Nothing beats a bowl of homemade chicken soup when you are not feeling well. This recipe for chicken soup from scratch is loaded with antioxidants and immune-boosting properties, and is downright comforting!

No time for from-scratch chicken soup? Try out my Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup. It comes together with a few shortcut ingredients but still delivers on flavor and beats a canned soup any day!

Chicken Soup with carrots, potatoes in a white bowl.

Chicken soup is exactly what the doctor orders when illness strikes. Okay, maybe not what the doctor orders, but chicken soup is certainly what moms and grandmas insist will make anyone feel better.

And there is certainly some truth around that statement. Whether it be a bowl of homemade chicken soup is reminiscent of grandma's cooking, much in the way a slice of hot milk cake takes you back to grandma's kitchen, or that the garlic in this soup clears your nasal passages like homemade ramen, this is the soup recipe we crave when we aren't feeling well!

And while Old-Fashioned Chicken Soup takes a bit longer to make than say Chicken Orzo Soup, it is well worth the effort.

Reasons to Love This Chicken Soup Recipe

From-Scratch Comfort Food. Made with a whole chicken, homemade bone broth, and tender vegetables, this chicken soup is comforting, soothing, and loaded with nutrients. Just like grandma used to make!
Noodle-Free. Instead of packing this chicken soup with noodles, I add potatoes and sweet potatoes. They are still easy on your stomach, but pack in a bit more nutrients than noodles alone.
Packed with Good Stuff. This from-scratch chicken soup features a rich bone broth, that is soothing for a sore throat, chicken, which is loaded with protein and easy on the stomach, and soul-satisfying veggies.
Flavorful. There are a few surprise ingredients (think garlic, soy sauce, and jalapeno) that amp up the flavor of this chicken soup and help clear congestion.
Leftover Chicken. While the broth is made with a whole chicken, you won't use all the meat for this soup. Use the remaining chicken in any Leftover Cooked Chicken Recipes. You can also freeze the extra meat for up to 3 months to use for dinner another night.

Key Ingredients

Just like any good chicken soup, this recipe is made with chicken, a rich broth, carrots, onions, and seasonings. But there are a few ingredients you don't want to substitute or shy away from when you are looking for a chicken soup recipe that packs in the most flavor.

Chicken: When it comes to making an old-fashioned chicken soup, using a whole chicken is best, as it will make the richest, most nutrient-dense broth ever. Feel free to use chicken pieces versus a whole chicken. Just be sure they are bone-in and preferably skin-on for the most flavor and nutrient-rich broth.
Garlic: I add lots of garlic to make this chicken broth. Garlic is known to have medicinal properties. Plus it adds incredible flavor.
Jalapeno: The jalapeno may sound surprising, but that bit of subtle heat helps to clear up congestion. I remove the seeds and ribs so that the spiciness is not overpowering.
Vegetables: Potatoes, carrots, and sweet potatoes fill this soup with comforting, nourishing veggies.
Soy Sauce: This is another unconventional ingredient in chicken soup, but soy sauce adds an amazing depth of umami flavor that can not be topped.
Lemon Juice: If you want to let your soup SING with flavor, finishing with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice is key. It helps to add brightness and freshness to the soup.

Substitutions/Recipe Modifications

Add Noodles. If you would like to add noodles to this chicken soup, add them after the potatoes and carrots have simmered for 10 minutes, giving the noodles about 15 minutes to simmer and cook through.
Keep it Gluten-Free. If you need this soup to be gluten-free, replace the soy sauce with tamari or coconut-aminos.
Sensitive to Spice? this chicken soup is only mildly spiced. That said, omit the jalapeno if desired.

How to Make Old-Fashioned Chicken Soup

The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Step One: Prepare the Broth. This recipe for old-fashioned chicken soup starts by simmering the chicken with onions, garlic, bay leaves, jalapeno, peppercorn, and salt, to develop a rich deep, bone broth and cook the chicken through.

Pro-Tip: If you have a large stock pan with a strainer insert, now is a great time to use it, as it will make straining your broth much easier!

Raw chicken in large stock pan with onions, garlic and bay leaves

Step Two: Strain Soup. Once the chicken is tender and falling apart, strain and reserve the cooking liquid to remove the chicken, onions, bay leaves, jalapeno, garlic, and peppercorns. This will leave you with an amazing, rich, and flavorful base for your soup.

Step Three: Remove Fat (optional). At this point, you have two options. You can proceed with cooking the chicken soup or refrigerate the stock for a few hours to allow the fat to collect and harden on the surface of the soup, making it easy to discard the excess fat. I prefer to do this, as the broth is less greasy.

Spoon scraping off fat from chicken broth

Step: Four: Add Vegetables. When ready to proceed with the recipe, bring your stock back to a simmer and add in the carrots, potatoes, and soy sauce. Simmer until just tender.

Chicken Soup simmering next to shredded chicken

Step Five: Shred Chicken. While your vegetables are simmering, shred or dice up your chicken. You will only need 2-3 cups of meat for this soup. Use the remaining chicken in any Leftover Cooked Chicken Recipes. You can also freeze the extra meat for up to 3 months to use for dinner another night.

Step Six: Finish the Soup. Once the vegetables are tender, add in the chicken and simmer until just warmed through, tasting to adjust salt and pepper if needed. Once warmed, remove the chicken soup from the heat and add in the juice of a fresh lemon. Serve with whole wheat rolls or homemade Italian bread for a hearty and healthy meal.

Bowl of homemade chicken soup next to fresh lemon.

∗ Remember these Tips for the BEST Chicken Soup ∗

Be sure to SIMMER the soup, not boil. You want to bring your soup up to a simmer, not a rapid boil. The slow simmering will help the chicken soup stay clear and develop a flavorful broth as the chicken cooks.
As the soup simmers, use a spoon or a strainer spoon to scoop out scum as the soup comes to a simmer. Scum is the name given to the cloudy material that floats to the top of the broth as the soup simmer. Removing it will help your broth be much more clear.

Storage Instructions

Refrigerate: Allow the chicken soup to cool slightly and then transfer it to an airtight container. Store the soup in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freeze: Allow the chicken soup to cool fully, transfer it to a freezer-safe container, allowing for 1-inch of expansion, and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Reheat: If needed, defrost the soup fully in the refrigerator. Reheat on the stove over low heat until just warmed through. Alternatively, heat individual servings in a heat-safe bowl in 60-second intervals in the microwave until warmed through.

More Delicious Soup Recipes

This Chicken Soup is perfect to enjoy whether you are sick or healthy! The flavor is incredible! If you enjoyed it, I would love for you to leave a comment below.