Heart-Warming Chicken Soup

December 05, 2008
Photo: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro, Laura Martin
Nourish your soul with these chicken soup recipes that warm the heart, comfort the body, and satisfy with amazing flavors. These cozy bowls are the perfect cool-weather treat. Whether you're cooking for the whole family or not, these soups make fantastic dishes to prepare and even enjoy as leftovers all week long.
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Chicken and Gnocchi Dumpling Soup

Photo: Jennifer Causey
Chicken and Gnocchi Dumpling Soup Recipe

Homey and hearty chicken and dumplings has never been faster or easier, thanks to store-bought gnocchi. Browned bits from the seared chicken thighs create a rich base for the soup, while carrots and peas provide texture and fresh veggies to the soup. This kid-friendly soup is perfect for a weeknight dinner, and leftovers can be packed for lunch tomorrow.

 

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Ginger Chicken, Shiitake, and Scallion Soup

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower
Ginger Chicken, Shiitake, and Scallion Soup Recipe

A quick boil enhances the chicken stock with aromatics for a fragrant broth. Gentle poaching keeps the chicken breast juicy and tender.

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Soulful Chicken Soup

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Victor Protazio
Soulful Chicken Soup Recipe
No dish is quite as soothing as a hearty bowl of chicken noodle soup. Slow cookers couldn't have made the road to comfort any easier: Simply toss in the ingredients, switch on, and then walk away. We love old-fashioned, wide egg noodles for this recipe. To make sure they aren't mushy and overcooked, don't leave them in the slow cooker any longer than 10 minutes.
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Chicken-Udon Soup

Photo: Sang An; Styling: Philippa Bathwaite
Chicken-Udon Soup Recipe
Thick Japanese udon noodles are the soul of Chicken-Udon Soup. Meaty shiitake mushrooms, fragrant star anise, and a touch of dry rice wine deepen the soup's flavor.

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Hearty Chicken Soup

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford
Hearty Chicken Soup Recipe

It makes sense that a classic like chicken soup would be best cooked in a classic Dutch oven. While we enjoyed the soup from all three cooking methods, the Dutch oven made the meat a little more tender and juicy. The broth also simmers without a lid, so it reduces and grows richer.

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Spicy Chicken Soup

Photo: Oxmoor House
Spicy Chicken Soup Recipe
If you like a little kick to your dish, this Spicy Chicken Soup is for you! Rely on convenience items such as chopped cooked chicken, canned chicken broth and canned veggies to make this super-quick soup.
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Chicken-Vegetable Soup

Becky Luigart-Stayner; Jan Gautro
Chicken-Vegetable Soup Recipe
In addition to carrots and leeks, this hearty soup features turnips and parsnips for subtle sweetness and bite.

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Chicken Soup

Charles E. Walton IV
Chicken Soup Recipe
It isn't elegant, just simple and delicious. While its cold-fighting properties are in debate, chicken soup will certainly warm you to your toes. Try using this solid traditional recipe as a base, adding hot cooked rice or noodles to create heartier versions.

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Chicken, Tortellini, and Spinach Soup with Pesto

Photo: Colin Clark; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford
Chicken, Tortellini, and Spinach Soup with Pesto Recipe

Diced tomato and a dollop of garlicky pesto add freshness and color to this quick chicken-pasta soup. Searing the chicken thighs first creates browned bits that add savory richness to the broth.

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Southwestern Chicken Soup

Photo: Oxmoor House
Southwestern Chicken Soup Recipe
Not your traditional chicken soup, this Mexican-inspired broth-based soup starring chicken and cannellini beans is a winter favorite. Add as much or as little salsa verde as you like to control the amount of heat.

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Lemon Grass Chicken Soup

James Carrier
Lemon Grass Chicken Soup Recipe
This Asian-inspired chicken soup is chock full of meat, vegetables, and delicious spices like lemongrass, ginger, garlic, and fish sauce.

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Yucatecan Chicken-and-Lime Soup

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Fonda Shaia
Yucatecan Chicken-and-Lime Soup Recipe
This chicken soup gets its authentic coastal Mexican flavor from the addition of serrano chiles, Key lime juice, and avocado. Top with tortilla strips for a bit of crunchiness.
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Coconut-Curry Chicken Soup

Photo: Kelsey Grace Harrison
Coconut-Curry Chicken Soup Recipe
This fresh soup flavored with coconut and curry make this Thai recipe a reader favorite. Snow peas, spinach, and chicken breast add flavor, texture, and a wealth of nutrients.

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Mexican Chicken Soup

Photo: William Meppem
Mexican Chicken Soup Recipe
Avocado, lime and cilantro give this chicken and rice soup its Mexican flair. It makes about 8 servings and is great for when you're having a crowd.

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Classic Chicken Soup

Photo: Anna Williams
Classic Chicken Soup Recipe
If you're a chicken soup novice, this recipe is for you. Classic Chicken Soup from Real Simple is pared to just six ingredients–chicken, carrots, celery, onion, salt and pepper. You'll learn the basic technique for creating a great soup while keeping the shopping list short.
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Thai Shrimp and Chicken Soup

Photography: Randy Mayor; Styling: Jan Gautro
Thai Shrimp and Chicken Soup Recipe
Spicy, sweet, and savory, this exotic chicken soup can be made in less than 45 minutes. Light coconut milk mixes with chicken broth to create a creamy yet healthy broth. Give it a try when you're craving chicken soup with an Asian twist.

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Easy Chicken and Dumplings

Photo: Justin Walker; Styling: Carla Gonzalez-Hart
Easy Chicken and Dumplings Recipe
Pillowy dumplings flecked with fragrant fresh herbs cook drop-style in the stock mixture.

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Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Jan Gautro
Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup Recipe
Chicken noodle soup is probably the top comfort food of all time. You'll need to start a day ahead to prepare the tasty homemade broth used in the recipe.
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Ginger Chicken Soup with Vegetables

Photo: Michael Paul
Ginger Chicken Soup with Vegetables Recipe
Add ginger to a traditional chicken soup recipe and you get this out-of-the-ordinary–yet 100 percent cold-weather comforting–chicken soup. It's the perfect recipe for using up leftover rotisserie chicken and vegetables.

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Chicken Noodle Soup with Tarragon

Photography: Randy Mayor; Styling: Jan Gautro
Chicken Noodle Soup with Tarragon Recipe
Quality brown stock is the key to this great recipe. Brown stock differs from white stock in that the chicken and vegetables spend half the time caramelizing in the oven and the other half in the stockpot flavoring the liquid; white stock is made entirely on the stovetop. Once you have the stock, throwing together this soup is a snap.

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Wild Rice- Mushroom Soup with Chicken

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Jan Gautro
Wild Rice- Mushroom Soup with Chicken Recipe
This simple, easy-to-prepare soup uses quick-cooking rice, canned chicken broth, and matchstick-cut carrots to speed preparation. You'll make a warm and comforting soup in half the time.
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Chicken Tortilla Soup

Photo: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro, Laura Martin
Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe
This recipe matches the goodness of the tortilla soups found in Mexican restaurants. Very flavorful but not too spicy.
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