Creating a Hearty Chicken Soup with Leftover Chicken

Creating a delicious and hearty chicken soup with leftover chicken can be a great way to make use of what you have on hand while still enjoying a comforting and nutritious meal. Whether you have a carcass or just some leftover chicken, there are several techniques you can use to make the most of these ingredients. Here, we’ll explore different methods and steps to help you create a flavorful and satisfying chicken soup.

Using Chicken Skin and Bones for Flavor

One technique that can help enhance the flavor of your chicken soup is to start by adding chicken skin and bones to the pot. These components can add depth and richness to your soup. Sauté the skin and bones in a little oil before adding vegetables to the pot. This will help create a fond on the bottom of the pot, which you can then deglaze with chicken broth. Sautéing the chicken skin and bones along with the vegetables helps to extract additional flavor and creates a delicious base for your soup.

Basic Soup Recipe with Leftover Chicken

Begin by placing leftover chicken pieces in the pot, ensuring they are pulled or cut into small, boneless chunks. Add chicken broth and start cooking over medium heat. After the mixture starts to boil, reduce the heat and let it simmer. Add carrots, onion, and celery to the pot and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the vegetables are about three-quarters cooked. At this point, you can add your noodles or pasta and continue to simmer for about 10 more minutes. Season with salt and pepper as needed, and be sure to add any herbs like bay leaf at the beginning and let it simmer for the duration of the cooking process.

Quick and Easy Chicken Broth

If you don't have a carcass or don't have time to spend much time on the soup base, you can use some quick and easy techniques. Purchase some high-quality chicken broth that is not too high in sodium, such as the Pacific brand. Cut up the celery, onions, and carrots, and add them to the broth along with your shredded or cubed chicken. You can also add herbs like sage and oregano, and salt to taste. This method saves time, but you still need to simmer the mixture for about 25 minutes until the vegetables are tender. Add egg noodles towards the end of the cooking process for a quick and flavorful finish.

Using Chicken Stock from Roast Chicken

If you have leftover cooked chicken from a roasted bird, you can use the stock that was saved from the roast to create your chicken soup. Save a portion of the stock in a jar in the refrigerator the night before, ensuring it cools and the fat rises to the top. Pour a small amount of the fat, roughly half of the stock that has turned gelatinous, into a stock pot and warm it up. Add some water or stock from a can, and include frozen mixed vegetables and some of the roasted meat, shredded. Cook the noodles in the stock and add any necessary spices. Once the soup is warmed through, you can enhance the flavor with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of paprika.

These techniques and methods will help you create a wonderful chicken soup whether you have leftover chicken or just need a quick and easy way to use up some ingredients. Start with these steps, adjust according to your taste and availability, and enjoy a homemade, comforting chicken soup any time you have leftover chicken or need a quick meal.