This Lemon Thyme Chicken Soup is a pleasant blend of classic comfort meets a bright and fresh twist! It’s the perfect rainy day comfort food!
Who doesn’t love a nice warm bowl of Soup? When I don’t feel well, I want soup. When it’s cloudy out, I want soup. When it’s cold out, I want soup. When I’m tired and lazy, I want someone to make me soup. There’s a trend here, in case you haven’t picked up on it yet, and it’s that soup is my go-to comfort food.
While I love a good Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwich or French Onion Soup with melted cheese (mmm, cheese may be another comfort food we will have to revisit at a later date), there is something so soothing about Chicken Soup. And this Lemon Thyme Chicken Soup is sure to be a new hit in your home, I know it is in mine!
Over the years I have attempted to create the perfect Chicken Soup. Some were wins and some were just “okay”. Then one day, I played around with fresh lemon juice and thyme together and bam, the Lemon Thyme Chicken Soup was created. If you are not as lemon crazy as I am, than feel free to cut back the lemon juice, but I think it adds a brightness to the soup.
This soup may have a light/bright flavor, but don’t think that means it’s not hearty. So much so, one could even skip the noodles if one desired. I usually make egg noodles for the boys, because according to them that’s how it has to be (trust me some days its better to just agree with them and make the dang noodles). However, I will often make zucchini noodles for myself or skip noodles all together. It’s delicious and filling, either way!
The next time you want a new take on an old classic, give this Lemon and Thyme Chicken Soup a try, it’s a family favorite at my house and I hope at yours as well!
Happy Eating!
~Nancy
- 1 - 1½ lbs Chicken Breasts or Tenders
- 5 Carrots, peeled and chopped
- 5-6 Celery Stalks, chopped (include the leafy green tops)
- 1 medium Onion, diced
- 1 tsp Crushed Garlic
- 2 - 32oz Chicken Stock
- Quarter sized bunch of Thyme
- 2 Lemons (1 lemon for Chicken, 1 for the broth)
- 2 tsp Salt (more to taste)
- 2 tsp Black Pepper (more to taste)
- 2 Bay Leaf
- 1 tbsp Grape Seed Oil, Olive Oil or Coconut Oil (to drizzle in pan)
- Egg Noodles or Zucchini Noodles
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake chicken with lemon juice (from one lemon) and 1 teaspoon of salt and pepper on the chicken. Bake for 15 min on one side, than flip and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes. Once cool enough to handle, dice chicken and set aside.
- Heat a large pot over med/high heat, once hot add about one tablespoon of cooking oil
- Add the chopped vegetables and garlic, sauté until soft (about 5 minutes)
- Once the vegetables are soft, add the stock, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp pepper, bay leaves and thyme (leaves will fall off as soup cooks, remove stems before serving)
- Bring the mixture to a boil, add the diced chicken and the juice of the remaining lemon (can cut back to a half of a lemon if so desired)
- Simmer for 30 minutes (covered), taste and add more salt and pepper if needed
- While soup is simmering, cook noodles in a separate pot (if using) or spirilize a zucchini
- Add noodles to bowls, as needed, ladle soup over top.
- Serve hot
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Love this! It totally hits the spot, especially on a cold day or when we have another cold going through our house (like today). Best of all, my kids unanimously liked it. (What?!). Thank you!
So glad your family enjoyed the soup! I hope everyone feels better soon too!
~Nancy