With almost 100 5-star reviews, this Chicken Soup recipe with lemon and ginger is one of the most popular soups on the blog! Brothy and flavorful, it is the perfect base for noodles, rice, beans or grains, or keep it keto and low-carb!

Feel Better Chicken Soup with Lemon and Ginger will warm you to your bones! Brothy and flavorful, this highly-adaptable recipe is the perfect base for your own creations- use whatever grain or starch you prefer- noodles, rice quinoa, beans- or keep it keto and low-carb! Can also be made in an Instant Pot or Slow cooker! #chickensoup #ketosoup #broth

As a chef and caterer, I’ve spent years developing the perfect recipe for chicken soup.

The secret is in the broth: it’s lemony, gingery, and very soothing for stuffy heads and sore throats. The ultimate comfort food!  

The best part about this chicken soup recipe is that once you make the flavorful base, you can add what you like- noodles, rice, quinoa, beans, veggies- or keep it lean and keto- up to you!

The Best Chicken Soup | 60-second video

garlic, onion, lemon, ginger

Chicken Soup Recipe Ingredients

  1. Onion – red onion, white onion or yellow onion, or sub shallots or leeks
  2. Garlic – fresh garlic cloves!
  3. Ginger – use ginger root or ground ginger in a pinch.
  4. Vegetables – Celery and carrots, or feel free to add other veggies like mushrooms, or other veggies.
  5. Chicken broth – (store-bought or homemade) or chicken bouillon or low-sodium chicken broth.
  6. Chicken – skinless chicken breast, skinless chicken thighs, bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs.
  7. Lemon – you’ll need fresh lemon juice
  8. Herbs and seasonings – fresh parsley or cilantro and white pepper.

How to make Chicken Soup

Step 1. This flavorful soup starts with sauteing onion, garlic and ginger until tender and fragrant and golden. Sometimes I’ll add celery and carrots, sometimes not.  I like to add a lot of garlic, feel free to cut back if you want.

TIP: if using bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, sear the skin side until deeply golden in the pot first. This adds lovely flavor, depth, and collagen to the soup. Remove the thighs and saute the onion, garlic and ginger.

sautéing the onions

Step 2. Add the chicken stock (or broth) and whole chicken thighs (or chicken breasts). Bring to a simmer and cover, cooking until the thighs are cooked through, about 20 minutes. Bone-in will take longer.

TIP: If adding rice or quinoa, you could add directly to the pot of simmering broth, only adding about 1/2 cup. Same with canned beans- just add one can, drained.

I prefer to keep my rice or noodles separate, to prevent the soup from getting cloudy, but do as you like.

Place the chicken in the broth raw

Step 3. Simmer covered for 20 minutes, more or less depending on size of the chicken pieces.

Chicken Soup with rice, lemon and ginger

Step 4. Use two forks or tongs, and pull apart the chicken. You can do this in the pot, or use a cutting board if using bone-in chicken. Return the chicken (discarding bones and skin) to the pot and bring to a simmer for 3 minutes. Taste and adjust the broth. Squeeze with lemon to taste.

Feel Better Chicken Soup with Lemon and Ginger will warm you to your bones! Brothy and flavorful, this highly-adaptable recipe is the perfect base for your own creations- use whatever grain or starch you prefer- noodles, rice quinoa, beans- or keep it keto and low-carb! Can also be made in an Instant Pot or Slow cooker! #chickensoup #ketosoup #broth

How to serve this Simple Chicken Soup Recipe

Serve in a bowl with chili flakes if you want; a drizzle of sesame oil is nice, and some scallions or fresh parsley or cilantro. You can ladle it over cooked noodles or leftover grains if you want.

Feel Better Chicken Soup with Lemon and Ginger will warm you to your bones! Brothy and flavorful, this highly-adaptable recipe is the perfect base for your own creations- use whatever grain or starch you prefer- noodles, rice quinoa, beans- or keep it keto and low-carb! Can also be made in an Instant Pot or Slow cooker! #chickensoup #ketosoup #broth

Best Chicken Soup Recipe Variations

  • Pasta or noodles: Add leftover pasta or noodles from the pantry, like egg noodles, orzo, rice noodles, linguini or even spaghetti. It’s a great way to use up stray bags of half-used noodles.
  • Grains: Add cooked quinoa, millet, rice, or farro at the end of cooking.
  • Beans: Add can of white beans or lentils or cannellini beans for more fiber.
  • Veggies:  Toss in diced carrots, celery, mushrooms, or leeks (to the simmering broth) or add baby spinach at the end and drizzle it with sesame oil and sprinkle with scallions and call it good.
  • Creamy Chicken Soup: If you like some creaminess, stir in some coconut milk at the very end. Adjust salt and lemon to taste.
Feel Better Chicken Soup with Lemon and Ginger will warm you to your bones! Brothy and flavorful, this highly-adaptable recipe is the perfect base for your own creations- use whatever grain or starch you prefer- noodles, rice quinoa, beans- or keep it keto and low-carb! Can also be made in an Instant Pot or Slow cooker! #chickensoup #ketosoup #broth

Storing this Easy Chicken Soup

Leftovers will keep up to 4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Or freeze in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, before reheating on the stovetop.

Feel Better Chicken Soup with Lemon and Ginger will warm you to your bones! Brothy and flavorful, this highly-adaptable recipe is the perfect base for your own creations- use whatever grain or starch you prefer- noodles, rice quinoa, beans- or keep it keto and low-carb! Can also be made in an Instant Pot or Slow cooker! #chickensoup #ketosoup #broth

Whichever direction you choose to take this flavorful soup, I know you will be happy with the base. I’m excited to see where you take this! Please share your variations in the comments below.

Chicken Soup Recipe FaQ

Is it OK to put raw chicken in soup?

Yes, it is completely OK to add raw chicken to simmering soup broth because the broth will cook the chicken, and the chicken will infuse the broth with flavor.

Is it better to cook chicken soup covered or uncovered?

Cooking this chicken soup covered will prevent the broth from evaporating, resulting in a brothier soup which we want in this case!

What makes chicken soup thicker?

Reducing the broth by simmering it uncovered will thicken the soup, along with creating a roux.

Why doesn’t my chicken soup have flavor?

Check your salt level- this is typically why chicken soup lacks flavor. Salt enhances all the other flavors in the soup as well.

Other Chicken soup recipes you may like

Feel better, friends.

xoxo

Sylvia

More From Feasting At Home

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
Feel Better Chicken Soup with Lemon and ginger. A delicious low-carb, keto soup that you can make in an Instant Pot, Stove top or in a slow cooker. Simple and healthy!

Simple Chicken Soup Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.9 from 100 reviews
  • Author: Sylvia Fountaine
  • Prep Time: 10
  • Cook Time: 25
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 6
  • Category: Soup, Gluten-free
  • Method: Stove top, instant pot
  • Cuisine: Asian
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Description

Feel Better Chicken Soup with lemon and ginger. A delicious and EASY low-carb, keto soup that you can make in an Instant Pot, Stove top or in a slow cooker. Simple and healthy! Add rice, quinoa, noodles or beans! (Inspired by Bon Appetit)


Ingredients

Units
  • 12 tablespoons olive oil
  • one large onion, diced (or sub 2 fat shallots, or two leeks)
  • one cup celery, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh ginger, chopped
  • 48 garlic cloves, rough chopped (I like 8)
  • 4 cups chicken broth or stock
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1/4 teaspoon white pepper (or use black pepper)
  • 1 1/2 lbs chicken thighs, boneless, skinless ( or use breasts-if very large, cut in half) or bone-in chicken thighs, please see notes )
  • lemon juice to taste
  • pinch chili flakes
  • scallions, cilantro or Italian parsley
  • a drizzle of toasted sesame oil (optional, tasty)

Optional: Feel free to add 2-3 cups of chopped veggies: celery, carrots, mushrooms, etc. Serve over cooked noodles, rice, or grains of your choice.


Instructions

STOVE TOP INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. *If using skin-on chicken thighs, please see notes. Heat oil in a big pot or dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, celery, garlic and ginger and saute until fragrant, about 3-4 minutes. Lower heat to med- low and continue sauteeing until golden, 3-4 more minutes.
  2. Add the chicken stock, water, salt, white pepper, bay leaves and skinless chicken. Bring to a boil. Cover, and lower heat so it’s gently simmering, covered for 20 mintues. If using breasts, check at 15. Bone-in thighs may take 25-30.
  3. Test a piece of chicken for doneness by pulling meat apart with two forks. It should come apart easily and look opaque. When done, shred the rest of the chicken, then return to the pot and simmer gently for 5 more minutes.
  4. Squeeze with lemon, taste, and adjust broth. You can add more salt of needed, or if too salty for your taste, water down with a little water. I prefer ours salty, lemony, and unctuous, especially if adding a starch (like rice, noodles or beans) which will temper the salt quite a bit. Up to you. If the soup tastes bland, it needs salt.
  5. Ladle it over cooked rice or noodles or just on its own.
  6. Garnish with scallions or cilantro (or both) and a drizzle of sesame oil if you like and chili flakes (or chili paste or sriracha).

Notes

Bone-in Skin-on Chicken Thighs: for the best flavor, sear the skin side first in the dutch oven or instant pot in a little oil until deeply golden. Remove and continue with recipe, sauteing onion and garlic.

Storage: Soup will keep 4 days in the fridge, or freeze.

See Variations in the post above. Feel free to add 1/2 cup rice or quinoa to the simmering soup. Or add a can of whitebeans. You can also add pasta ( about 4 ounces), but I prefer to cook pasta and rice noodles separately and ladle the soup overtop cooked noodles, to keep the broth clear.

Instant Pot: Set Instant pot to “saute” function and heat the oil. Add onion, garlic and ginger and saute 3-4 minutes until fragrant. Add broth, water, salt, pepper, bay, white pepper and chicken thighs, give a stir. Pressure cook on high for 12 minutes. (If using breasts, pressure cook 8-10 minutes depending on size). Manually release. Shred chicken with two forks. Season with lemon juice. Taste, adust salt. Follow the rest of the instuctions above.

For a slow cooker version, cook as stated above then cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours, or on High for 3 to 4 hours.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1.5 cups with no rice or starch.
  • Calories: 197
  • Sugar: 2.7 g
  • Sodium: 585 mg
  • Fat: 7.1 g
  • Saturated Fat: 1.6 g
  • Carbohydrates: 7.7 g
  • Fiber: 1.1 g
  • Protein: 24.8 g
  • Cholesterol: 106.5 mg

Share this with the world!

Subscribe
to get recipes via email

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

Comments

  1. Recipe is exactly the name, simple and straightforward. Made it today because I was starting to feel a little sick and it hit the spot. From the suggestions, I added the sesame oil (brilliant suggestion), cayenne and a tsp of sriracha to my bowl. My modifications included adding mushrooms, corn and, what I felt like really rounded out this soup, a splash of mushroom soy sauce. A splash goes a long way and it really provides umami and a little extra saltiness, which is what I was looking for. Tomorrow I’ll be toasting some sesame seeds to throw on top of my leftovers, thank you for the comforting recipe 🤍






  2. Hi! About to make this soup for a friend post surgery. Do you add the sesame oil at the very end? Plan to add mushrooms also. Intrigued!

Our Latest Recipes