Ginger-Turmeric Chicken Soup Recipe - Fed & Fit (2024)

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.

Ginger-Turmeric Chicken Soup Recipe - Fed & Fit (1)

Table of Contents

  • This recipe is…
  • Ingredients for Healing Chicken Soup
  • How To Make Healing Ginger Chicken Soup
  • Chicken Soup Frequently Asked Questions
  • Video
  • More Favorite Soup Recipes
  • Ginger Chicken Soup Recipe with Turmeric Recipe

This recipe is…

GFGluten FreeDFDairy FreePPaleo

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!

If you’re looking for more incredible, nourishing soup recipes, we’ve got you. Our creamy chicken wild rice soup is definitely a must-try!

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.

Ginger-Turmeric Chicken Soup Recipe - Fed & Fit (2)
  • 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.
Ginger-Turmeric Chicken Soup Recipe - Fed & Fit (3)

How To Make Healing Ginger Chicken Soup

This chicken soup is super simple to make! For the stovetop version, just follow the steps below:

  1. 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.
  2. Saute the onions, garlic, and celery.Once you remove the chicken, you’ll saute the onions, garlic, and celery until they are just tender.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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

Can I freeze this soup?

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.

Can I make this in the Instant Pot or Crockpot?

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, orcauliflower with leek.

What to Serve with Ginger Chicken Soup?

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 simplearugula saladwould be a great veggie side.

Video

More Favorite Soup Recipes

Instant Pot Loaded Potato SoupCreamy Sausage Kale Soup (Zuppa Toscana)Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Tortilla SoupThai-Inspired Carrot Ginger Soup

Ginger Chicken Soup Recipe with Turmeric

4.68 — Votes 198 votes

By Cassy Joy Garcia

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Cook: 50 minutes mins

Servings: 6 Servings

Ginger-Turmeric Chicken Soup Recipe - Fed & Fit (17)

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This chicken soup is packed with nutrient-dense, immune-boosting veggies and herbs to help you feel better faster!

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!

Recipe Notes

Instant Pot Method

To make this recipe in your Instant Pot, reduce the amount of broth by 1 cup and complete steps 1 and 2 in your Instant Pot on ‘saute’ mode. Then, add the chicken broth, thyme, salt, pepper, bay leaf, and turmeric. Seal the Instant Pot and set to cook on ‘manual’ for 15 minutes. Once the timer goes off, you can either release the pressure immediately or let it release manually, then remove the lid, set the pot to ‘saute’ mode and continue with steps 5 and 6.

Crockpot Instructions

To make this recipe in your Crockpot, complete steps 1 and 2 on the stove, then transfer everything to your slow cooker. Cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours, then continue with steps 5 and 6.

Nutrition

Calories: 402kcal | Carbohydrates: 23.5g | Protein: 40.2g | Fat: 16.9g | Saturated Fat: 8.7g | Cholesterol: 110.3mg | Sodium: 336.7mg | Fiber: 3.7g | Sugar: 5g

Additional Info

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Servings: 6 Servings

Calories: 402

Keyword: ginger, healing, homemade, kale, lemon, nourishing, sweet potato, turmeric

Ginger-Turmeric Chicken Soup Recipe - Fed & Fit (18)

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Chicken Recipes Dairy Free Dinner Food Gluten Free Instant Pot Recipes One-Pot Meals Paleo Slow Cooker Recipes Stovetop

About the Author

Cassy Joy Garcia, NC

Cassy Joy Garcia, a New York Times best-selling author, of Cook Once Dinner Fix, Cook Once Eat All Week, and Fed and Fit as well as the creative force behind the popular food blog Fed & Fit.

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Ginger-Turmeric Chicken Soup Recipe - Fed & Fit (2024)

FAQs

What gives chicken soup its yellow color? ›

Ingredients like onions, carrots, and celery can contribute to a yellowish hue. Turmeric, a common spice used in some stock recipes, can also lend a yellow color. Cooking Time: The length of time the stock is simmered can influence its appearance.

Should you brown chicken thighs before putting in soup? ›

You could definitely add the raw chicken thighs into the pot once the broth goes in, letting them boil to cook through, and then pull them out and slice them once fully cooked. Either way works just fine, but our preferred method is to sear them ahead of time!

What soup is good for pneumonia? ›

Water, Tea, and Soup

But they're extra important when you have pneumonia, because they help loosen the mucus in your lungs. That way, you can get rid of it when you cough. Your best options include water, warm tea, and broth-based soups, like chicken soup. Stay away from caffeine and alcohol, though.

Do you cook chicken before adding it to soup? ›

We first make the stock and later add the raw chicken meat to cook near the end of the soup-making process. You could also cook the breast and thigh chicken pieces whole, in the broth, and remove them after 15 minutes of cooking or so, cool them and shred them to be added at service.

Does turmeric turn soup yellow? ›

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.

Why did my chicken soup turn white? ›

Here are some possible reasons for the different colors: Fat content: The color of chicken stock can be influenced by the amount of fat present. When the stock contains a higher concentration of fat, it can appear milky white or pale yellow. This is because fat emulsifies into the liquid, giving it a cloudy appearance.

Can you overcook chicken thighs in soup? ›

It's impossible to over cook chicken by using it in a soup. The chicken will eventually break down into thin threads of meat which will be great in a chicken noodle or chicken and sweetcorn soup.

What type of chicken is best for soup? ›

Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup with Rotisserie Chicken

This rich-tasting but better-for-you creamy chicken soup has a delicious chicken pot pie feel to it. We call for rotisserie chicken to streamline your prep time--look for a nice big one with lots of breast meat on it.

Do you cover chicken soup when cooking? ›

Keep the soup at a steady simmer: Keep the pot partially covered and at a low simmer. You should see slow but steady bubbles and wisps of steam coming from the pot (although don't reduce the temperature so low that the water falls below 165°F or else the chicken won't cook through).

What soup loosens mucus? ›

Compared with hot water alone, studies show chicken soup is more effective at loosening mucus. The herbs and spices sometimes used in chicken soup, such as pepper and garlic, also loosen mucus. The broth, which contains water and electrolytes, helps with rehydration.

What is the best soup to break up mucus? ›

Modern research has actually shown that chicken soup, more than other hot liquid, increases mucus flow and helps the body rid itself of the cold virus. Chicken is rich in an amino acid called cysteine which helps loosen secretions. This effect is increased by adding spices such as pepper and garlic.

Which soup is best for mucus? ›

A chicken soup or broth is an excellent food to eat when you have flu. The steam from soup or broth speeds up the movement of mucus through the nose to relieve congestion. A healthy soup also helps reduce inflammation. Sipping hot soup enhances your immune system that guards against bacteria and viruses.

Does chicken soup taste better the longer you cook it? ›

While broth and stock both get richer and richer the longer you cook them, the problem is that the chicken meat will dry out and get tough if you let it go too long.

Should I use chicken broth or stock for chicken soup? ›

A good broth is the secret to the very best soup, such as chicken soup and beef and barley, while a rich stock is the foundation for superior braises, stews and sauces, including French classics like demi-glace and sauce Espagnole, as well as the very best turkey gravy.

Do you use chicken stock or broth for chicken soup? ›

In most cases, stock and broth are interchangeable. If you're in the soup aisle and can't remember whether the recipe called for stock or broth, either will do for making soup, gravy, or a flavorful pot of rice or grains. Keep in mind that stock is unseasoned, and broth is seasoned.

Why is my chicken cooking yellow? ›

If cooked chicken has a yellow color, it could be due to a few reasons. One possibility is that certain spices or marinades used during cooking can impart a yellowish tint to the chicken. Another reason could be the presence of fat in the meat, which can sometimes appear yellow when cooked.

What is yellow soup made of? ›

This gloriously yellow, delicate soup can be superb or catastrophic, depending on whether you carry out certain essential points. Traditionally it is made with a collision and fusion of beef or chicken broth, red oil, limestone and a variation of spices.

Why is my chicken meat yellow? ›

Specifically, the color of the breast derives from the type of cereal with which the chicken is fed; if the chickens are fed with sorghum and wheat, then we will have a white chicken tending to pink, if instead the chickens are fed with corn then the breast will be more tending to yellow.

Is chicken that appears yellow unsafe to eat? ›

Fresh raw chicken should have a pink hue to it with fat parts being white. If the color fades, it's looking yellow or gray in color, has mold or a different color tinge, it's no longer safe to eat. When purchasing frozen chicken, check for signs of thawing and refreezing.

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