Real Comfort Chicken Soup
A hearty, nourishing soup with tender chicken, vegetables, and a rich broth. This french-inspired chicken ready in about 120 minutes pairs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, medium, diced carrots, stalks, diced celery for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1.2 kg, boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 3 medium, diced carrots
- 2 stalks, diced celery
- 1 medium, diced onion
- 3 cloves, minced garlic
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tsp, fresh or 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp, fresh or 1/2 tsp ground pepper
- 4 L water
- 2 medium, diced potatoes
- 200 g, elbow or egg noodles
- 200 ml cream of mushroom soup
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: In a large stockpot, heat 2 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add 1 medium onion, 2 stalks celery, and 3 minced garlic cloves. Sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
- Step 2: Add 2 tbsp tomato paste and 1 tsp thyme, cooking for 2 minutes until fragrant.
- Step 3: Add 1.2 kg chicken thighs, 3 medium carrots, 2 medium potatoes, 2 bay leaves, and 1 tsp salt. Stir to coat.
- Step 4: Pour in 4 L water, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Simmer for 45 minutes until chicken is tender and vegetables are softened.
- Step 5: Add 200 g noodles and 200 ml cream of mushroom soup. Cook for 8-10 minutes until noodles are tender.
- Step 6: Stir in 1/2 tsp black pepper and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Real Comfort Chicken Soup take to make?
Total time is about 120 minutes (30 min prep + 90 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Real Comfort Chicken Soup?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep medium, diced carrots from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Real Comfort Chicken Soup?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Real Comfort Chicken Soup for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Real Comfort Chicken Soup?
French chicken like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
Substituted chicken for tofu and it worked beautifully.
- ★★★★★
Great base recipe! I added a pinch of smoked paprika and it was even better.
- ★★★★★
Used half the salt and it was still plenty flavorful.
