I love this good old fashioned chicken soup recipe! Why? Because it’s a family recipe and that means it’s comforting and delicious!! There is an abundance of veggies and chicken in this soup that will soothe you whether you have a cold or not.
One of my favorite things growing up was my mom’s old fashioned chicken soup. She made it so often that it seems like we had it every week. And it was delicious. But because my Dad grew up in the Depression and my mom was naturally thrifty, she used to make her chicken soup with… drum(stick) roll please… chicken necks.
Do you realize how many chicken necks you have to eat to feel satisfied? Trust me, it’s a lot. I felt like a little cannibal gnawing on the necks and sucking out the meat. I pretty much never eat chicken necks now. And I like that about me.
Do you like that about me?
Were your folks super thrifty about food? Or anything else? Let me know in a comment.
How to Cook Good Old Fashioned Chicken Soup
Process shots of the chicken soup:
- Organic chicken, carrots, celery, onion and soup broth
- All the ingredients in the stockpot ready to be cooked
- Old fashioned chicken soup cooked and ready to be served
Tips to making the old fashioned chicken soup:
- Once you wash and dry the whole chicken, place it into a stockpot with 4 cups of chicken broth and 2 cups of water. Turn the heat up under the pot while you cut up the vegetables and bring the broth and chicken to a boil
- Add vegetables, herbs and spices to stockpot and lower the heat to a simmer for 1 hour and 15 minutes
- Add orzo and cook for additional 15 minutes, stirring every few minutes
- When the soup has finished cooking, remove the chicken, take the meat off the bones and add it back to the pot
I make a salad, take out a crusty roll and some butter and then ladle some old fashioned chicken soup into a couple of crocks.
Time to eat!! Let’s see a close up!
Delish!
I hope you enjoy this old fashioned chicken soup recipe! It’s comforting and delicious!
And as always, may all your dishes be delish!
- 2 - 3 pounds whole organic chicken washed and dried
- 1 pound carrots cut in chunks
- 1 large onion cut in chunks
- 1 stalk celery cut in slices
- 32 ounces chicken broth organic, I use Trader Joe's brand
- 2 cups water
- Bay leaf
- 2 tablespoons basil
- 2 tablespoons parsley
- 2 tablespoons tarragon
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- Place chicken in stockpot
- Pour chicken broth and water in pot, turn heat on high and bring liquid to boil
Lower to a simmer and add carrots, onion, celery, bay leaf, basil, parsley, tarragon, salt and pepper
Cook for 1 hour and 15 minutes, add orzo and stir. Cook for additional 15 minutes
- Take chicken out of pot and remove meat from bones
- Return meat to pot and stir
- Ladle chicken soup in some bowls or crocks
- Eat
- Enjoy
Tips to making the old fashioned chicken soup:
- Once you wash and dry the whole chicken, place it into a stockpot with 4 cups of chicken broth and 2 cups of water. Turn the heat up under the pot while you cut up the vegetables and bring the broth and chicken to a boil
- Add vegetables, herbs and spices to stockpot and lower the heat to a simmer for 1 hour and 15 minutes
- Add orzo and cook for additional 15 minutes, stirring every few minutes
- When the soup has finished cooking, remove the chicken, take the meat off the bones and add it back to the pot
I think we were poor too – because my Mom did the same frugal stuff. Being a kid, I was oblivious – it was just the way things were. This chicken soup will be making an appearance on our table this week for sure! Cold weather is a’ comin’!
It’s funny how we are oblivious! It’s been freezing cold up here in Boston and has been for a few weeks. I’m looking forward to Wednesday when it goes up to a balmy 28 degrees F. 🙂
There is really nothing better than chicken soup made right!
I totally agree Suzy! Thanks!
Yes that does sound thrifty! I’m not sure I’ve eaten the neck. I’m a bit squeamish about raw chicken though – probably not the best thing since I’m a food blogger too. I usually take the easy way out when I make chicken soup and use an already cooked rotisserie chicken and store-bought chicken broth. I need to try this recipe next time.
Jill, I get the squeamishness, I feel it too but I just pretend it’s a fake chicken and I’m good. Thanks for your comment!
I’m not sure I could eat chicken necks – anything that reminds me it used to be a living creature running around and I can’t lol. But your soup however… I would devour easily!!
Thanks so much Marie – and I totally agree!!
You can’t beat a family recipe, this one for chicken soup looks perfect!
Indeed you can’t Amy!! Thank you!
Sometimes you just can’t beat a classic! This looks so good- perfect for the Arctic temps that are absolutely crushing me right now. Definitely need to try!
Thanks Karly! I agree, and it’s frigid here too!
Yum with Tarragon flavored. It’s such an underrated herb and it does go well with chicken and bay leaf. I hadn’t actually thought of using tarragon that way, what a wonderful soup idea Elaine!
Thanks Helene! I almost always put tarragon with my chicken. Thankfully hubby loves it too!
YUM…this is mouthwatering-looking and I love the organic bent on the recipe. Nice job!
Thanks Paige, I appreciate it!
I’ve never made chicken soup, but I do love it. My mom used chicken necks when she made soup when I was a kid, but we never ate the necks. I love that you make the soup with the whole chicken, and then pull it apart at the end. I never would have thought to do that. Pinning this to make very soon
Thank you Karyl! Yay! Or not so yay that your mom made it with the necks too. You’re the first person I’ve heard that from. At least you didn’t have to eat the necks 😉
Spices for the win!! I love homemade chicken soup and this recipe sounds and looks just delightful! I love the seasoning and orzo pasta here. NOM.
Thanks so much Dominique! I love how orzo puffs up the day after!! I almost prefer leftover soup to fresh. Weird, I know.
I will use chicken necks for stock and soup ALL DAY LONG!
Haha, Ben. And I will watch you as I eat my whole chicken stock 🙂
That’s a delicious looking soup! I liked the way you narrated the whole story.
Thanks Prasanna!
Everyone needs a good, classic chicken soup recipe in their arsenal! It’s been so bitter cold and snowy here, this looks like the perfect way to warm up.
Thanks Julie!! Yes, freezing weather here too! I made my second pot of soup in 2 weeks.
There is nothing better than a scratch-made chicken soup – This reminds me of the one my Grandma made when we were young. It made the whole house smell amazing!
It really does Christine!
Nothing like a good hearty soup in the winter time! Those bowls! Soooo cute! I love hand thrown pottery.
Thanks Kate!! They are thrift store finds!
Good chicken noodle soup always brings my family together around the table! It’s all about good vibes and friendly atmosphere, and of course the delicious taste of soup.
Thanks so much for your comment, Tatiana! I so agree!
nothing goes wrong with good warm and delicious soup in these freeze days. İt’s most scrumptious looking soup İ’ve seen this week. YUM!
Thank you Citra!
Perfect, soul-soothing comfort food, just the way I like it! There’s only one thing I want when I’m sick, and this looks an awful lot like it. 🙂
Thanks Erica! It is so nice when one is under the weather!
I haven’t made a good chicken soup in months. Your version looks so good. I use a lot of bay leaf in my cooking as well. I think its a staple in my cooking
Thanks Aish!
This looks like the perfect bowl of comforting soup! You’re right – something about family recipes always sets them apart. I especially love the addition of tarragon here!
Thanks Monica!!
My family was relatively thrifty in my formative years. We often shopped and sold our old clothes at second hand stores and even went so far as to hike out into the wildness and pick fresh berries for jams and other preserves, but I don’t remember any chicken neck soup. That sounds both thrifty and like quite the labor-intensive eating experience!
Hehe, Claire. Indeed it was. I love when people tell me their stories as you did. Thank you.
Love the silky smooth texture of this broth. Super comfort food. And satisfying.
It’s heavenly, isn’t it?