Some call this soup Jewish penicillin, others just say this homemade chicken soup busts through cold and flu season. I just call it delicious.
This is the homemade chicken soup from scratch recipe I grew up enjoying. If you love chicken soup as much as we do, you will want to check out all of my delicious homemade Gluten Free Soup Recipes!
Do you love homemade chicken soup?
For some reason, I only make this soup when someone is sick. This soup is as close to comfort food as it gets. I remember my grandmother making this soup every time we went to visit. The memories come back every time I make this soup.
This chicken soup recipe takes time to make…but I promise it is worth it! You can also make the Instant Pot Version of this Homemade Chicken Soup! Delicious flavor in a fraction of the time!! If you love all types of chicken soup, check out all of these fun gluten free chicken soup recipes too!
My Grandma’s Homemade Chicken Soup is Comfort Food
This soup is as close to comfort food as it gets. I remember my grandmother making this soup every time we went to visit. The memories come back every time I make this soup. This chicken soup takes time to make…but I promise it is worth it!
This chicken soup takes time to make…but I promise it is worth it!”
Our whole family loves this soup, and I really need to make it more often. Fall is finally here and soon cold and flu season will be here. We also love this delicious Turmeric Chicken Vegetable Soup during cold and flu season!! (And this turmeric chicken soup is quick and easy to make!)
Simple Fresh Ingredients Make The Best Chicken Soup
This easy chicken soup recipe is made from scratch, with fresh simple ingredients.”
It is so easy to make a bowl of good chicken soup from scratch. You don’t need many ingredients. Just add chicken, carrots, onion, garlic, and celery to a pot. You can add noodles to make chicken noodle soup, or add rice. We usually make chicken and rice soup because gluten free noodles tend to get pretty mushy. You can use brown or white rice in this soup recipe.
This soup is Whole 30, Paleo, Keto, and Gluten Free. Perfect for anyone who has food allergies. Pair this soup with these delicious gluten free bread for easy dipping: Gluten Free Light and Fluffy Cheddar Muffins or this Gluten Free Focaccia Bread.
Whole Chicken Chicken Soup
For my grandma’s old-fashioned chicken soup, you will need a whole chicken. (You can also use chicken that isn’t whole. You need to make sure your chicken pieces are with the bone as the bone minerals are what makes this soup so good!!)
I prefer to use an organic whole chicken. Include the neck and organs…it all goes into the pot. You will want to cook this down for a couple of hours so the chicken flavor is infused into the broth.
The Vegetables in Chicken Soup from Scratch
Classic chicken soup has onion, carrot, and celery. I have added turnip and rutabaga to my chicken soup recipe over the years, but for this post, I wanted to keep it close to my grandma’s recipe. (If you decide to add other vegetables, you would want one small turnip and one small rutabaga chopped up.) You can also try this easy Instant Pot Vegetable Soup with Chicken for a soup with lots of extra vegetables.
Chicken Soup Seasoning
This soup is full of flavor from these spices and herbs:
- thyme
- basil
- parsley
- garlic
- salt and pepper
I used dried thyme and dried basil. I did use fresh garlic cloves because dried garlic powder just doesn’t add the same flavors to the soup broth. Fresh parsley is also better to use.
How to make Jewish chicken soup from scratch:
Add your raw whole chicken to a stock pot. Add in low sodium chicken broth, seasonings, vegetables, and water. Cover and bring the chicken soup to a boil. Turn down the heat and allow this chicken soup to simmer for two hours.
Cover and bring the chicken soup to a boil. Turn down the heat and allow this chicken soup to simmer for two hours.
After the chicken cooks in the soup for 2 hours, remove it to a separate pan so the bones don’t all fall apart in the soup.
You can read tons of reviews on this soup via Pinterest.
More Delicious Homemade Soup Recipes to Try:
- Gluten Free Cream of Tomato Soup
- Gluten Free Oyster Chowder (works well with clams for clam chowder too!)
- Turmeric Chicken Soup
- Taco Chicken Soup
If you love chicken as much as we do, you will want to check out ALL of my delicious easy Gluten Free Chicken Recipes!!
Tools You Need To Make This Chicken Soup From Scratch Recipe:
- A big soup pot that is large enough to hold a whole chicken.
- A vegetable chopper to chop up your vegetables.
Grandma's Homemade Chicken Soup
An easy homemade chicken soup made from scratch. Grandma's chicken soup recipe is easy to make using a whole chicken and vegetables.
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken, raw
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 5 carrots, chopped
- 3 celery stalks, chopped
- 2 teaspoons basil
- 2 teaspoons thyme
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 quart chicken broth, low sodium
- 4 cups water
- parsley is optional
Instructions
- Add a whole raw chicken to a large stock pot.
- Add all ingredients, cover and simmer on medium low until it boils.
- Once the soup is boiling, turn down the temperature to low and simmer for 2 hours.
- Remove the chicken to a pan. Do this carefully so the chicken doesn't fall apart. Cut the chicken meat into pieces and add back to the soup. Garnish with fresh parsley if you like.
- Serve hot. (My grandmother served it over rice, this is totally optional.)
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 355 Total Fat: 24g Saturated Fat: 7g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 15g Cholesterol: 130mg Sodium: 584mg Carbohydrates: 5g Fiber: 1g Sugar: 2g Protein: 28g
susan
Do you cook cover or uncovered for the 2 hours? Thanks!
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Susan, you want to simmer it covered. Thank you for asking :-).
Krista Doerr
Planning on making this today. Sick momma here with two sick kiddos (flu! 😣), hoping this recipe gets us on the mend fast!
Sandi Gaertner
Awww, I hope the soup was a success and that you all feel better soon. I feel like this year has been rough with germs and illness :-(.
Angiemom23
Currently in the simmer stage with this and by smell alone we are all drooling just waiting for it to finish up! I came looking for a recipe because our son is running a 102 degree fever, when your first few lines talked about Jewish Penicillin and it being a grandma’s recipe I knew I found what we needed! Thank you for sharing!
Sandi Gaertner
I hope it helps your son feel better soon Angie 🙂
Justine
Awesome chicken soup. Made it especially for my mom in law that has pancreatic csncer. She said it’s the best chicken soup she has had in a very long time. Thank you:)
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you loved my Grandma’s soup recipe Justine 🙂
Bonny
We raise our own chickens but skin them, can’t wait to try this recipe. What about canning it? Thinking it would make great Christmas presents.
Sandi Gaertner
It sounds like a delicious idea but I would think you have to do something so it won’t spoil. I know nothing about canning.
Bonny
i checked out the Ball website and it sayd 10 pounds of pressure for 1hour 30 minutes for 1quart jars, definately going to give it a try.
Robbin Lamo
I freeze this soup in wide mouth mason jars, let it cool then just leave a few inches of space a the top for any expansion.
Sandi Gaertner
I didn’t realize you can freeze mason jars like this. Thank you so much for sharing your tip Robbin 🙂
Donna
I have not made your soup yet but I was wondering if I can use just pieces of chicken instead of a whole chicken..
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Donna, you can use pieces of chicken but I highly recommend making sure the pieces are bone-in. There are a lot of nutrients in the bones that cook into this soup, giving it that awesome cold and flu busting benefit.
Jodie
Curious, will the veggies be really mushy? I mean cooking for 2 hours seems a little much. Thank you!
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Jodie, the long cook time didn’t make our veggies mushy. You can cook less, we do cook on a simmer for much of this for flavor, but it isn’t necessary. You can also add the veggies in a little later.
patti deblasi
Beat soup ever! I do the chicken boil then strain it and refrigerate the broth over night. The fat rises to the top and can be skimmed off. Then add all the good stuff~ AMAZING!!!
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you liked it!! You made my day!
Andrea
Hi! How would this be cooked in a crockpot? It would be much easier for me.
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Andrea, this should work well in a crock pot :-). Please come back and let us know how long you cooked it for.
Keith
Hey Miss Sandi – during the simmer process do I scoop off any foam or excess fat?? I can’t wait to try this. Thanks for your help. Thanks to Grandma too!
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Keith, that is up to you. We tend to scrape the fat off after the first refrigeration when it has solidified at the top. During the simmer stage the flavors are still infusing with the soup. Enjoy 🙂
Katie
Once it’s done, turn off burner. Let it set a minute, then use the back of a ladel that was sitting in ice to wipe off the oil. The oil will stick to the frozen metal.
Sandi Gaertner
That is a great idea!!
Bird
OMG! That looks so comforting for Fall! Delicious!
Sandi Gaertner
It is the perfect cold and flu buster 🙂
Mikaela
Great and it’s only a total of 8 cups liquid mine doesn’t cover the ingredients all the way ?
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Mikaela, how large of a pot are you using? You can definitely add more water, you want the chicken to be just barely submerged.
Mikaela
When would I add the rice and how much ?
Sandi Gaertner
You would want to cook the rice separately and add it to your bowl and pour the soup over it. My grandmother never cooked the soup with the rice because it would make the broth starchy.
Hummingbird 1st
Apart from the very first bowl of soup that I tasted, I froze the first batch of soup that I made and it is so delicious that I find I cannot wait until I am sick before I devour some more! I expect it will keep the germs away anyway LOL! Well that’s my story anyway…. I have another batch cooking on the stove so I really don’t plan on running out anytime soon. I made this soup on both occasions exactly as written and it is superb. The flavour and the aroma of the soup whilst cooking is amazing and I am very happy to have found this recipe. Thank you very much for sharing your Grandma\s recipe. I did leave a comment for the first soup I made but think it may have gone astray.
Sandi Gaertner
You made my day. Thank you so much for coming back to tell me how much you liked my Grandma’s soup.
Kathy
Second time I am making this soup – BEST recipe ever – full of flavor Thank You !!
Sandi Gaertner
Yay!! I am so glad you liked my grandmother’s soup, Kathy. I appreciate your coming back to let me know. If you didn’t leave a star rating in the recipe card by clicking the stars, I would be so grateful if you would so people know how yummy this recipe is.
Queenie
Thank you for this recipe. We are making it right now and it smells wonderful.
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you are trying this. Let me know how it turns out.
Maggie Unzueta
This looks insanely, incredibly good. Yummmmmmy!
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you like this Maggie, thank you 🙂
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you like this Olga 🙂
Marie
Chicken simmering , as I write this little note of Thanks for the recipe ..The flavors are filling the kitchen with a wonderful aroma …..I know this will help me on the way to a a cure for the cold /flu that I am experiencing right now…
Thanks so much for a delicious recipe…Yum!!
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad Marie…I hope you feel better soon :-).
Al S.
Yessssss!! This soup is just what the doctor calls for when sick! I made this yesterday for me and the little woman. I am sick as a dog, so I looked up soups on Pinterest. I came up with this gem! Easy to make, very flavorful and inexpensive. I am adding this to my favorites, for sure!
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you liked my Grandma’s recipe Al! Thank you so much for coming to let us know :-).
janelynn
I was all set to come on here and tell you that a soup is NOT homemade if you buy the broth, then saw that yours calls for the whole chidken–this truly is Gramma’s recipe, except that she used the feet whenever possible.
Sandi Gaertner
I haven’t seen chicken here with feet, but I bet my grandmother did. Thank you so much for stopping by Janelynn 🙂
Julie
Whole chicken wasnt’t on sale, so i used chicken leg quarters. So glad i found this recipe when i search chicken soup from scratch. Best soup ever, i hope my dad doesnt read this. P.s. my son is sick but i used alphabet letters so my daughter would eat it. Way to go a masterpiece for sure.
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you found chicken that worked. As long as your chicken legs had bones, you will get the benefits of the bone broth in this recipe. I hope everyone feels better soon!!
Stephanie
If I want to refrigerate this and eat it throughout the week, should I skim some of the fat off the top? Or would that take away the delicious flavor? Thank you for sharing!
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Stephanie, I usually scrape some of the fat off the top, but that is totally optional 🙂
Cindy
In the middle of a bad cold and made this today. This definitely hit the spot. Thanks for sharing!
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad it helped Cindy. I hope you feel better soon :-).
Wendy Beamer
Best chicken soup I’ve ever made. I used all chicken broth and added 2 tsp chicken granules. The aroma was amazing. Thank you for sharing
Sandi Gaertner
I am sooo glad you liked this Wendy. Thank you for coming back to let me know!
Laura Leigh
My soup is on the stove top as we speak! The whole house is filled with such an amazing aroma. Can not wait to take this to work this week! Thanks for sharing such a great recipe.
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you are trying my grandmother’s recipe. Enjoy :-).
Kirsten
I made this for my hubby and son awhile ago, they now have a nasty cold and I am making it again. Followed the recipe, added rice at the end. Smells AMAZING! Great recipe thank you
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you like it, Kirsten. I hope your husband and son feel better soon :-).
Karen
Best flavor of any chicken soup I’ve ever made! My husband loved it too! A definite keeper and go-to for cold winter days in Wisconsin!
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you and your husband like this soup…my grandmother would be so excited that so many can enjoy it. I also appreciate your coming back to let me know it was a hit :-).
Edna
No colds or flu yet…this is a trial run, I just made this soup , grated a few potatoes into it as well. Still tastes awesome.
Sandi Gaertner
I never thought to add potatoes, but it sounds wonderful. I am glad you like this soup Edna 🙂
Karen D
This is on the stove as I “speak”. Curious, the liquids did not cover the chicken (a small B&E young chicken). Not sure if that’s a problem??? Also, adding the carrots and celery halfway through, as I am hoping they will not be that mushy.
Will be serving with an egg noodle, or pasta.
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Karen, I am so glad you are trying this recipe. I would say add more water unless you are using a giant pot with a small chicken? You can always salt a little more. I have started to add a scoop of chicken collagen protein powder (by Vital Proteins) lately as well for a boost.
Russell
Followed recipe as posted. Added corn and white potatoes. Recipe is keeper, looking forward to tomorrow’s lunch.
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you like this recipe Russell, my grandmother would be so glad it is reaching so many. I appreciate your coming back to let me know, you made my night 🙂
Debra C.
This soup looks soooo delicious, Grandma’s recipes are always the BEST! Certainly my kinda meal and I don’t think I’d be waiting for a sick one before making it, YUM!
Ann
I also have that issue where I only make chicken soup when’s someone’s sick! Why though?? It’s so good and this one sounds spectacular!
Sandi Gaertner
That is so true Ann 🙂
Camilla Hawkins
Love this homemade chicken soup and the fact that it’s so good for a cold or flu. I will be sure to come back to this recipe when flu season strikes!
Sandi Gaertner
Wonderful Camilla. I hope you enjoy it 🙂
Eden | Sweet Tea and Thyme
Yum! You know when a grandma is involved in the recipe, it’s legit. This looks perfect for knocking out any flu or cold this season!
Sandi Gaertner
Thanks Eden.
kim
Yum! This sounds like my kind of comfort meal! Will be adding this to my weekly meal plan!
Sandi Gaertner
I hope you enjoy it as much as we do Kim :-).
Dannii
Chicken soup is the best thing to have when you need a pick me up. This sound so full of flavour.
Sandi Gaertner
Wait until you try it…a lot of people commented on Pinterest about the wonderful flavors too :-).
Kassandra
Hi! I was wondering at what temperature, med-low or med-high or high to cooks the chicken and the soup in before I turn to low and simmer? Making witching the next hour!
Sandig45
Hi Kassandra, I let the chicken and soup boil for about 20 minutes on med-high, then turn to simmer low for 2 hours. Enjoy 🙂
Fern Manire
As soon as I saw a chicken soup recipe with the word “Grandma” in the title, I knew I had to make it! I added a can of Cream of Chicken soup, since I like a thicker broth. I used rotisserie chicken and frozen homemade noodles, and it is the best chicken soup recipe I have ever found. I usually eat one bowl, and give the rest away, but not this time! I froze the remainder for myself!
Sandig45
Wow Fern, you are really creative :-). Thank you so much for writing about this soup. I am not sure if you are gluten free or not, but for anyone reading this comment, I do want to point out that Cream of Chicken Soup isn’t gluten free. I do believe Walmart makes a gluten free cream of chicken soup, so just read labels if in doubt. Have a wonderful week.
Amanda
This is my kind of chicken soup! I love that you use the whole chicken!
Sandig45
Thank you so much Amanda.
Nellie
Perfect homemade comfort food recipe – one I’ll definitely be adding to my collection!
Sandig45
Enjoy Nellie 🙂
Lorrie
Can I possibly get the nutrition values (need it for Keto Diet). Can’t wait to try this.
Lorrie
I am actually cooking it now. 🙂
Sandig45
Hi Lorrie, I am happy to add it.
Terri
This looks incredible!
Do you think cooking in a crockpot all day would do it justice?
Sandig45
Hi Terri, I haven’t made it in a crockpot, but I am sure it would work. Will you please stop back and let us know how it turns out?
Terri
Hi there!! I made this yesterday in my crockpot and it was AMAAAAZING! Cooked on high about 6 hours….lifted out the chicken onto a sheet pan….deboned and put the chicken right back in. Will eat the leftovers today!!!!
Thank you! 🙂
Sandig45
Oh my gosh Terri, thank you so much for coming back to let us know!!
Laurie
Can’t wait to try it looks delish and will be fine for the ketogenic diet thanks for sharing
Sandig45
Awesome Laurie, I hope you have a great weekend 🙂
Mary
This sounds delicious. We love to pour our soup over homemade mashed potatoes. <3 I'm gonna try your version of soup this coming week! 🙂
Sandig45
That sounds delicious! It will make the soup beautifully creamy!
Carmen
I want to add alphabet pasta for the kids…when should I add it in??
Sandig45
Hi Carmen, I would cook the alphabet pasta separately and add it to the bowl. Pour the soup on top. That will keep it from getting too mushy. Thank you 🙂
Traleana
I think I’m gonna try this, but since I have a bunch of boneless skinless chicken breasts, I’m gonna use them instead. I know I will be sacrificing some of the flavor from the whole chicken, but I think it’s still going to be delicious.
Sandig45
Please let me know how it turns out 🙂
DedrDawn
Actually you can use already made broth, I use organic bone broth.
Suz
You failed to mention putting the meat back into the pot and you show parsley but don’t mention it as an ingredient.. required or optional
I am going to try it today
Sandig45
Hi Suz, I am happy to clarify. I used parsley as a garnish. It is optional, but will add that in. Have a great weekend.
Gail
Maybe I missed it but when do you add the noodles?
Sandig45
Hi Gail, You would add the cooked noodles to the bowl before you ladle the soup into the bowl. I hope this helps. Thank you, Sandi
Amanda
how mug parsley do you add and do you add the chicken back in?
Sandig45
Hi Amanda, thank you so much for writing. I find parsley to be strong. I used 2 tablespoons of fresh parsley, but some people may like a lot more than that. I do remove the chicken from the soup. I remove the chicken and toss the bones. Sometimes if I am short of time, I just leave the chicken in there whole. The meat pretty much falls off the bones and then it is a matter of just taking the bones out. I hope this helps 🙂 Sandi
Annemarie @ justalittlebitofbacon
We are big fans of homemade chicken soup here. It is definitely the perfect food for a cold! And this looks like a great and easy recipe.
Sandig45
Thank you so much Annemarie. Hope you avoid colds the last part of the cold season 🙂