Classic Chicken & Vegetable Soup

Ingredients

• 2 lbs bone-in chicken thighs
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 carrots, sliced
• 2 celery stalks, sliced
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• salt and pepper to taste

Method

1. 1

   Season chicken with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat and sear chicken 4-5 minutes per side until golden, then remove.

2. 2

   Add onion, carrots, and celery to the pot, cooking 5-6 minutes until softened.

3. 3

   Pour in the broth, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pot — this deglazing step is what gives homemade soup its deep flavor instead of tasting like plain boiled chicken.

4. 4

   Return the chicken to the pot along with bay leaves and thyme. Simmer 25-30 minutes until chicken is cooked through and tender.

5. 5

   Remove chicken, shred the meat, discard bones, and return the shredded chicken to the pot before serving.