Crockpot Chicken Soup Recipe

Introduction: Warm Up with Crockpot Chicken Soup

Nothing warms up like a bowl of steaming chicken soup when the climate has started to get cooler or you do not feel well. The ultimate comfort food warms your soul and reminds you about home. Among the multiple ways how to cook chicken soup, one of the easiest and most convenient would be through a crockpot. It’s just beautiful in terms of ease, but the flavors really have come out with this crockpot chicken soup recipe.

Imagine walking into your home, which smells like the mouthwatering roasting of chicken, fresh vegetables, and herbs. You will have to do some minimal work to prepare that meal that gets you all together at dinner time. Here is the guide for you, in which you will get information about ingredients, step-by-step instructions, and tips to craft the perfect crockpot chicken soup, whichever day it is during the week.

Ingredients: What You Need for Perfect Crockpot Chicken Soup

First and foremost, you will need to obtain these ingredients. These are going to compose everything that makes up the foundation of a mouth-wateringly delicious and savory crockpot chicken soup:

• Chicken: 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs.
• Broth: 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth or stock.
• Vegetables:
  • 2 medium carrots, cut up.
  • 2 stalks of celery, cut up.
  • 1 onion, chopped.
  • 2-3 cloves of garlic, chopped.
  • Optional: 1 cup of frozen peas or corn will be nice for that sugar and moisture.
• Herbs & Spices:
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 tsp dried rosemary
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
• Optional Add-ins:
  • 1-2 cups of egg noodles or rice add it for the last 10 minutes
  • Fresh parsley for garnish.

You can use the ingredients to suit your taste based on what you’re using. The other vegetables you may need are bell peppers and zucchini, or you might want to squeeze them with lemon for brightness. Then flexibility is stretched in this recipe. Make a soup which you’ll love, towards your preference.

Choosing the Right Chicken

That may just be the difference in flavor or texture within the soup, one between chicken breasts and thighs. On average, the thighs are more flavored and hold moisture at extremely high temperatures. The breasts are leaner and could dry in a minute if left a bit too long in the pot. Thus, for a more heftier flavor, it would be wiser to go for thighs but if you want a less thick soup, perfect for use with breasts.

Step-by-Step Instructions: Making Your Crockpot Chicken Soup

Prep Your Ingredients

Prepare all the ingredients. Chop some onions and carrots and clean them. I try to ensure they are roughly the same size to cook evenly, but you do not have to mince them too finely. You should cook the chicken breasts whole, as they will shred easily when cooked. Chop a garlic bulb and set everything aside. 

Layering the Flavors

Crockpot preparation The chicken should go at the bottom of your crockpot because that is where the juices drip from the chicken for distribution in the broth and on all the vegetables when cooking. Sprinkle minced garlic on top of everything, cover with chopped onion, and add carrots and celery on top.

Add chicken broth to the layer of vegetables. This will soak down into ingredients so moisture is retained while it cooks down. Add thyme, rosemary, bay leaf, salt and pepper. If you want that perfect addition of frozen peas or corn, you could do it now or wait up to an hour before the end for a fresh taste and crunch.

Cooking Time: Let the Crockpot Work Its Magic

Place the crockpot on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4. This kind of slow-cooking magic happens within this sort of system, allowing good building of flavors; this is a pretty rich soup. If you can’t afford much time, then the high setting is fine; however, if you want the best flavor, just use the low setting.

Do not open it for cooking time. Every time the lid is opened, some heat escapes, and you may need more hours to cook. Let the magic happen in your crock pot. If you have a programmable crock pot, you might want it to start at your hour at work or errands.

Shredding the Chicken

Remove cooked chicken from the pot when the cooking time has elapsed. Pull the chicken apart into sizes with two forks. This is a pre-shredding stage where the flavor will be absorbed in the soup. Add shredded chicken to soup and mix well.

If you’ve added noodles or rice, this is the point. Let your soup cook for another 15 – 20 minutes or when your noodles and/or rice are done. A noodle, if you have one, can be used for adding noodles straight into the soup and cooking on high for about 10 minutes so they don’t overcook.

Serving Suggestions: Enjoying Your Crockpot Chicken Soup

Serve over a bed of watercress at hot temperatures, garnished with a few fresh parsley leaves, as it would give an excellent pop of freshness and color. Garnish with grated cheese, croutons, and even olive oil for crunch and relish over a crusty bread or side salad. This dish can be relished in so many facets; one can chew it out of a bowl and relish it, or let it cool down to then store it for consumption later on.

Leftovers are wonderful for lunch the next day if there are any! To reheat, put the soup into a saucepan and reheat over medium heat, or into the microwave. If it starts to get too thick, add a splash of broth.

Check Out: Rotisserie Chicken Soup: A Cozy Recipe for Every Occasion.

Tips for the Best Crockpot Chicken Soup

Making fantastic crockpot chicken soup is a work of art, and there are several tips to guide you along the way:

• Use Quality Ingredients: Fresh, good quality ingredients alone will give the soup a very great taste. So opt for organic chicken and veggies in season. Fresh herbs would also give the preparation a flavor and aroma that nothing else can provide.
• Customize to Your Taste: It tastes great, seasoned with spices and herbs. For a bit of kick, include crushed red pepper flakes or even diced jalapeño. For an intense aroma, a couple of fresh herbs like dill and basil included in the final steps bring it to life.
• Avoid Overcooking: I love that slow cooking is so forgiving, except when it comes to overcooking, because that dries out the chicken. Keep an eye on the cooking time and shred the chicken once it is tender. If you have a programmable crock pot you can set it to automatically switch to warm after the cooking time has been completed to avoid overcooking.
• Make it Ahead: This is one of those recipes that’s just a pure joy to prepare in bulk. Cook a batch on one Sunday afternoon, refrigerate or freeze until needed, and enjoy a marvelous meal throughout the week when reheated and served. Freeze soup for up to 3 months: Let cool completely, then pack in airtight containers.
• Add Freshness: Sometimes you can just sneak the fresh lemon juice in, right at serving time, to bring everything out of kilter, so to speak. Sometimes that’s all you need a little.

Conclusion: Embrace the Warmth of Crockpot Chicken Soup

This is more than a meal; it is a bowl full of comforting flavors and nourishing ingredients, really a recipe to make good use for any occasion. It could be for something against the cold, for company, or just that special craving you have for some warmth. In all, crockpot chicken soup certainly will not let you down.

This is the recipe to make an extremely tasty and full meal in your kitchen. Gather the ingredients, set the crockpot, and let the magic happen! Don’t forget to share your variation and experience in the comments below!

For more details: Click Here.

FAQs About Crockpot Chicken Soup