30 Comforting Chicken Soup Recipes to Warm Your Soul – Happy Muncher (2024)

Chicken soup recipes that are both comforting and nourishing! Perfect for chilly winter days, these soups are sure to become your go-to for a cozy and satisfying meal.

30 Comforting Chicken Soup Recipes to Warm Your Soul – Happy Muncher (1)

There’s nothing quite like a bowl of chicken soup to lift your spirits and warm you up on a cold winter day. Known for its comforting properties, chicken soup is a staple in many cultures and can be made in various delicious ways.

To help you enjoy this classic dish all winter long, I’ve compiled a list of chicken soup recipes, each with its unique twist. These recipes range from traditional favorites to more adventurous variations, ensuring there’s something for every taste:

  • Classic chicken noodle soup with homemade broth
  • Hearty chicken and vegetable stew
  • Creamy chicken and wild rice soup
  • Spicy chicken tortilla soup
  • Asian-inspired chicken and lemongrass soup
  • Slow cooker chicken and dumpling soup
  • Chicken and barley soup for a rustic touch
  • Italian chicken minestrone with plenty of veggies
  • Chicken and sweet corn chowder
  • Mediterranean chicken and orzo soup
  • Chicken miso soup for an umami flavor
  • Chicken and lentil soup for extra protein
  • Moroccan chicken and chickpea soup
  • Thai coconut chicken soup with a creamy twist
  • Chicken pozole with hominy for a traditional Mexican flavor

Each recipe in this collection is designed to be easy to make and packed with flavor. Whether you’re feeling under the weather or simply craving a comforting meal, these chicken soup recipes are sure to satisfy.

Table of Contents

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Instant Pot Chicken Soup with Root Vegetables & Barley

Be sure to use bone-in chicken here–it enhances the flavor of the broth, and the bones are easy to remove after cooking. This healthy chicken soup can be made in an Instant Pot or pressure cooker.

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Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup with Rotisserie Chicken

This creamy chicken noodle soup recipe has a delicious pot pie feel to it. Pair this comforting soup with a green salad or a sandwich.

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Slow-Cooker Chicken & Chickpea Soup

This set-it-and-forget-it slow-cooker soup simmers away all day so you come home to a warm and healthy dinner the whole family will love.

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One-Pot Chicken & Cabbage Soup

This chicken cabbage soup is packed with vegetables, including cabbage, potatoes and turnips. Serve this cozy dish with crusty bread.

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Chicken & Spinach Soup with Fresh Pesto

This fragrant, Italian-flavored soup takes advantage of quick-cooking ingredients–boneless, skinless chicken breast, bagged baby spinach and canned beans. It features a simple homemade basil pesto swirled in at the end to add a fresh herb flavor. If you are very pressed for time, you can substitute 3 to 4 tablespoons of a store-bought basil pesto. Recipe by Nancy Baggett for EatingWell.

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Creamy Chicken & Mushroom Soup

This creamy chicken and mushroom soup is easy to make. The mix of vegetables and thyme adds richness, while the bone-in chicken flavors the broth. If you’re in a hurry, you can skip the chicken breasts and add rotisserie chicken at the end instead.

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Chicken & Bok Choy Soup with Ginger & Mushrooms

This healthy and nourishing chicken and vegetable soup is the perfect winter meal. Dried shiitake mushrooms add a boost of umami and depth.

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Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup with Kale

This healthy, easy soup is loaded with vegetables, protein and fiber to keep you full and fueled. Serve this winter soup topped with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, and a side of garlic toast.

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Creamy White Chili with Cream Cheese

This white chicken chili recipe features quick-cooking chicken thighs and canned white beans. Cream cheese adds tangs in this white chili.

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Tinola (Filipino Ginger-Garlic Chicken Soup)

This Filipino soup is warm and comforting, and has plenty of ginger and garlic flavor. Learn how to make it at home.

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Chicken & White Bean Soup

This Italian-inspired chicken and white bean soup is perfect with crusty bread and a glass of red wine. Use rotisserie chicken for an easy dinner.

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Slow-Cooker Chicken & Vegetable Noodle Soup

This slow-cooker chicken noodle soup fits nicely into the Mediterranean diet thanks to plenty of vegetables, lean chicken breast and whole-wheat pasta. Pair it with a salad and toasted whole-grain bread for an easy, healthy dinner.

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Classic Chicken Soup

Classic chicken noodle soup gets a healthy upgrade with low-sodium chicken broth, whole-wheat egg noodles and tons of vegetables. To get a homemade stock flavor using store-bought broth, we simmer bone-in chicken breasts in the broth before adding the rest of the soup ingredients. But you’re short on time, feel free to use pre-cooked chicken and start the recipe at step 2.

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Spring Green Soup with Chicken

Sautéing chicken in a little oil first (rather than poaching in the broth) creates some browned bits in the pan (aka fond) that give this green soup a richer flavor.

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Pesto Chicken & Cannellini Bean Soup

This healthy, Italian-inspired chicken soup recipe is loaded with fiber-rich vegetables and beans and gets an extra boost of flavor from a swirl of pesto at the end. To get a homemade stock flavor using store-bought broth, we simmer bone-in chicken breasts in the broth before adding the rest of the soup ingredients.

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Slow-Cooker Chicken Soup with Zucchini & Hominy

This excellent chicken soup–packed with hearty, nutritious ingredients–is easy to make and may become your new standby. It makes enough to freeze a portion for easy lunches or when you need to deliver food to someone in a pinch.

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Pressure-Cooker Chicken Enchilada Soup

This easy soup flavored with chili powder and a splash of lime is quick enough to prepare for a warming weeknight meal thanks to an electric pressure cooker like the Instant Pot. Lean chicken breast is easy to prep, but boneless, skinless chicken thighs would make a great substitute.

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Japanese-Inspired Chicken Noodle Soup

This healthy, Japanese-inspired chicken noodle soup recipe is made with udon noodles and gets a hit of umami flavor from a swirl of miso at the end. To make the miso easier to stir into the soup, combine a little bit of the hot broth with the thick miso to thin it before adding to the rest of the soup.

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Instant-Pot Chicken Taco Soup

If you love tacos, this Instant Pot chicken taco soup won’t disappoint. Silky strained tomatoes add body, while shredded chicken, beans and spices add those rich and spicy familiar flavors. And don’t forget the toppings! Melted cheese, creamy sour cream and crushed tortilla chips round out this new family favorite.

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30 Comforting Chicken Soup Recipes to Warm Your Soul – Happy Muncher (21)

Chipotle Chicken & Vegetable Soup

This healthy chicken and vegetable soup recipe is perfect for when you’re in the mood for comfort food. The small amount of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce gives it a mild spice level. For a spicier soup, stir in up to 2 tablespoons chipotle peppers. Look for the small cans of smoked chipotle peppers in adobo sauce near other Mexican ingredients in well-stocked supermarkets. Once opened, refrigerate for up to 2 weeks or freeze for up to 6 months.

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30 Comforting Chicken Soup Recipes to Warm Your Soul – Happy Muncher (22)

Chicken Mulligatawny

Mulligatawny, which literally means “pepper water,” is an English interpretation of an Indian dish. It has seemingly limitless versions, but most have curry and a bit of chicken. We’ve added tart Granny Smith apples, plenty of spice and a touch of coconut milk.

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Chicken & Shrimp Gumbo

This Louisiana gumbo recipe is chock-full of shrimp, chicken, sausage, okra and tomatoes. Make it a meal and serve with cornbread.

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Chicken Chili Verde

In this chicken chili verde, prepared salsa verde adds tang to this fast weeknight chili recipe. Learn how to make this flavorful chili for dinner.

Check out this recipe

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Easy Chicken & Broccoli Soup

This easy chicken and broccoli soup is creamy and luscious, but still light. The broccoli florets absorb the soup base, while the chicken stays tender.

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Easy Chicken & Broccoli Soup

This easy chicken and broccoli soup is creamy and luscious, but still light. The broccoli florets absorb the soup base, while the chicken stays tender.

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30 Comforting Chicken Soup Recipes to Warm Your Soul – Happy Muncher (27)

Chicken Enchilada Soup

Corn tortillas thicken this chicken enchilada soup, but Cheddar and cream cheese give it the richness you’d expect from an enchilada. Serve it with something fresh and crunchy like a jicama slaw dressed with a little olive oil and lime juice for a healthy dinner that will appeal to the whole family.

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Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

This comforting wild rice and chicken soup is filled with flavor, thanks to an aromatic base of onions, carrots, and celery, a touch of garlic and thyme, and a final drizzle of rich cream.

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Chicken Pho

San Francisco chef Charles Phan’s recipe for chicken pho, the Vietnamese noodle soup, has an intense chicken flavor accented by roasted onion and ginger.

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30 Comforting Chicken Soup Recipes to Warm Your Soul – Happy Muncher (30)

Herb Garden Matzo Ball Soup

This Herb Garden Matzo Ball Soup by Leah Koenig gives the classic soup a spring refresh with tender herbs, flowers, and lemon zest.

Check out this recipe

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Chicken Tortellini Soup with Kale

This one-pot tortellini kale soup comes together in about half an hour thanks to a speedy, flavorful broth and frozen cheese tortellini.

Check out this recipe

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30 Comforting Chicken Soup Recipes to Warm Your Soul – Happy Muncher (2024)

FAQs

Why does Grandma's chicken soup work when you are sick? ›

The salt in the soup and its warmth can soothe a sore throat. A 2000 study claimed to have shown that it also has anti-inflammatory properties, which can relieve congestion too, although this is still uncertain. Eating chicken soup when you have a cold helps because you're breathing steam, which loosens up congestion.

Is chicken soup good for the soul? ›

Chicken is high in tryptophan, which helps your body produce serotonin that can enhance your mood and give you the feeling of 'comfort' There is nothing quite like a bowl of warm soup, but it turns out that it is more than just the comfort factor that has made this classic dish a cure for all maladies.

Why is chicken soup so comforting? ›

As it does with turkey, the body uses tryptophan from chicken to make melatonin—which can help you rest—and serotonin, the chemical that signals your nerves and makes you feel happy and at ease. Both of these are reasons chicken soup is associated with comfort food: you literally feel a physiological sense of comfort.

Will chicken soup make me feel better? ›

Chicken soup has long been used as a home remedy for cold and flu. Some scientific evidence indicates that the soup could be anti-inflammatory. Though research is scant, experts say chicken soup is worth a try when you're sick.

What is the best broth to drink when sick? ›

Bone broth is a great way to replenish fluids and electrolytes, which can help improve the symptoms of dehydration or respiratory tract infections.

Why do I feel better after eating chicken noodle soup? ›

Chicken is also high in tryptophan, which helps your body produce serotonin that can enhance your mood and give you the feeling of 'comfort' that helps make chicken noodle soup a true comfort food,” Allonen says.

What age group is Chicken Soup for the Soul for? ›

Chicken Soup for the Kid's Soul 2: Read-Aloud or Read-Alone Character-Building Stories for Kids Ages 6-10 (Chicken Soup for the Soul)

What is national chicken soup for the Soul Day? ›

National Chicken Soup for the Soul Day celebrates who you are and how you get there. Take time to nurture your soul on November 12th.

What is chicken soup for the 20 year old soul? ›

Chicken Soup for the Twenty-Something's Soul is full of stories about the ups and downs that women and men encounter in their twenties.

Why do people eat chicken soup when they have a cold? ›

Compared with hot water alone, studies show chicken soup is more effective at loosening mucus. The herbs and spices sometimes used in chicken soup, such as pepper and garlic, also loosen mucus. The broth, which contains water and electrolytes, helps with rehydration.

Does chicken soup help with inflammation? ›

May reduce inflammation and stuffy nose

And interestingly, research shows that chicken soup can in fact lower the number of white blood cells traveling to inflamed tissues. It does this by directly inhibiting the ability of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, to travel to the inflamed tissue.

Is chicken soup good for weight loss? ›

Soups that have a low glycemic index, for example, mixed vegetable soup, lentil soup or chicken soup, and mushroom soup, are great for you if you wish to lose weight. Since these soups are low in calories and high in satiety, they prevent weight gain and help manage conditions like diabetes.

Is chicken soup good for anxiety? ›

Sip on a Bowl of Chicken Soup

Comfort foods, like chicken soup, boost levels of serotonin, which is a brain chemical that produced a calming effect.

Why does chicken soup make you sleepy? ›

Chicken is high in tryptophan, another amino acid that helps the body produce serotonin and enhance your mood and aid in a good night's sleep. These three may be the base for any robust chicken soup, but it doesn't stop there.

Does chicken soup help your stomach? ›

Chicken soup is a staple for upset stomachs for a reason. It provides vitamins, protein and other nutrients, and it can help keep you hydrated. You don't need to use a lot of different ingredients to get the benefits either. This basic chicken soup recipe can help you feel better in no time.

Why did I eat some chicken soup when I was sick? ›

That formula is where the legend of chicken soup originated. “Broth-based soups have all those components, along with vitamins and minerals and electrolytes,” Tewksbury says. Hot and steamy soups can also help break down mucus in upper respiratory tract infections. “It checks a lot of boxes.”

Why does chicken noodle soup taste good when you're sick? ›

Salt & Taste

In addition to this, sodium in moderation may be good when you are feeling under the weather. According to the report, sodium and other seasonings in chicken soup may help awaken those dull taste buds you often get when you are sick with a cold.

How does chicken soup make someone with a cold feel better? ›

Chicken is especially rich in a compound called carnosine, and it's this that studies suggest helps reduce that stuffy, congested feeling in your nose and throat. It's thought that carnosine minimises inflammation in the upper respiratory tract by stopping the migration of white blood cells.

Does chicken soup fight colds? ›

Chicken soup actually can help treat your cold symptoms, especially if you're sipping a low-sodium, veggie-packed recipe. In fact, it's been used as a remedy as early as the 12th century. Here are more home remedies to help you sleep through a cold.

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