Nothing warms my soul quite like a steaming pot of Southern Style Chicken Stew Soup bubbling away on the stove. It’s the kind of meal that makes you pause at the first spoonful, rich with chicken goodness, packed with veggies, and seasoned just right with those down-home spices. I learned this recipe from my aunt during one particularly nasty winter when half our family caught the flu. “This here’s medicine and comfort in one bowl,” she’d say as she stirred the pot.
Over the years, I’ve made this Southern Style Chicken Stew Soup for sick neighbors, new moms, and anyone needing a little extra TLC. The smell alone, that heavenly mix of thyme, garlic, and simmering chicken, could cheer up the gloomiest day. What I love most is how flexible it is. Need an immune boost? Double the garlic. Watching calories? Skip the potatoes. The basics stay the same though, tender chicken thighs, fresh veggies, and that soul-warming broth that’s become my signature dish.
Perfect for chilly evenings or when you’re feeling under the weather, this soup fills your kitchen with the coziest aromas while packing serious nutrition. One bite and you’ll understand why it’s been my go-to comfort food for nearly twenty years.
Why You’ll Love This Southern Style Chicken Stew Soup
Let me tell you why this Southern Style Chicken Stew Soup has become my most requested recipe among friends and family:
- Comfort in every spoonful, The rich broth and tender chicken thighs create that stick-to-your-ribs goodness Southern cooking is famous for
- Flavor that dances on your tongue, Garlic, thyme, and paprika work together like old friends at a backyard barbecue
- Your immune system’s best friend, Packed with garlic and nutrient-rich veggies, it’s my go-to when cold season hits. For extra immune power, check out this lemon ginger immune boost chicken soup.
- Easier than Sunday morning, One pot, simple ingredients, and under an hour from stove to table
- Customizable to your needs, Swap ingredients based on what’s in your fridge or your dietary preferences
Honestly, I’ve yet to meet someone who doesn’t ask for seconds. The smell alone will have your family gathered around the kitchen before you call them to eat!
PrintHearty Southern Style Chicken Stew Soup Recipe in 50 Minutes
A hearty Southern Style Chicken Stew Soup packed with flavor and nutrition. Perfect for cold days, boosting immunity, or a comforting meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Southern
- Diet: Low Calorie
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken thighs, boneless and skinless
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 carrots, sliced
- 3 celery stalks, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 1 tsp thyme
- 1 tsp paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 2 potatoes, diced
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
- Add chicken thighs and cook until browned, about 5 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.
- In the same pot, sauté onion, carrots, and celery for 5 minutes.
- Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Pour in chicken broth and add thyme, paprika, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil.
- Return chicken to the pot. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Add potatoes and peas. Cook for another 10 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
- Shred chicken before serving.
Notes
- For a keto version, replace potatoes with cauliflower.
- For a low-calorie version, skip the potatoes and add more vegetables.
- Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Ingredients for Southern Style Chicken Stew Soup
Here’s everything you’ll need to make my favorite Southern Style Chicken Stew Soup, trust me, using these exact ingredients makes all the difference:
- 2 lbs chicken thighs, boneless and skinless (that dark meat gives incredible flavor)
- 1 tbsp olive oil, for that perfect golden-brown sear
- 1 large yellow onion, diced into 1/2-inch pieces
- 3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced into coins (about 1/4-inch thick)
- 3 celery stalks, chopped (include those leafy tops for extra flavor!)
- 4 garlic cloves, minced fine (don’t skimp, this is where the magic happens)
- 6 cups chicken broth, homemade if you’ve got it, but store-bought works too
- 1 tsp dried thyme, rub between your fingers to wake up the oils
- 1 tsp smoked paprika, gives that subtle Southern smokiness
- Salt and black pepper, to taste (I start with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper)
- 1 cup frozen peas, no need to thaw
- 2 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, diced into 1-inch chunks (skin on for extra nutrients)
Pro tip: Measure everything before you start cooking, we Southern cooks call this “mise en place”, it makes the whole process smoother than gravy! If you enjoy this style of cooking, you might also like this rustic farmhouse chicken stew soup recipe.
How to Make Southern Style Chicken Stew Soup
Now for the fun part, let me walk you through making this Southern Style Chicken Stew Soup just like my aunt taught me. Don’t worry, it’s easier than pie (and way more forgiving if you make a little mistake!).
Step 1: Brown the Chicken
First, grab your favorite heavy-bottomed pot (I use my trusty Dutch oven) and heat that olive oil over medium heat until it shimmers. Pat your chicken thighs dry, this helps them get that gorgeous golden crust. Carefully add them to the pot, giving each piece some breathing room. Now here’s the secret, don’t fuss with them! Let them cook undisturbed for about 5 minutes per side until they develop that beautiful brown color. Remove them to a plate, they won’t be cooked through yet, and that’s perfect!
Step 2: Sauté the Vegetables
In that same pot (with all those delicious browned bits still in there!), toss in your onions, carrots, and celery. Stir them around occasionally while they soften, about 5 minutes should do it. You’ll know they’re ready when the onions turn translucent and your kitchen smells like heaven. Now add the garlic and stir for just 30 seconds until fragrant, any longer and it might burn!
Step 3: Simmer the Soup
Pour in your chicken broth, scraping up all those tasty browned bits from the bottom. Add the thyme, paprika, salt, and pepper, give it a good stir. Now return those chicken thighs to the pot, nestling them down into the broth. Bring everything to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for 20 minutes. This is when all those flavors start getting cozy together!
Step 4: Add Potatoes and Peas
After 20 minutes, stir in your diced potatoes and frozen peas. No need to thaw the peas, they’ll cook right in the hot broth. Cover again and simmer for another 10 minutes until the potatoes are fork-tender. Now’s the time to taste and adjust your seasonings, maybe it needs another pinch of salt? Finally, remove the chicken thighs, shred them with two forks, and stir the meat back into the pot.
There you have it, Southern Style Chicken Stew Soup that’ll make your taste buds sing! The whole process takes about 50 minutes start to finish, but most of that is hands-off simmering time while you set the table or fold laundry.
Tips for Perfect Southern Style Chicken Stew Soup
After making this Southern Style Chicken Stew Soup more times than I can count, I’ve picked up some tricks that’ll take yours from good to “grandma-would-be-proud” status:
- Shred, don’t chop, Pulling the chicken apart with forks gives way better texture than cubing it
- Taste as you go, Season in layers, adding a pinch of salt after each major addition
- Low and slow, Keep that simmer gentle to prevent the chicken from getting tough
- Fresh is best, Use fresh garlic and herbs if you’ve got them, the flavor difference is night and day
- Rest before serving, Letting it sit 10 minutes off heat helps flavors marry beautifully
Oh, and don’t be shy with the black pepper, it really makes the other flavors pop! These little touches make all the difference between ordinary and extraordinary. For more comfort food inspiration, visit familytastes.com.
Variations of Southern Style Chicken Stew Soup
One of my favorite things about this Southern Style Chicken Stew Soup is how easily it adapts to different diets without losing its soul-warming goodness. Here are my go-to twists:
- Keto version, Swap potatoes for cauliflower florets (they soak up flavors just as well!) and use full-fat broth
- Low-calorie boost, Skip the potatoes and double up on carrots, celery, and add zucchini for extra volume
- Gluten-free, Naturally gluten-free as written, just double-check your broth labels
- Extra creamy, Stir in a splash of heavy cream at the end for luxurious richness
- Spicy kick, Add a diced jalapeño with the onions or a pinch of cayenne with the paprika
The beauty is, no matter how you tweak it, that comforting Southern soul stays right in the pot!
Serving Suggestions for Southern Style Chicken Stew Soup
Now let’s talk about how to serve this Southern Style Chicken Stew Soup like a true host! My absolute favorite pairing? A big wedge of hot cornbread, the kind with crispy edges that soaks up the broth perfectly. If you’re feeling fancy, a simple green salad with tangy vinaigrette cuts through the richness beautifully. For weeknights, I’ll sometimes just grab some crusty bread for dipping, no shame in keeping it simple!
Storing and Reheating Southern Style Chicken Stew Soup
This Southern Style Chicken Stew Soup keeps like a dream! Let it cool completely before transferring to airtight containers, it’ll stay fresh in the fridge for 3 days. When reheating, go low and slow on the stovetop with a splash of broth to bring it back to life. The flavors actually deepen overnight!
Nutritional Information for Southern Style Chicken Stew Soup
Here’s the scoop on what’s in each comforting bowl of this Southern Style Chicken Stew Soup (based on my exact recipe, but remember, your mileage may vary depending on brands and tweaks!):
- Calories: About 280 per serving
- Protein: 22g (thanks to those juicy chicken thighs!)
- Carbs: 25g (mostly from the nutrient-packed veggies)
- Fiber: 4g, keeps you full and happy
- Fat: 10g (the good kind from olive oil and chicken)
Pro tip: Want to lighten it up? Skip the potatoes and you’ll save about 50 calories per bowl while keeping all that hearty flavor! If you are looking for other ways to use chicken, consider this garlic butter chicken soup bowl recipe.
FAQs About Southern Style Chicken Stew Soup
Over the years, I’ve gotten all sorts of questions about my Southern Style Chicken Stew Soup, here are the ones that come up most often:
Can I use chicken breasts instead of thighs?
Absolutely! While I prefer thighs for their richer flavor and juiciness, chicken breasts work fine. Just reduce cooking time by 5 minutes to prevent dryness. The soup might taste slightly less “Southern” without that dark meat richness though!
Is this soup freezer-friendly?
You bet! This Southern Style Chicken Stew Soup freezes beautifully for up to 3 months. I freeze it in individual portions for easy meals. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat gently on the stove with a splash of broth to refresh the flavors.
What makes this immune-boosting chicken soup special?
The combo of garlic, nutrient-packed veggies, and homemade broth creates a powerful cold-fighting trio. My aunt swore the thyme helped clear congestion too! For extra immune power, I sometimes add ginger or turmeric.
Can I make this in a slow cooker?
Yes! Brown the chicken and sauté veggies first for best flavor, then transfer everything to your crockpot. Cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4. Add peas during the last 30 minutes. For another slow cooker option, check out this slow cooker chicken corn chowder recipe.
What’s the best way to thicken the broth?
For a heartier texture, mash some potatoes against the pot’s side before serving. If you skipped potatoes, mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 2 tbsp cold water and stir it in during the last 5 minutes of cooking.
I’d love to hear how your Southern Style Chicken Stew Soup turns out! Did you add your own twist? Leave a comment below or tag me on social, nothing makes me happier than seeing my recipes in your kitchen!