?
Yes, you can use boneless chicken thighs or breasts if preferred. Just adjust the cooking time accordingly, as boneless chicken cooks faster. You could also use leftover cooked chicken, adding it to the soup in the last 30 minutes to heat through.
What can I do if I don't have frozen vegetables?
If you don't have frozen vegetables, fresh ones can be substituted. Just chop them into similar-sized pieces and add them to the soup earlier in the cooking process to ensure they cook through. Alternatively, canned vegetables can work, but be sure to drain and rinse them before adding.
How can I make this soup spicier?
To add some heat to your Cold-Chaser Chicken Soup, consider including diced jalapeños or crushed red pepper flakes when you add the spices. You could also stir in a dash of hot sauce before serving to customize the spice level to your taste.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).