Cooking a Whole Chicken and Vegetable Soup in a Crock Pot

Discover the joys of slow-cooked flavors with this whole chicken and vegetable soup recipe. Simple, nutritious, and delicious, this crock pot meal will become a family favorite.

Cooking meals from scratch can be a fulfilling and nourishing experience, especially when we have the right ingredients and methods. This whole chicken and vegetable soup using a crock pot is a straightforward and hearty recipe.

Preparing Your Ingredients

The Broth

To start, you will need some chicken bouillon cubes which can easily be found in the Hispanic section of your grocery store.

Each bouillon cube is sufficient for 2 cups of water, and for this recipe, you will need a total of 6 cups of broth.

Begin by adding three bouillon cubes to 6 cups of warm water in your crock pot. If you prefer a stronger flavor, you can break the cubes up before adding them.

While fresh onions would be ideal for this broth, using a good quality onion powder is a practical alternative when fresh onions are not available.

Add approximately one tablespoon of onion powder to the broth and mix well before turning the crock pot on high.

Adding Vegetables

For the vegetable components, convenience is key.

• Celery: Three stalks of celery, chopped into manageable pieces.
• Carrots: One pound of baby carrots, which are added whole to save on preparation time.
• Potatoes: Baby potatoes are another effective time-saver. Add them whole, or if you prefer, cut regular potatoes into chunks.

Optional Vegetables

An optional yet recommended inclusion is zucchini. If you have any fresh zucchini from your garden, chop it up and set it aside to be added later, about an hour before the soup is done to prevent it from becoming too mushy.

Preparing the Chicken

The centerpiece of this soup is a whole chicken. Preparing it involves:

• Removing the skin
• Cutting off the wings
• Trimming off most of the fat and the tail

It is then ready to be placed into the crock pot with the prepared broth and vegetables.

Cooking Process

With everything prepped, it is time to put the lid on the crock pot and let it cook on high for approximately 4 hours. If you plan to cook it on low, expect it to take about 7 to 8 hours.

Mid-Cooking Snack

If you are curious about what to do with the chicken wings that were cut off, here is a quick tip: season them with your favorite barbecue rub and cook them in a toaster oven. This can serve as a little snack while waiting for your main dish to finish.

Final Touches

After about 4 hours, the chicken should be tender and falling off the bone. Carefully remove the whole chicken from the pot without losing too much meat. Don’t worry if some pieces fall apart; you can always retrieve them.

Once the chicken is out, start by adding your zucchini and any other optional vegetables.

For a heartier soup, add a can of rinsed and drained red kidney beans along with a couple of handfuls of spinach. The spinach will wilt down, so don’t worry if it seems like a lot initially.

While these vegetables are cooking, pick the chicken meat off the bones. Be sure to discard all the bones and any unwanted fat. Return the picked chicken meat into the pot, allowing it to blend with the rest of the ingredients.

Seasoning and Serving

Give the soup a good stir to integrate all the flavors. Before serving, taste the soup and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper as desired.

Serving Suggestion

For an added touch of richness, sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on your soup. The vegetables should be cooked perfectly, with potatoes and carrots tender enough to be cut with a spoon.

The Final Verdict

This recipe promises a delicious and comforting meal. It is a perfect example of simple ingredients coming together effortlessly with the aid of a crock pot. The fresh zucchini added at the end elevates the dish, making it special.

Be sure to write the recipe down and keep it handy for future use. This whole chicken and vegetable soup is not just easy to prepare but also adaptable based on whatever vegetables you have on hand.

Thank you for following along, and I hope you give this recipe a try. Happy cooking!