This Chicken Vegetable Soup Recipe is a delicious, broth-based meal with shredded chicken, butternut squash, carrots, onion, garlic, and potatoes.

Chicken vegetable soup in the pot, with a ladle scooping up a steaming portion.
chelsea

author’s note

This Chicken Veggie Soup Has It ALL!

I’ve been making my vegetable soup for years and it’s always been a favorite in my kitchen, but I recently wanted to give it a little upgrade with some extra protein. That’s how this chicken vegetable soup came to be, and now it’s quickly becoming my new go-to comfort food, giving chicken noodle soup a run for its money. The shredded chicken makes it heartier and more filling, while still keeping all the veggie goodness I’ve always loved.

To bring even more flavor, I roast the vegetables before adding them to the pot. That one simple step adds such a rich depth that I’m completely hooked.

So, whether you’re feeling under the weather or just craving a wholesome, satisfying meal, this soup deserves a spot at the top of your list.

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Fresh vegetables roasting in the oven, an essential step in preparing the chicken vegetable soup.

Chicken Vegetable Soup Recipe Ingredients

IngredientSwap or Tip
Butternut SquashSweet potatoes or pumpkin
CarrotsParsnips or extra squash
Red PotatoesYukon golds or russets
Rotisserie ChickenSimmer raw chicken breasts in the broth, then shred
KaleSpinach, collard greens, or even Swiss chard
GarlicAdd extra if you love garlic, or stir in garlic powder at the end
Adding ingredients to the pot and it all being cooked together on the stove.

How To Make Chicken Vegetable Soup Recipe

  1. Roast Veggies: Preheat oven to 400°F. Cube carrots, squash, potatoes, and onion. Wrap garlic in foil with olive oil. Roast all for 40-45 minutes, flipping halfway.
  2. Simmer Broth: Boil broth, add herbs, then reduce to simmer.
  3. Combine: Add chicken, veggies, kale, and mashed garlic to the broth. Simmer.
  4. Serve: Season and garnish with Parmesan and thyme. Enjoy!

Storage

  • Refrigerate: Store leftovers in airtight containers for 3–4 days.
  • Freeze: Cooled soup freezes well for up to 3 months. Leave space at the top of the container for expansion.
  • Reheat: Warm gently on the stove, stirring often. If frozen, thaw overnight in the fridge first.

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Chicken Vegetable Soup Recipe

This Chicken Vegetable Soup Recipe is a broth-based dish packed with shredded chicken, butternut squash, carrots, onion, garlic, and potatoes. For added greens, toss in some kale or spinach, and finish with freshly grated Parmesan for a hearty, flavorful meal.
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 8 servings

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 cup sliced carrots
  • 4 cups cubed butternut squash
  • 2 cups cubed red potatoes
  • 1 cup cubed red onion
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 7 teaspoons olive oil
  • 9 cups chicken broth or chicken stock, see note 1
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried marjoram
  • 1/4 teaspoon sage
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried crushed rosemary
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken see note 2
  • 2 cups kale lightly packed
  • Salt and pepper
  • Freshly grated Parmesan cheese optional
  • Fresh thyme optional

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 15×21-inch sheet pan and line with parchment paper.
  • Peel the carrots and butternut squash, then remove the seeds and stem. Cut the carrots into coins about 1/4-inch thick and cut the squash into 1-inch cubes. Leave the skin on the red potato and cube into 1-inch pieces. Remove the skin from the onion and cut into 1-inch chunks. Take 3 cloves of garlic, still in the papery covering, and place on a square of foil. Add 1 teaspoon olive oil to the garlic cloves on the foil and then wrap the foil with the garlic into a small ball so that no garlic is exposed and place on the prepared sheet pan.
  • Add the prepared carrots, squash, red potato, and onion to the sheet pan. Drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Toss the veggies with your hands, then spread into an even layer. Make sure veggies aren’t overlapping, or they’ll steam instead of roast. Bake for 15 minutes, then flip and stir veggies around, bake for another 15 minutes, flip and stir them around, and bake for 10–15 more minutes or until veggies are tender and caramelized. Remove from the oven.
  • Remove the thick stems and cut the leaves into bite-size pieces. Rinse the kale thoroughly, then dry in a salad spinner or with some paper towels. Set aside.
  • Add 9 cups chicken broth to a large stockpot. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, add marjoram, dried sage, rosemary, thyme, and the bay leaf. Reduce heat to a simmer. Stir in shredded rotisserie chicken. Add in the roasted veggies, except for the garlic. Then add in the 2 cups rinsed and dried chopped kale. Remove the garlic from the foil. Press the garlic out of the papery skin onto a cutting board. Use the side of a large chef’s knife to press down the garlic and mash to a paste. Add as much of this paste as you’d like to the soup. Stir everything together and cook for 2–3 minutes or until kale is wilted to desired preference.
  • Taste and adjust seasonings to preference, adding more salt and pepper as desired. Serve the soup and garnish individual bowls with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and fresh thyme if desired.
Final step! Please let us know how it was by leaving a review.

Recipe Notes

Note 1: Instead of chicken broth, you can use chicken bouillon powder and hot water or Better Than Bouillon® and hot water. I use chicken Better Than Bouillon and hot water and find it adds a lot of flavor and the right amount of salt. If using regular chicken stock, make sure to taste often and season as needed.
Note 2: If you’d rather cook your own chicken breasts instead of using rotisserie chicken, use large breasts (about 1.25 pounds each) and follow the directions below:
  • Add the 9 cups of chicken broth or stock to a large stockpot and bring to a boil.
  • Slice the large chicken breasts into 3 even pieces, which helps the chicken cook quicker.
  • Place the chicken pieces in the boiling water, season generously with salt and pepper, and cover with a lid. Let the chicken boil until cooked through, about 10 minutes. Check the temperature with a food thermometer; it should be 165°F.
  • Lower heat to a simmer, remove chicken breasts to a cutting board, and allow to cool slightly. Shred the chicken and return it to the pot.
Storage: Transfer room temperature soup to airtight containers and store in the fridge for 3–4 days or freeze for 2–3 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 304kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 85mg | Sodium: 1316mg | Potassium: 919mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 16031IU | Vitamin C: 109mg | Calcium: 152mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Can You Use Raw Chicken In This?

Simmering raw chicken in this Chicken Vegetable Soup Recipe keeps it moist and flavors the broth. Ensure it reaches 165°F for safety. Here’s how to use raw chicken:

  1. Boil 9 cups of broth.
  2. Slice chicken breasts into three parts for even cooking.
  3. Add chicken to boiling broth, season, cover, and cook for 10 minutes.
  4. Reduce to a simmer, shred chicken, return to the pot, and adjust broth as needed.

Meet Chelsea


Hello, and welcome to Chelsea’s Messy Apron! I’m Chelsea, the recipe developer, food photographer, and writer behind the site. I’m passionate about creating simple, reliable, and delicious recipes that anyone can make.

Thanks for stopping by—I hope you find something delicious to make!

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28 Comments

  1. Jess @ On Sugar Mountain says:

    Chelsea this soup looks like the answer to my prayers. <3 This cold just WON'T go away and I need all the soup I can get. Wonder if I can get the bf to whip this up for me? 😉 Pinned!

  2. Kelly says:

    This soup looks incredible – love butternut squash and kale. Great idea to roast the veggies first too – I can just imagine how flavorful this is. All the best flavors of fall in a bowl – so so good!

  3. Carol at Wild Goose Tea says:

    I love soup, because there is always leftovers that taste great or freeze well. It’s filling without being heavy.
    Soup is top notch.

    1. chelseamessyapron says:

      I totally agree! Thank you Carol 🙂

  4. Ashley says:

    Butternut squash and kale is one of my favorite combos! This soup looks so so good! I have been making soup probably twice a week lately – I can’t get enough!

  5. Meg @ The Housewife in Training Files says:

    Oh a pan of roasted butternut squash doesn’t last around this house…its out fave as well! And loving all the flavors in this soup. Definitely needs to happen soon!

  6. Thalia @ butter and brioche says:

    I have never had kale in a soup before.. you definitely have got me curious to know what it tastes like Chelsea. Great soup recipe and photography too!

      1. chelseamessyapron says:

        Thanks Tom!

  7. amanda says:

    I love everything about this soup!

  8. Marissa | Pinch and Swirl says:

    5 stars
    I love that you roasted the veggies before putting them in the soup – genius! This looks so delicious.

  9. The Blonde Chef says:

    This looks so yummy! Squash is one of my favorite things about Fall, and I love that this soup has lots of it! I can’t wait to try this out for myself! Gorgeous photos!

  10. Tori@gringalicious.com says:

    I completely agree, soup is so worth the extra time. I really want to try this!