For centuries and all around the world, chicken soup in one form or another has been a staple dish and could definitely be considered as one of the original comfort foods. I have a favorite chicken soup recipe, and I want to share it with you. First, I am going to give you some tips on how to make your chicken soup more flavorful, if its better to use chicken broth or chicken stock, and how to make my favorite chicken soup step by step!

What can I add to chicken soup for more flavor?

Chicken soup is tremendously versatile, and can be seasoned in so many different ways that you can create thousands of unique chicken soup recipes. Starting at the base, you can definitely make your chicken soup flavorful by using chicken thigh instead of chicken breast. You can also prepare the chicken beforehand with seasoning, which will give your soup more depth of flavor!

If you just want a little zing of flavor, squeezing lemon into your soup may be a welcome surprise. If you are sick, I have found that lemon paired with a tiny bit of hot sauce or chili powder works wonders! It’s also common to add garlic to your chicken soup, which always has a wonderful aroma and flavor. Other traditional seasonings may include rosemary, turmeric, onion powder, sage, salt, and pepper.

Another great way to add flavor to your chicken soup is the other ingredients, like veggies. In my recipe, I include carrots, celery, onions, and mushrooms in my soup because those are the veggies that we love. You could also add spinach, tomatoes, squash, potatoes, you name it! Creating a unique chicken soup recipe is all about choosing the flavors that you love. Besides the vegetables, you could also add cheese, bacon, or any other toppings that would complement your chicken soup recipe.

Which is better for soup chicken broth or stock?

You can use either chicken broth or chicken stock for your chicken soup recipe, however, it is important to know the difference between the two in order to decide which one will be best for your recipe. They are both the result of simmering parts of the chicken with vegetables in water and separating the liquid from the solid pieces. However, chicken stock is made using the bones of the chicken, and the broth is not. For this reason, the broth gets most of its flavor from the seasoning that you add to it.

Both chicken broth and chicken stock can be used as a base for stew, gravy, or sauce! If you are looking for a thicker or more rich chicken soup recipe, you should definitely go with the chicken stock. Because the chicken stock is made using chicken bones, it is darker in color, thicker, and will create a more creamy soup texture. The same is true for any sauce or gravy that you make using chicken stock. Chicken stock is thicker because the bones deposit gelatin and collagen into the water when boiled, and those things contribute to the overall flavor as well.

Chicken broth would essentially be chicken flavored water if not seasoned, so when making chicken broth be sure to season it well so that it will be a flavorful base for any recipe. Chicken broth can be used as a base for soups that include ingredients that are rich in flavor and don’t need a lot more added. You can also use chicken broth when blanching or boiling as a substitute for water if you want to add additional flavor to whatever you are making. Both chicken broth and chicken stock are super easy to make and can be frozen and stored for future use!

How do you make chicken soup step by step?

Whether it’s chicken noodles, chicken with vegetables, or chicken and rice, chicken soup is sure to make you feel good and full! I have a chicken soup recipe that I absolutely love, and every Fall I don’t hesitate to whip this recipe up. I pick the veggies straight from my garden, along with fresh herbs.

I love my Instant Pot and I’ll link to it here and in the recipe. I use the Instant Pot Duo Crisp 11 in 1 Electric Pressure Cooker with an air fryer lid. It holds 8 quarts, is made of stainless steel, and can air fry, roast, bake, dehydrate, slow cook, steam, and is also a rice cooker. With all those features who needs anything else!

Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Soup

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Ingredients

• 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
• Salt ground black pepper, to taste
• 6 cups chicken stock
• 1 cup wild rice (or any rice you have on hand)
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 large onion, diced
• 3 carrots, peeled and diced
• 3 stalks celery, diced
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 pound mushrooms
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup half and half

Instructions

• Season chicken with salt and pepper, to taste. Place chicken into instant pot
• Stir in chicken stock, wild rice, garlic, onion, carrots, celery, thyme, rosemary and bay leaves; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cover and cook on low heat for 6-8 hours. Add mushrooms during the last 30 minutes of cooking time.
• Remove chicken from the instant pot and shred, using two forks.
• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Whisk in milk and half and half, and cook, whisking constantly, until slightly thickened, about 4-5 minutes; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Stir chicken and milk mixture into the instant pot. If the soup is too thick, add more half and half as needed until desired consistency is reached.

Serve it up with some yummy garlic cheese bread and your chicken and rice soup is done. It’s great after a long day of working outside or after a lazy day in the house. Fall soups are comfort food, so bring on the comfort!

Do you have a special ingredient that you add to your chicken soup recipe? Let us know in the comments, friends!

Hugs,

Christina & Trevor

Enjoy,

Christina & Trevor

 

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