There are a lot of things you can do with a whole chicken but one of my favorite things to do is make homemade chicken soup in my Crockpot because it's easy, delicious and super healthy.
By starting with the whole chicken, you don't need to add chicken broth - the chicken makes the broth for you! It turns out absolutely divine and is perfect as leftovers or to freeze for later.
I use my slow cooker to make this because it's more energy efficient than using my stove.
This isn't a magical "set it and forget it for 8 hours" recipe but it requires very minimal work from you - which is perfect for a day when you'll be home working on other stuff.
Your soup can cook while you toodle around your house working on other projects. The end result is delicious homemade chicken soup in a rich broth you made from scratch.
This soup is naturally gluten free, is keto friendly and perfect for those following paleo or Whole30 diet plans.
By starting with the whole chicken, you don't need to add chicken broth - the chicken makes the broth for you! It turns out absolutely divine and is perfect as leftovers or to freeze for later.
I use my slow cooker to make this because it's more energy efficient than using my stove.
This isn't a magical "set it and forget it for 8 hours" recipe but it requires very minimal work from you - which is perfect for a day when you'll be home working on other stuff.
Your soup can cook while you toodle around your house working on other projects. The end result is delicious homemade chicken soup in a rich broth you made from scratch.
This soup is naturally gluten free, is keto friendly and perfect for those following paleo or Whole30 diet plans.
How to Make Chicken Soup from Scratch
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken* (about 5 pounds)
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 large onions
- 1/2 tsp salt, divided
- 5 large carrots*
- 1 head celery*
- 2 tsp dry thyme*
- 2 tsp dry oregano*
- 1 tsp dry basil*
- 3 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp dry parsley flakes*
- 1/2 tsp ground pepper
*I recommend purchasing these ingredients as organic where available to avoid GMOs, pervasive pesticides and questionable farming practices.
Directions
Homemade Chicken Soup STEP 1:
To make the broth, add your whole chicken (include any giblets that came packed inside it - minus the bag) to your Crockpot along with the vinegar.
Cut one of the onions into quarters and add to the Crockpot.
Cover chicken and onions with water, sprinkle with 1/4 tsp of sea salt and turn your slow cooker on high.
Cut one of the onions into quarters and add to the Crockpot.
Cover chicken and onions with water, sprinkle with 1/4 tsp of sea salt and turn your slow cooker on high.
Homemade Chicken Soup STEP 2:
After about 1 1/2 - 2 hours, your chicken should be cooked and tender.
Remove the chicken from the pot and set on a cookie sheet to cool.
Remove the onion quarters from the broth and discard.
Remove the chicken from the pot and set on a cookie sheet to cool.
Remove the onion quarters from the broth and discard.
Homemade Chicken Soup STEP 3:
While your chicken is cooling, dice the remaining onion, slice your carrots into coins and chop your celery (I use a food processor for this part - it saves SO much time!).
Add your cut veggies and spices to the broth in the slow cooker and stir.
Add your cut veggies and spices to the broth in the slow cooker and stir.
Homemade Chicken Soup STEP 4:
Once the chicken has cooled a bit, use a fork and a knife to pull the meat away from the bones and skin. The chicken should be very tender, making this very easy to do.
Discard the bones and skin and add the chicken pieces back into the slow cooker.
Don't worry about chopping or shredding the chicken yet - just add the pieces back to the pot as they are.
Discard the bones and skin and add the chicken pieces back into the slow cooker.
Don't worry about chopping or shredding the chicken yet - just add the pieces back to the pot as they are.
Homemade Chicken Soup STEP 5:
Allow the soup to cook on high for 1 hour more or on low for 2 or more hours.
Use 2 forks to shred the chicken (I don't even remove to chicken to do this - I just stab one fork into the soup until I find a large piece of chicken. Use the other fork to shred it in the bottom of the pot).
Set the slow cooker to the "warm" setting until ready to serve.
Use 2 forks to shred the chicken (I don't even remove to chicken to do this - I just stab one fork into the soup until I find a large piece of chicken. Use the other fork to shred it in the bottom of the pot).
Set the slow cooker to the "warm" setting until ready to serve.
If you want more healthy soup recipes, check these out:
The Best Homemade Chicken Soup
Yield: 12
prep time: 20 Mcook time: 5 hourtotal time: 5 H & 20 M
This homemade chicken soup is both healthy and easy to make! Using a whole chicken lets you make your own broth from scratch and using a slow cooker means you won't have to babysit your stove.
ingredients:
- 1 whole chicken (about 5 pounds)
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 large onions
- 1/2 tsp salt, divided
- 5 large carrots
- 1 head celery
- 2 tsp dry thyme
- 2 tsp dry oregano
- 1 tsp dry basil
- 3 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp dry parsley flakes
- 1/2 tsp ground pepper
instructions:
How to cook The Best Homemade Chicken Soup
- To make broth, add whole chicken (include any giblets packed inside - minus bag) to Crockpot along with vinegar.
- Cut one onion into quarters. Add to Crockpot.
- Cover chicken and onions with water, sprinkle with 1/4 tsp of sea salt and turn slow cooker on high.
- After about 2 hours, chicken should be cooked and tender.
- Remove chicken from pot and set on cookie sheet to cool.
- Remove onion quarters from broth and discard.
- While chicken is cooling, dice remaining onion, slice carrots into coins and chop celery.
- Add cut veggies and spices to broth in slow cooker and stir.
- Take cooled chicken and use fork and knife to pull meat away from the bones and skin.
- Discard bones and skin.
- Add chicken pieces back into slow cooker.
- Allow soup to cook on high for 1 hour, and on low for 2 or more hours.
- Use 2 forks to shred the chicken.
- Enjoy!
Calories
403
403
Fat (grams)
26.9
26.9
Sat. Fat (grams)
7.5
7.5
Carbs (grams)
8
8
Fiber (grams)
2.4
2.4
Sugar (grams)
3.3
3.3
Protein (grams)
32.8
32.8
Sodium (milligrams)
446
446
Cholesterol (grams)
133
133
Nutrition information is approximate and may vary based on the freshness and brand of your ingredients.
Copyright 2018
About the Author:
Carissa B is a cookbook author and busy mom of two creative boys. The owner and lead writer at Creative Green Living, she won the Craftys Award for the "Best Craft Blogger" category in 2016 and the ShiftCon award for "Best DIY Blogger" in 2018.
She is the author of the hardcover cookbook, Beautiful Smoothie Bowls (Skyhorse, 2017) and several ebooks. Her projects have been featured in magazines like Kids Crafts 1-2-3, Capper's Farmer and Urban Farm Magazine. Follow her on Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter or join the Creative Green Living community group.
She is the author of the hardcover cookbook, Beautiful Smoothie Bowls (Skyhorse, 2017) and several ebooks. Her projects have been featured in magazines like Kids Crafts 1-2-3, Capper's Farmer and Urban Farm Magazine. Follow her on Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter or join the Creative Green Living community group.
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What a lovely recipe! Easy, simple, healthy, and totally yummy!
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