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Whether you’re trying to get over your latest cold or you just want to give your body a little extra nourishment, this healing chicken soup loaded with nutrient-dense foods like turmeric, ginger, and kale is sure to have you feeling better in no time.
It’s that time of year again when the cold and flu seems to be getting everyone, which means it is the perfect time to make a big batch of cozy, nutritious soup! There’s nothing like Mom’s homemade chicken soup to cure a cold, and today we’re taking classic chicken soup and upping the ante with loads of immune-boosting ingredients. With its rich turmeric-ginger broth, shredded chicken, sweet potatoes, kale, and bright lemon juice, this soup is also completely crave-worthy. We recommend making a double batch – one to eat now, and one to freeze for later, just in case!
Ingredients for Healing Chicken Soup
The nutritionist in me is SO pumped to talk about the magical healing properties of the ingredients in this soup! The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant powers of food are truly incredible.
- Bone Broth – The base of this soup starts with bone broth. Why bone broth over traditional broth? Bone broth is filled with vitamins, minerals, and collagen that can help support a healthy immune system. Whether you make it or buy it, bone broth is great to have in your cold-fighting arsenal!
- Turmeric – Turmeric is a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant spice that gives this soup its beautiful yellow color. Turmeric has also been shown to have antiviral properties(1), which is great for fighting off the cold and flu.
- Ginger – Ginger is another spice that has antiviral and antibacterial properties in addition to anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds that can be helpful in healing the cold and flu, and has been shown to be especially good for digestive issues(2). Ginger has also been shown to be helpful for sore throats, and sipping on ginger tea can often provide immediate relief.
- Onion & Garlic – While they may not exactly be trendy veggies, did you know that they actually have strong antibacterial, antiviral, and antioxidant properties? In addition, onion has a wealth of vitamins and minerals that are great for your overall health and for flu-fighting. Garlic contains a compound called allicin that is thought to give it its powerful antiviral and anti-fungal properties(3), in addition to other benefits.
- Celery – Lately celery has become popular thanks to the touted benefits of celery juice, but here we’re using it in its whole form! Celery is rich in vitamins and minerals, including antioxidants like Vitamin C.
- Sweet Potatoes – Sweet potatoes are highly nutritious, rich in antioxidants, and a great source of vitamins, including Vitamins A, C, and B6, and healthy carbohydrates, which can help keep your energy up when you’re feeling under the weather!
- Lacinato Kale – Kale is widely known for being a nutritional powerhouse. It is rich in vitamins A, K, and C, as well as antioxidants. We use lacinato kale here because we love the flavor over curly kale.
- Fresh Thyme – Did you know that many herbs actually have incredibly powerful properties? In this recipe, we chose thyme because we love the flavor. Thyme is antimicrobial, so it is a great option for fighting the cold and flu, and it also has expectorant properties, which can help clear mucus and fight cold and congestion.
- Chicken – You can use either chicken breast or thighs for this recipe, and feel free to save yourself some extra work by buying rotisserie chicken at the store! The chicken will cook in the soup, and then you will simply shred it with two forks.
- Coconut Milk – Coconut milk pairs perfectly with the flavors in this soup, adds a slightly creamy consistency and provides a source of healthy fats.
- Lemon Juice – The juice of one lemon stirred in at the end of cooking helps lend a bright, light flavor to the soup, plus lemon is known to be great for supporting detoxification, as well as being high in Vitamin C.
How To Make Healing Ginger Chicken Soup
This chicken soup is super simple to make! For the stovetop version, just follow the steps below:
- Brown the chicken. First, you’ll brown your chicken breasts or thighs in the same pot that you’ll be making the soup in. You don’t want to cook them all the way through, but searing will help you build flavor.
- Saute the onions, garlic, and celery. Once you remove the chicken, you’ll saute the onions, garlic, and celery until they are just tender.
- Add the remaining ingredients and simmer. Next, you’ll quickly saute the ginger, then add the chicken back to the pot along with the sweet potatoes, broth, and seasonings. Simmer for 30-40 minutes, until the chicken shreds easily with a fork and the sweet potatoes are fully cooked.
- Stir in the coconut milk and kale. Stir in the coconut milk and the kale and let it cook for 2-3 minutes, until the kale turns bright green, then turn off the heat.
- Squeeze in the lemon juice and taste for seasoning. Finally, squeeze in the juice of a lemon and then taste for seasoning, and enjoy!
Chicken Soup Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! This soup freezes great. Just pack it into airtight containers, or, if you need to save room in your freezer, ladle it into Ziplock bags then lay the bags flat in the freezer. Once they’re frozen, you can pack them together and stand them up. To reheat, simply microwave a serving for 3-4 minutes, stirring halfway through, or simmer on the stove over medium heat for about 10 minutes.
This soup will work in either the Instant Pot or Crockpot. We recommend cooking it on high pressure for 15 minutes in the Instant Pot and either 4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low in the Crockpot. Whichever way you make it, we hope this healing chicken soup helps boost you through this cold and flu season! For more nourishing Instant Pot soup recipes check these out: creamy pumpkin, chicken noodle, chicken tortilla, or cauliflower with leek.
While this soup is totally a meal all on its own (it’s got all of the goods – healthy fats, energizing carbohydrates, and filling protein), feel free to add your favorite crunchy bread as a yummy starchy side or even enjoy this soup overtop white or brown rice! If you’re a soup + salad person, this really simple arugula salad would be a great veggie side.
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Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter or olive oil
- 1 small onion diced
- 3 stalks of celery diced
- 3 cloves of garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
- 2 medium sweet potatoes (about 1 pound) cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast
- 5 cups chicken broth or bone broth
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme chopped
- ½ teaspoon coarse sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 teaspoons ground turmeric
- 1 cup full-fat coconut milk
- 1 head lacinato kale de-stemmed and roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Once the butter is melted, add the chicken. Cook for 3-5 minutes per side until browned, then remove from the pan and set aside.
- Add the onion and celery to the pot and cook for 5-7 minutes, until both are browned and the onion is translucent, then add the garlic and ginger and saute for about 1 minute, until fragrant.
- Return the chicken to the pot along with the sweet potatoes, then stir in the chicken broth, thyme, salt, pepper, bay leaf, and turmeric.
- Cover and simmer over medium-low heat for 30-40 minutes, until the chicken can be easily pulled apart with a fork.
- Pull the chicken from the pot and shred with two forks or with the paddle attachment of a stand mixer. Add the chicken back to the pot then stir in the coconut milk and kale. Cook for 2-3 minutes until kale is fully wilted.
- Add the lemon juice and then taste the soup for seasoning, adding additional salt and pepper if needed. Spoon into individual bowls and serve!
Jenn says
Delicious!!
Dedra Hines says
Hello! Could I freeze this recipe in individual servings? Thanks!
Amber Goulden says
Absolutely!
Charlie in Richmond says
Wow! This was surprisingly good. The flavors are nicely proportioned which creates a delicious and satisfying broth and bowl of soup. I knew it would be healthy but I didn’t think it would so pleasurable. I will definitely making this again! Thanks ~
Amber Goulden says
So glad you enjoyed it Charlie!
Amanda Behanick says
I absolutely loved this recipe. We grabbed some blueberries off our toddler’s plate and threw them in and it was great (although a bit odd). I want to try adding some cayenne powder next time. I usually add it to my wellness teas and think it would be great in this already wonderful soup.
Brandi Schilhab says
So glad you loved it, Amanda! Let us know how the cayenne is if you try it!
Sherry Webster says
We love it! I wasn’t sure my husband would but he did. My daughter in-law is allergic to coconut. What can I substitute for the coconut milk; plain Greek yogurt, cream, etc.?
Lisa says
Does the soup taste a lot like coconut milk? I’ve made one before and the coconut milk seemed to over power it.
Brandi Schilhab says
It doesn’t! The lemon and ginger mask the coconut milk pretty well. If you want to omit the coconut milk, though, go for it! You’ll just need to add extra broth!
Hillary says
Do you use fresh or dried turmeric?
Julie says
I LOVE this soup! I have made it 3 or 4 times already and am about to make it again. I am doing autoimmune paleo diet right now and this soup has been a lifesaver! My husband also loves it. It is so delicious and nourishing and very satisfying. Thank you thank you for this recipe!!!
Brandi Schilhab says
So glad you love it, Julie!
Jaycie says
Can’t wait to try this! Do the macros include the bone broth or just regular chicken broth in the recipe?
Amber Goulden says
They include bone broth!
Adrienne Scruggs says
My people don’t like sweet potatoes 🙁 Can I leave them out or sub with “regular” potatoes? Thanks!
Amber Goulden says
Either will work great!
Jessica Lee says
Is this recipe OK for someone that has ulcers. Would this agitate the ulcer ??
Christian Biagi says
We have made this several times now – my wife and i love it- the folks in her office loved it. My kids – they are picky so it got mixed reviews from them. Just wanted to make sure this gets the 5 stars that it deserves.
Cheers from Ketchikan Alaska
Brandi Schilhab says
So awesome! Thank you for sharing this with us!
Molly Sneed says
Made today! Absolutely delicious and easy!
Brandi Schilhab says
So glad you loved it, Molly! Thank you for sharing this with us!
Jessica Flory says
Wow. This was absolutely amazing!! So rich and nourishing. I was tired of eggs on my whole30 and just had this for breakfast! It’s fantastic!
Brandi Schilhab says
So good, Jessica! We’re glad you loved it!
Sarah Stegall says
This soup is delicious! It is comforting and filling without being heavy! I will definitely keep this recipe in my rotation! Thank you Fed & Fit team!
Brandi Schilhab says
So glad you love it, Sarah!! Thank you for sharing this with us!
Dana says
So yummy and nourishing! It was a perfect chilly night meal. I even tried my hand at homemade bone broth from the link in the recipe! Added a little extra salt since my broth was a little bland, but otherwise, perfect!!
Dana says
And when I mean broth, I mean the homemade broth. I didn’t have the right bones and I had less than called for. It still turned out great! The broth of the soup wasn’t bland at all. The ginger and turmeric were such a good pair. The coconut milk added such a nice richness to it as well!
Brandi Schilhab says
So glad you loved it, Dana!!
Amy Kemper says
This soup is a regular in our house! Even my four picky eaters love it, and I’ve discovered I like it just as well, cold.
Brandi Schilhab says
That’s awesome, Amy! We’re so glad the whole family loves it!
Becca says
The broth + coconut milk combo is the perfect combo for a creamy broth situation. I also added some wild rice and it was a really good addition to make it a little more hearty!
Brandi Schilhab says
Great addition, Becca! So glad you enjoyed it!
SheriLyn Noland says
Yummy! So happy this recipe arrived in my inbox! I have most ingredients in my pantry and plan to add a roasted butternut squash just because! Thank you Amber and Cassy for keeping us all Fed and Fit!
Brandi Schilhab says
Amazing! We hope you enjoy it!!
Teshawna says
This recipe was delicious and perfect for the season transition in my home. I will definitely be making it regularly and even using my unsweetened almond milk the flavor was simply amazing!
Brandi Schilhab says
That’s so great to hear, Teshawna! Thank you for sharing this with us!
Allison P says
The whole family loved this soup. I was hesitant because of the strong herbs, but the flavors all come together really nicely. We will definitely add this to our broth based soup rotation.
Brandi Schilhab says
So glad that you all loved it, Allison! Thank you for sharing this with us!
Rachel says
Sooo delicious! I added cabbage as well and it was a very nice addition. The coconut milk makes the soup creamy but not thick and certainly doesn’t overpower it. I put everything g in my instant pot for 15 mins. I will absolutely makes this again…and often!
Brandi Schilhab says
So glad you loved it, Rachel! Cabbage is a great addition!
Kayla K. says
THE BEST SOUP! Without a doubt our house favorite- our most recommended and shared recipes … people get hesitant to try it because it’s so healthy and then are AMAZED when they try it! I’ve even subbed in random vegetables we have on hand, swapped potatoes and it always is delicious- the kale, coconut milk, ginger, and turmeric are the non negotiables.
Brandi Schilhab says
So glad you loved it!!
Mirza says
Would love to try this recipe but wondering if the soup has a coconut taste in it. I have two kids who don’t like coconut at all.
Brandi Schilhab says
The coconut taste is very mild here, Mirza!
Joy says
Can you make without coconut milk?
Brandi Schilhab says
We haven’t tried! It’ll definitely be less creamy without the coconut milk, but I think it would still be tasty. Let us know if you try it, Joy!
Becky says
Wow! Just made this soup for my Dad who’s not feeling well. I’ll definitely be making this again.. so flavorful & delicious!!
Brandi Schilhab says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Becky! Thank you so much for sharing this with us!
Donna says
Excellent new discovery! I tried it for the first time tonight. My husband loved it. I am convinced that it will be a regular meal for us.
Brandi Schilhab says
So glad to hear that, Donna!! Thank you for sharing this with us.
Anne says
Lovely soup, super quick and easy in the instant pot!
Brandi Schilhab says
So glad you enjoyed it, Anne!
Jaime says
Absolutely love this soup!! Even passed the recipe on to some family members and they loved it too!!
Amber Goulden says
So glad to hear that – thanks for sharing!
Christie says
Decided to try this soup recipe at the last minute to use up some coconut milk and kale I had in my fridge and since I had all the other ingredients on hand (only needing to sub chicken thighs for breasts), it saved me a trip to the grocery store. And oh boy this did not disappoint, tween, teen and adult approved! I followed the instructions for making it in the Instant Pot so it was easy and quick to get dinner on the table after a busy day, and had leftovers for lunch the next day.
Brandi Schilhab says
So glad everyone enjoyed it, Christie! Thank you so much for sharing this with us!
Karen says
Best soup I’ve ever had in my life! Just started AIP diet and was so scared I wouldn’t find anything I like. I give it 100 stars!
Brandi Schilhab says
We’re so glad, Karen. Thank you for sharing this with us!
LisaBP says
Delicious! Added cayenne as we like our food spicey! It’s even better now!,
Brandi Schilhab says
Awesome! So glad you love this one, Lisa!
Ernestine says
Can I use fresh turmeric
Brandi Schilhab says
We haven’t tried it, but I don’t see why not! You’ll need more fresh, though — about 2 tablespoons!
Roz Butcher says
Quick easy delicious. Used my pressure cooker. Thank you for the recipe
Brandi Schilhab says
So glad you enjoyed it, Roz! Thank you for sharing this with us!
Sarah says
I’ve made this once & my whole family loved it! I want to make this for a sick friend that is a vegetarian. Any tips for cutting out the chicken?
Brandi Schilhab says
You’d just omit the chicken, Sarah! Add the butter to the pot, let it melt, add in the onion and celery, and continue on with the rest of the recipe!
Laura T says
This soup is very healing and tastes. I am recovering from regular pneumonia appetite is down. I have made chicken noodle soups for illness. This tumeric, coconut milk, ginger, kale chicken soup hit the spot. I used frozen kale and store bought chicken broth. Thank you!
Brandi Schilhab says
I’m so happy to hear it supported your healing!
Desert Panz says
Cassy and Team,
Absolutely delicious. Made with only minor adjustments. Subbed frozen spinach for the kale. Omitted the Coconut Milk for a bit more broth. Crushed the garlic instead of mincing. Thank you and looking forward to making other recipes of yours.
Take care.
Brandi Schilhab says
So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for sharing this with us!
Alison says
Really good! I wasn’t sure how my 4 and 3 year olds would like it, but they did ok. Definitely a complex flavor for youngsters. I plan to make it again.
Brandi Schilhab says
So glad you enjoyed it, Alison! Thank you for sharing this with us!
KR says
This soup is amazing. So glad I found it and definitely one that I will be sharing with others!
VICKI says
Where’s the Pinit button???
Danielle says
I made this soup tonight because my husband is feeling under the weather, and I was pleasantly surprised by how delicious this was! The only change I made was using spinach instead of kale because that is what I had. I am going to make this soup all fall and winter long! Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Brandi Schilhab says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Danielle! I hope your husband feels better ASAP!
Andrea says
Woww, this is my new favorite soup! It is so different then our typical go to soups and it feels so nourishing. I love making it in the instant pot. Thank you !
Brandi Schilhab says
Wahoo! I’m so glad, Andrea!!
Cynthia Stielow says
I just made this. It was straight up AMAZING! Thank you!
Melissa Guevara says
I am so glad that you enjoyed, Cynthia! Thank you for taking the time to share with us! ~Melissa
Cynthia says
I just made this. It was straight up AMAZING! Thank you!
KHP says
i made this for the first time and I am on the first week of Whole 30. I have been looking forward to lunch all week!
EL says
made this! super easy, looked just like the the pictures and was reallllyyy yummy. Creamy but not heavy, will surely make again!
Melissa Guevara says
I’m so glad you enjoyed! Thank you for taking the time to share with us! ~Melissa
Sheri says
I absolutely love this soup, I serve it over quinoa amazing!!!
Melissa Guevara says
Over quinoa sounds delicious! Thank you for taking the time to share with us! ~Melissa
Belinda Ritchie says
Easy and delicious. Could use a little heat/spice.
Renee Andres says
This soup was so delicious! Made it nearly exact to the recipe except used chicken thighs instead of breasts and added a pinch of cayenne. Ahhmazing!!
Hannah Meyer says
If I omitted the sweet potatoes do you know what the carbohydrate content would be? We are currently on a ketogenic diet and avoiding carbohydrates. Thank you!
Melissa Guevara says
Hi Hannah! I do not know what the exact carb count would be, but omitting the sweet potatoes would reduce it drastically. I believe the remaining ingredients (chicken, vegetables, and herbs/spices) are keto-friendly. ~Melissa
Trisha says
This soup was so fantastic! It was delicious and is definitely a keeper. So healthy and immune boosting, and comforting as well!
Melissa Guevara says
I am so glad to hear you enjoyed the soup! Thank you for taking the time to share with us. ~Melissa
Lydia says
Ok, I am loving this soup! I felt like it took me awhile to chop up all the veggies, and I didn’t think it’d all fit in my Instant Pot at first. But it all worked out. The Instant Pot instructions need some editing, but I was able to figure it out. I blended some in the Vitamix for my 9-month old, poured it in a pouch, and he loved it. I will definitely be making this again. Thank you!
Melissa Guevara says
So glad you enjoyed! Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We will definitely take a look at the Instant Pot instructions. -Melissa
Courtney says
Absolutely love this soup. It is like a warm hug and I feel very nourished eating it. My 3yr old son loves it also. I tend to add frozen spinich instead of kale, as it’s what it have on hand and the last batch I made we added noodles which were a great addition. Love it!!
Peggy Amaya says
I just made this soup and it is fantastic. Thank you for such a good recipe.
Melissa Guevara says
We are so glad that you enjoyed, Peggy! Thank you for taking the time to share with us.
Alison says
This is such a great soup! I have made it twice and it is our favorite take on chicken soup, especially when not feeling well.
Melissa Guevara says
We are so happy to hear that, Alison. Thank you for taking the time to share with us! -Team F&F