How to Make Quick and Easy Chicken Soup From Scratch

Chicken soup is the ultimate comfort food. When you’re feeling under the weather or just need something warm and nourishing, nothing hits the spot quite like a steaming bowl of homemade chicken soup.

The good news is chicken soup couldn’t be easier to make at home. With just a few simple ingredients and a little bit of time, you can have delicious homemade chicken noodle soup ready in under an hour.

Here are some tips and recipes to help you make quick chicken soup from scratch. There’s a quick chicken soup recipe here for everyone, whether you want a simple broth or a soup full of noodles and vegetables.

Why Make Homemade Chicken Soup?

There are some good chicken soups in cans and boxes out there. But in my opinion, nothing beats the flavor of homemade. Here are some of the benefits of making your own:

• Flavor: A homemade broth made with chicken and fresh veggies always tastes better than something made from a powdered mix or lab-concocted flavorings. You control the ingredients so it tastes like you want.

• Customization: Don’t like certain veggies or want to go lighter on the salt? Making it yourself allows you to tweak the recipe to suit your tastes.

• Cost savings: Making chicken soup at home is much cheaper than buying it ready-made at the store.

• Health benefits: When you make something yourself, you can control what goes into it. There are no added ingredients or preservatives.

• Fun weekend cooking project: When you have a bit more time, homemade chicken soup can be a fun and satisfying cooking endeavor.

Quick Chicken Soup Tips and Tricks

Making speedy homemade chicken soup is easy when you follow these simple tips:

• Use leftover chicken: Rotisserie or baked chicken cuts the cooking time substantially. Just throw the meat in at the end to heat through.

• Cook once, eat all week: Make a big batch on the weekend to reheat throughout the week for quick weeknight meals.

• Prep ingredients ahead: Save time by washing, peeling and chopping veggies before you start cooking.

• Use chicken broth: Cooking the veggies in broth adds instant flavor with little effort. Swap water for a shortcut.

• Stick to the basics: Onions, carrots, celery, and chicken are all you need for a basic broth. Save elaborate add-ins for when you have more time.

• Cook in a pressure cooker: A pressure cooker like the Instant Pot can churn out homemade chicken soup in under 30 minutes.

• Use a slow cooker: Set it and forget it! Let your slow cooker do the work while you’re out running errands.

5-Ingredient Quick Chicken Soup

When time is extra tight, this pared down recipe for chicken soup comes together with just a handful of ingredients.

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 25 minutes

Total time: 30 minutes

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 1 roasted chicken
• 2 quarts water or chicken broth
• 3 stalks celery, chopped
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1⁄2 bunch fresh thyme
• Juice of 1⁄2 lemon
• 1⁄4 bunch parsley, minced

Instructions

1. Place the roasted chicken in a large pot with enough water or broth to cover it.
2. Add the celery, carrots, onion, and thyme. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer 20-25 minutes.
3. Remove chicken and shred meat once cooled. Return shredded meat to pot.
4. Add lemon juice and parsley. Enjoy!

This quick homemade chicken soup gets its rich flavor from using an entire roasted chicken. In just half an hour, you’ll have a pot of soul-warming soup made with pantry staples.

One-Pot 30 Minute Chicken Soup

Another fast and easy chicken soup option is this one-pot recipe. It comes together in just 30 minutes using basic ingredients like chicken, onions, carrots, and celery.

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Total time: 30 minutes

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1⁄2 cup chopped onion
• 1⁄2 cup chopped celery
• 4 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can vegetable broth
• 1⁄2 pound cooked chicken breast, chopped
• 11⁄2 cups egg noodles
• 1 cup sliced carrots
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dried oregano
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and celery cooking for 5 minutes.

2. Stir in chicken broth, vegetable broth, chicken, and noodles. Add the carrots, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper.

3. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to a simmer for 20 minutes before serving.

With just 30 minutes of active cooking time, you can have this nourishing chicken noodle soup simmering on the stove. It’s simple to throw together using items you likely have on hand.

15 Minute Shortcut Chicken Soup

When you’re really pressed for time, this fast chicken soup recipe using leftover chicken and store-bought broth can be ready in just 15 minutes.

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 10 minutes

Total time: 15 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 small onion, diced
• 3 carrots, sliced
• 3 stalks celery, sliced
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced
• 1 cup uncooked pasta (small shapes like orzo or ditalini)
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots and celery cooking for 2-3 minutes.

2. Pour in the chicken broth and add the cooked chicken, pasta, thyme, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil.

3. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes or until pasta is cooked through. Discard bay leaf before serving.

When you need chicken soup in a hurry, this shortcut recipe using leftovers and pantry items makes a fast, flavorful meal in 15 minutes flat.

Chicken Noodle Soup

Of course, no roundup of chicken soup recipes would be complete without a homemade chicken noodle soup. It does require a bit more hands-on time than the quick soup versions, but the payoff of flavor makes it worthwhile!

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 1 hour

Total time: 1 hour, 15 minutes

Servings: 6-8

Ingredients

• 1 whole chicken (3-4 pounds)
• 2 quarts (8 cups) chicken stock
• 3 carrots, peeled and sliced
• 3 stalks celery, sliced
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 cup egg noodles
• 1⁄4 cup parsley, chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. In a large stockpot, combine the chicken, chicken stock, carrots, celery, and onion. Bring to a boil over high heat.

2. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 45 minutes, skimming fat and foam as needed.

3. Remove the chicken and set aside to cool. Continue simmering the broth for 15 more minutes.

4. Shred or chop the cooled chicken and return it to the pot. Stir in the noodles and cook 10 minutes until tender.

5. Remove bay leaf. Stir in parsley and season with salt and pepper before serving.

It requires a bit more time and effort, but nothing can replace the rich, soul-warming flavor of homemade chicken noodle soup. The aroma alone as it simmers away is worth it!

Make-Ahead Chicken Soup

One of the keys to quick homemade chicken soup is preparing components in advance. Here are some make-ahead tips:

• Cook chicken 1-2 days ahead. Save time by baking or poaching chicken breasts. Refrigerate cooked chicken in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

• Prep veggies the night before. Wash, peel, and chop onions, carrots, celery, and any other veggies. Store chopped ingredients in air-tight containers in the fridge.

• Make broth on the weekend. Simmer chicken carcasses with veggies to make stock. Let cool, then refrigerate or freeze for later.

• Assemble individual portions. Cook noodles separately, then combine with broth and chicken in individual freezer-safe containers to reheat as needed.

Freezing and Reheating Chicken Soup

One of the things that makes homemade chicken soup so convenient is that it freezes beautifully. Here are some freezing tips:

• Let soup cool completely before freezing, then portion into airtight containers or freezer bags. Leave 1-inch headspace to allow for expansion.

• Freeze soup for up to 3 months. Label bags with contents and date.

• Thaw frozen soup overnight in the refrigerator. You can also thaw sealed bags under cool running water for faster thawing.

• Reheat thawed soup gently over medium heat on the stovetop or microwave until heated through. Add a splash of water if it seems too thick.

• Avoid boiling or overheating the soup, as this can cause it to separate or curdle.

Satisfying Chicken Soups From Scratch

Homemade chicken soup really doesn’t get any easier than the quick and simple recipes in this article. In less than an hour, you can have wholesome chicken soup made with real food ingredients simmering on the stove.

While quick homemade chicken noodle soup is about as easy as it gets, sometimes spending a leisurely afternoon simmering an from-scratch chicken soup can be a rewarding kitchen project.

However pressed you are for time, you can whip up homemade chicken soup in a hurry. With a simple broth, prepped ingredients, and a few time-saving tricks, heartwarming chicken soup can be on the table quickly. Adjust any recipe to your taste by swapping noodles for rice, adding more vegetables, or boosting flavor with fresh herbs.

However you make it, homemade chicken soup is the ultimate warm-you-up comfort food. Keep these speedy soup recipes on hand for wholesome meals when you’re feeling under the weather, too busy to cook, or just in need of some old fashioned chicken soup comfort.