Wholesome Chicken Soup

Wholesome Chicken Soup:

Ingredients:

• 1 whole chicken (approximately 3-4 pounds)

• 1 large white onion, sliced

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 celery stalks, chopped

• 1 teaspoon dried thyme

• 1 teaspoon dried oregano

• 1 teaspoon paprika

• Salt and pepper to taste

• 1 lemon, juiced

• 8 cups of water

• A handful fresh parsley, chopped

Directions (Slow Cooker): Place the whole chicken in your slow cooker and add the water, completely covering the chicken. Add the onion, garlic, celery, thyme, oregano, paprika, and salt and pepper and stir to combine.

Cover the slow cooker and cook on low heat for 6-8 hours or on high heat for 3-4 hours. Once the chicken is fully cooked and tender, carefully remove it from the slow cooker and let it cool slightly.

Shred the cooked chicken meat and return it to the slow cooker. Test for taste and adjust the seasonings as needed. Right before serving, squeeze in the lemon juice and stir, and garnish with fresh parsley.

Directions (On The Stove): Place the whole chicken in a large pot and add the water, completely covering the chicken. Bring it to a boil over high heat.

Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 1 to 1.5 hours, or until the chicken is fully cooked and tender. Skim any foam or impurities that rise to the surface during cooking.

Remove the cooked chicken from the pot and let it cool slightly. Once cool enough to handle, shred the chicken meat and return it to the pot. Add the onion, garlic, celery, thyme, oregano, paprika, and salt and pepper and stir to combine.

Simmer the soup, uncovered, for an additional 20-30 minutes, until the vegetables are tender. Test for taste and adjust the seasonings as needed. Right before serving, squeeze in the lemon juice and stir, and garnish with fresh parsley.

BONUS: the benefit of using the entire chicken is that you’re making your own nutrient-dense bone broth as you go. If you simply wanted to prepare shredded chicken, you could use the on-the-stove method, and separate the chicken for one dish while saving your broth for another time.