Rotisserie Chicken Soup Recipe
If there’s one dish that wraps me up in a cozy hug as the temperatures drop, it’s this soul-soothing rotisserie chicken soup, bursting with hearty veggies and all the nostalgic flavors of home.
Transforming a store-bought rotisserie chicken into comforting, homemade soup is something I love to do. With 8 cups of nourishing chicken broth and the goodness of fresh vegetables like onions, carrots, and and celery, this soup is both healthy and hearty.
An infusion of thyme, a bay leaf, and the addition of egg noodles makes this not just good but a satisfying meal.
Rotisserie Chicken Soup Recipe Ingredients
- Rotisserie Chicken: A rich source of protein, adds savory depth and heartiness.
- Chicken Broth: Provides a flavorful base, packed with essential minerals.
- Onion: Adds aromatic depth and natural sweetness when cooked.
- Carrots: Rich in beta-carotene, they add sweetness and vibrant color.
- Celery: Offers crunch and a mild earthy taste, good for fiber.
- Garlic: Enhances flavor with a pungent kick and potential health benefits.
- Egg Noodles: Optional, adds carbohydrates and texture to the soup.
Rotisserie Chicken Soup Recipe Ingredient Quantities
- 1 rotisserie chicken, shredded
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 carrots, sliced
- 3 celery stalks, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 cups egg noodles (optional)
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
How to Make this Rotisserie Chicken Soup Recipe
1. Warm olive oil in a big pot over medium heat. Toss in the chopped onion along with the sliced carrots and sliced celery. Sauté these aromatic veggies for about 5-7 minutes until they start to soften.
2. Toss in the minced garlic next. Sauté it with the onion for around a minute, or until you can smell the garlic (and the onion, of course) in a fragrant way. You might want to stir this a bit more, since the garlic can stick if it’s not moving around a lot. But don’t be too surprised if, by the end of this cooking step, your kitchen is filled with the scent of deliciousness.
3. Add the chicken broth, and heat the mixture until it simmers.
4. Mix in the torn rotisserie chicken, dried thyme, and bay leaf.
5. Taste and correct the seasoning in the soup before serving. Concentrate on the essentials—salt, pepper, and perhaps a squeeze of lemon or dash of vinegar for brightness—that elevate the individual flavors.
6. Add the egg noodles to the pot and cook them according to the package instructions, which are usually 6-8 minutes, until they are tender. If you are using another type of pasta, also do not forget to check the package instructions!
7. After cooking the egg noodles, take out from the soup the bay leaf.
8. If needed, add more salt and pepper to the seasoning.
9. If desired, garnish the soup with freshly chopped parsley.
10. Enjoy your comforting rotisserie chicken soup served hot.
Rotisserie Chicken Soup Recipe Equipment Needed
1. Large pot
2. Wooden spoon or spatula
3. Cutting board
4. Sharp knife
5. Measuring spoons
6. Measuring cup
7. Ladle
8. Tongs (optional, for removing bay leaf)
FAQ
- Can I use homemade chicken broth instead of store-bought?Sure, you can totally use store-bought chicken broth to make this soup. In fact, it is what I did for many, many years.
- Can I make this soup ahead of time?Certainly, this soup can be prepared in advance and kept in the fridge for up to 3 days. Simply reheat it gently on the stove before serving.
- What can I use instead of egg noodles?Any kind of pasta or grains such as rice or quinoa can be used instead of egg noodles.
- How do I make the soup gluten-free?Just leave out the egg noodles or swap them for gluten-free pasta.
- Is it okay to freeze the soup?This soup can be frozen quite successfully. Just hold the noodles back until the moment you are about to serve, as they can turn to mush if you reheat them after freezing.
- How can I add more flavor to the soup?You can boost the taste with herbs such as parsley or rosemary, or inject some brightness with a dash of lemon juice.
Rotisserie Chicken Soup Recipe Substitutions and Variations
8 cups vegetable broth: 8 cups chicken broth: 8 cups bone broth: 8 cups homemade stock.
1 tablespoon olive oil: 1 tablespoon canola oil 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 tablespoon butter
1 onion, chopped: 1 leek, sliced: 2 shallots, chopped: 1/2 cup green onions, sliced.
3 cloves of garlic, minced: 1 tablespoon of garlic powder, 1 tablespoon of minced garlic from a jar, and 3/4 teaspoon of garlic salt (reduce additional salt)
2 cups egg noodles (optional): 2 cups rice noodles 2 cups quinoa 2 cups cooked rice 2 cups pasta (any variety) 2 cups potato flakes (reconstituted using 2 cups boiling water) 2 cups cooked lentils 1 cup beans (any variety) 2 cups cooked barley 1 cup nuts (any variety)
Pro Tips
1. Enhance Flavor with Homemade Broth If you have time, consider making your own chicken broth using the rotisserie chicken bones. Simmer the bones with some water, onion, carrots, and celery for about an hour to extract maximum flavor. This will add depth and richness to your soup.
2. De-glaze for Extra Flavor After sautéing the vegetables, before adding the broth, deglaze the pot with a splash of white wine or sherry. This will help lift any caramelized bits from the bottom of the pot and infuse an extra layer of flavor.
3. Layer Herbs for Freshness While dried thyme adds warmth, consider finishing with a sprinkle of fresh thyme or a squeeze of lemon juice right before serving. This will add a pop of freshness that brightens the soup.
4. Add Greens for Nutrition During the last few minutes of cooking, consider tossing in a handful of fresh spinach or kale. This adds color, nutrients, and texture without overpowering the other ingredients.
5. Customize Noodle Texture If you prefer your noodles more al dente, consider cooking them separately and adding them to each bowl when serving. This prevents them from getting too soft if you have leftovers.
Rotisserie Chicken Soup Recipe
My favorite Rotisserie Chicken Soup Recipe
Equipment Needed:
1. Large pot
2. Wooden spoon or spatula
3. Cutting board
4. Sharp knife
5. Measuring spoons
6. Measuring cup
7. Ladle
8. Tongs (optional, for removing bay leaf)
Ingredients:
- 1 rotisserie chicken, shredded
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 carrots, sliced
- 3 celery stalks, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 cups egg noodles (optional)
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions:
1. Warm olive oil in a big pot over medium heat. Toss in the chopped onion along with the sliced carrots and sliced celery. Sauté these aromatic veggies for about 5-7 minutes until they start to soften.
2. Toss in the minced garlic next. Sauté it with the onion for around a minute, or until you can smell the garlic (and the onion, of course) in a fragrant way. You might want to stir this a bit more, since the garlic can stick if it’s not moving around a lot. But don’t be too surprised if, by the end of this cooking step, your kitchen is filled with the scent of deliciousness.
3. Add the chicken broth, and heat the mixture until it simmers.
4. Mix in the torn rotisserie chicken, dried thyme, and bay leaf.
5. Taste and correct the seasoning in the soup before serving. Concentrate on the essentials—salt, pepper, and perhaps a squeeze of lemon or dash of vinegar for brightness—that elevate the individual flavors.
6. Add the egg noodles to the pot and cook them according to the package instructions, which are usually 6-8 minutes, until they are tender. If you are using another type of pasta, also do not forget to check the package instructions!
7. After cooking the egg noodles, take out from the soup the bay leaf.
8. If needed, add more salt and pepper to the seasoning.
9. If desired, garnish the soup with freshly chopped parsley.
10. Enjoy your comforting rotisserie chicken soup served hot.