This hearty Chicken Vegetable Soup is grain free and dairy free, which means it’s an awesome Paleo friendly comfort food main course for the whole family. Leftovers freeze really well and also heat-up for next day lunches at the office. The best part is that each 2 cup serving of this delicious soup is under 300 calories and has 25 grams of protein!
I originally shared this recipe on February 22, 2019. I have updated the images and some of the text today.
Why We Love This Recipe For Paleo Chicken Soup
This chicken soup recipe is ultra filling because it has lots of veggies. Paleo diet friendly root veggies (parsnips, celeriac, turnips, carrots etc.) to be exact. And the broth has tons of flavor due to the spices. It is also an easy recipe that comes together in just 50 minutes making it a perfect weeknight dinner.
And don’t forget this homemade soup can be made ahead and simply re-heated (the soup keeps in the fridge for up to 4 days) or frozen, so that you can have it anytime. If you’re making this ahead, you don’t even really need to do more than just bring the soup up to a simmer before shutting it off. The kale will soften when you reheat it later. Same goes for making this as a freezer meal.
Chicken breast can really dry out quickly because it doesn’t have any fat. So the key to using chicken breast in a chicken vegetable soup recipe is to only cook it until it is done. Don’t simmer it and simmer it until it is tough and dry.
Homemade broth is a perfect way to amp up the flavor. If you do want to try making it from scratch, check out this method for making chicken broth. If you do use homemade broth or chicken stock, just add a bit of salt to the chicken soup to compensate for the fact that it has no added sodium. Free-range Chicken Broth by Imagine or their bone broth is also good.
This recipe is hearty enough to stand alone as a one pot meal, but it would be good served with these gluten-free savory muffins, Keto Bread or this gluten-free skillet cornbread. For a paleo friendly side dish serve it with a salad like this chopped winter salad.
Ingredients For Chicken Veggie Soup
- Extra virgin olive oil – Can be used for all cooking up to 400°F. Just make sure to heat to shimmering, but not smoking
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts – A lean lower fat protein source perfect for healthy soups. Be carful not to overcook because the chicken will be dry.
- Aromatics – Cooking the garlic and onion in oil will allow them to brown a bit, because they are high in natural sugars. Sizzling the garlic in the oil also helps to mellow the flavor. The browning of the onions adds a rich depth of flavor and sweet balance to the soup.
- Chicken Broth – Homemade stock is a great choice, but a high quality low sodium store bough broth will also work.
- Root veggies – Carrots, celery, parsnips, turnips, rutabaga or celeriac are full of fiber and low in calories and fat.
- Canned whole peeled tomatoes – This optional ingredient is a great way to add great texture, color and acidity to the soup.
- Kale – This superfood will also add great text and color as well as ton of nutrients.
- Spices – Using dried spices including paprika, sage, thyme, turmeric, salt and freshly ground black pepper in this recipe really up the flavor profile of the broth.
How To Make Chicken Vegetable Soup
Step 1: Cook the chicken.
Heat oil in a large heavy-bottom soup pot and add chicken in a single layer and let cook, undisturbed until it is browned on the bottom. Stir and continue cooking until the chicken is opaque all the way through. Remove the chicken and any accumulated juices to a plate. Cover with foil to keep warm.
Step 2: Cook the garlic, onion and carrots.
Cook the onions, carrots and garlic, stirring often until the vegetables are softened and starting to brown.
Step 3: Add the spices.
Add the spices and let them bloom in the oil. I used paprika, thyme, sage and turmeric. Plus salt and pepper of course! I really love ground sage, but it can be harder to find, so I called for dried sage (often labeled as rubbed.) If you’re subbing in ground sage, just use 1/2 teaspoon as it is much stronger than (fluffier) rubbed sage.
Step 4: Add the broth and root vegetables.
Add the broth and fresh vegetables, cover and bring to a gentle boil over high heat. Remove the like, reduce the heat to maintain a simmer and cook until the vegetables are tender.
Step 5: Add the tomatoes, cooked chicken and kale.
Break up the tomatoes with your hands and add with the juices if using. Return the cooked chicken to the pot with any accumulated juices, stir in the kale and simmer until the kale is tender.
Step 6: Serve!
Serve hot with a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil if desired.
FAQ’s and Expert Tips
Dried spices like paprika, sage, thyme, turmeric and parsley add an immense depth of flavor. Add the spices a little at a time and taste as you go to make sure you don’t over season the soup.
Absolutely! To get the most flavor from the boneless-skinless chicken breast, searing it in the soup pot first is such a great way of bumping up the rich chicken flavor. Let it sit undisturbed until it is browned on the bottom, then stir it, so it doesn’t stick to the soup pot. Those tasty crusty bits on the bottom of the pot (fond) will add a ton of flavor to the soup. Remove it and keep it warm while finishing the soup, so that it does’t overcook and dry out.
Adding acid as opposed to more salt is a great option. The tomatoes in this recipe add a wonderful acidity to the soup. A little lemon juice, lime juice or apple cider vinegar, or a dollop of yogurt or sour cream are also great flavor boosting additions.
More Paleo Soup Recipes To Try
Harvest Vegan Vegetable Soup is a great recipe for a homemade vegan soup that is paleo, whole30 approved and gluten-free!
This paleo-friendly and gluten free 15 Minute Thai Pumpkin Soup is the easiest way to get dinner on the table fast.
Clean Eating Curry Butternut Squash Soup is a clean easting recipe for a comforting soup featuring creamy coconut milk.
Check out this ultra-comforting Keto Chicken Soup with cauliflower rice and it’s under 200 calories per serving and ready in less than 40 minutes!
This Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore is one of our fan-favorite recipes here at Healthy Seasonal Recipes.
Thanks so much for reading. If you are new here you may want to sign up for my free weekly email newsletter for healthy recipes delivered right to your inbox. Or follow me on Instagram. If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review! It is very appreciated. Happy Cooking! ~Katie
Description
My whole family loved this hearty Chicken and Vegetable Soup. It is grain free and dairy free, which means it’s Paleo friendly. Leftovers freeze really well, and also heat-up for lunches at the office. Each 2 cup serving is under 300 calories, and has 25 grams of protein!
Scale
Ingredients
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided plus more for serving if desired
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite sized chunks
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 large sweet onion, diced
1 cup diced peeled carrots
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon paprika
1 ½ teaspoon dried sage (rubbed)
1 teaspoon dry thyme
½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
½ teaspoon turmeric
8 cups chicken broth
1 cup diced celery
1 cup diced peeled parsnips
1 cup diced peeled turnips, rutabaga or celeriac
1 14-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes, optional
4 cups chopped washed fresh kale (no stems)
Instructions
- Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large heavy-bottom soup pot over high heat until shimmering, but not smoking. Add chicken in a single layer and let cook, undisturbed until it is browned on the bottom, about 4 minutes. Stir and continue cooking, stirring once or twice until the chicken is opaque all the way through, 3 to 5 minutes longer. (Test by cutting a piece in half.) Remove the chicken and any accumulated juices to a plate. Cover with foil to keep warm.
- Return the soup pot to medium heat. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil and allow to heat until hot, but not smoking. Add garlic, onion, carrot and salt and cook, stirring often until the vegetables are softened and starting to brown, 8 to 10 minutes.
- Add paprika, sage, thyme, pepper and turmeric, and continue cooking, stirring constantly until the spices are fragrant, 90 seconds to 2 minutes.
- Add broth, celery, parsnips and turnips, cover and bring to a gentle boil over high heat. Remove lid, reduce heat to medium-low or to maintain a simmer, and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes.
- Break up tomatoes if using with your hands into large chunks. Add them and any juices from the can to the soup. Stir in the cooked chicken and any juices from the plate, and kale. Cook until the kale is tender, about 5 minutes.
- Serve hot drizzled with additional extra-virgin olive oil if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 cups
- Calories: 293
- Fat: 14 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 25 g