Hearty Chicken Soup Recipe | Swiss Chalet Soup Recipe (2024)

by Debbie Chapman

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Everyone has their own spin on a chicken soup recipe. It’s one of those things that uses such simple ingredients but brings so much comfort to us! This recipe is a family favourite. It’s my copycat recipe based on Swiss Chalet soup (that’s one of our favourite restaurants here in Canada). It’s easy to make, and it’s super healthy.

Hearty Chicken Soup Recipe | Swiss Chalet Soup Recipe (1)

Hearty Chicken Soup Recipe | Swiss Chalet Soup Recipe (2)

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4.50 from 2 votes

Hearty Chicken Soup Recipe

Make this chicken soup recipe the next time you need to add a few more vegetables to your diet!

Prep Time20 minutes mins

Cook Time1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Total Time1 hour hr 50 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 1 onion chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 Tablespoons oil
  • 4 stalks celery chopped
  • 4 carrots chopped
  • 1/2 small red pepper chopped
  • 3/4 cup of sweet peas
  • 4 chicken thighs
  • 1 L 4 cups ready to use chicken broth
  • 1 L 4 cups water
  • 1/2 cup small pasta shells
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • parsley optional

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in a large pot.

  • Add the onion and garlic and sautee on medium heat until the onion turns translucent (about 5 to 8 minutes).

  • Add the chopped celery and sautee for another 2 minutes.

  • Remove the skins from the chicken thighs.

  • Add the chicken, chicken broth, water, red pepper and carrots to the pot and bring to a boil.

  • Cover and simmer on low heat for an hour.

  • Add the sweet peas and pasta.

  • Remove the chicken thighs from the pot of water. Remove the bone and chop the chicken into small pieces. Add back into the pot.

  • Simmer for an additional 20 minutes until the pasta is cooked through.

  • Add chopped fresh parsley (optional).

Hearty Chicken Soup Recipe | Swiss Chalet Soup Recipe (3)

Chopping is always the most time consuming part of making soup, don’t you think? If you want to make it even faster, go on a chopping spree next time you make soup and make extra. Keep a few freezer bags full of chopped onions, celery and carrots so all you have to do is pull them out. They’ll be ready to go!

Hearty Chicken Soup Recipe | Swiss Chalet Soup Recipe (4)

Sautee the onion and garlic until the onion turns translucent. This has to be one of my all time favourite smells!

Hearty Chicken Soup Recipe | Swiss Chalet Soup Recipe (5)

Add just a little bit of red pepper. It adds a mild flavour and an extra dose of vitamins.

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You can use your favourite noodles, but since I’m trying to make Swiss Chalet soup, I used small shells for my soup. Egg noodles would also taste delicious!

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Okay, it’s really hard to take a picture of chopped chicken and make it look good, but you get the idea. Once the chicken is thoroughly cooked, pull it all out and chop it up before returning it to the pot. I like to use bone-in chicken thighs to help make a better chicken stock. But since we are already using ready to use chicken stock you can really use whatever kind of chicken you have on hand. I’d recommend removing the skin though, otherwise your soup will be really greasy.

Hearty Chicken Soup Recipe | Swiss Chalet Soup Recipe (8)

I like to leave this soup simmering all afternoon. It really only needs an hour, but I like to set it and forget it and come back to it later. Plus, it makes the house smell amazing!

Hearty Chicken Soup Recipe | Swiss Chalet Soup Recipe (9)

Anyone who has been to Swiss Chalet will know what I’m talking about. Their soup tastes amazing! It’s always one of my favourite things to order when I’m feeling under the weather.

Hearty Chicken Soup Recipe | Swiss Chalet Soup Recipe (10)

When you make it yourself, at least you know all of the ingredients you are putting in. Fresh carrots, celery, onion, red pepper and peas. That’s a great dose of vitamins!

Hearty Chicken Soup Recipe | Swiss Chalet Soup Recipe (11)

Make this chicken soup recipe the next time you need to add a few more vegetables to your diet. It’s an easy Sunday afternoon soup to put on, and will give you lots of leftovers for lunches for the week ahead. It can take as little as an hour to make, or longer if you like to keep it simmering. Mmmmm… one of my favourites!

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Hearty Chicken Soup Recipe | Swiss Chalet Soup Recipe (12)

About Debbie Chapman, the Author of this Post

I'm Debbie Chapman, founder of One Little Project and author of the book Low-Mess Crafts for Kids. I love creating fun and easy crafts and cooking up delicious recipes for my husband and 3 kids.

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Filed Under: Recipes, SoupTagged With: copycat, Early Post, fall recipes, soup

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Let us know what you think:

  1. Hearty Chicken Soup Recipe | Swiss Chalet Soup Recipe (13)Megan says

    Hearty Chicken Soup Recipe | Swiss Chalet Soup Recipe (14)
    It was really good – though I didn’t actually have a big enough soup pot – I had to use two medium sized ones, LOL. Kept having to play around with adding more salt/chicken boullion as it’s really bland. Once jt got to the right level of sodium, it really is quite a copycat recipe for sure.

    Reply

  2. Hearty Chicken Soup Recipe | Swiss Chalet Soup Recipe (15)Christian Murray says

    Hearty Chicken Soup Recipe | Swiss Chalet Soup Recipe (16)
    I have made this soup from this website a dozen times now with the following amendments. Skip the water entirely. Use regular chicken broth. Also use all usable meat from a rotisserie chicken and double all the ingredients. Mmm noodle soup.

    Reply

  3. Hearty Chicken Soup Recipe | Swiss Chalet Soup Recipe (17)Jackie Shamir says

    Can I use chicken breast instead?
    Would 2 chicken breasts be enough?

    Reply

Hearty Chicken Soup Recipe | Swiss Chalet Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is in Swiss Chalet chicken soup? ›

Water, Carrots, Seasoned chicken white meat (chicken white meat, water, modified corn starch, salt, sodium phosphate), Celery, Noodles (enriched durum wheat semolina, dried egg-white), Green peas, Onion powder, Salt, Yeast extract, Hydrolyzed soy and corn proteins, Chicken fat, Dehydrated red bell peppers, Corn starch, ...

What brings out the flavor in chicken soup? ›

Here are a few ideas:
  1. Add a variety of herbs and spices to the broth - try adding some oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary, and cumin.
  2. Even better - add some garlic and onion for additional flavor.
  3. You can also throw in some veggies like carrots, celery, and potatoes for an added crunch.
Mar 5, 2023

How do you make canned soup more hearty? ›

Add a whole grain. Including a cooked whole grain (like brown rice, barley, or quinoa) adds texture and fiber to the dish, making it more interesting and more filling. Alternatively, you can add your grains to the top of the dish (whole grain tortillas, crackers, or croutons) for a crunchy addition.

Why do you put lemon juice in chicken soup? ›

Lemons are a chicken soup game changer. Why? They brighten up and balance the salty, rich flavors of the dish, and make all of the ingredients come into line. Like a vinaigrette on a salad, the pickle on a burger, and the sour cream in a coffee cake, a squeeze of lemon gives chicken soup a game-changing brightness.

What kind of chicken does Swiss Chalet use? ›

We only use fresh, grain-fed, preservative-free chickens, raised by a Canadian Farmer. With only a teaspoon of salt added, we then put our chickens in our rotisserie ovens and slow-roast them to tender, juicy perfection every time.

What is Chalet sauce made of? ›

Water, Modified corn starch, Salt, Tomato powder, Sugar (dextrose), Spices, Canola oil, Herbs, Yeast extract, Citric acid, Onion powder, Garlic powder, Paprika extract, Caramel colour.

How do you add depth of flavor to chicken soup? ›

  1. Herbs and Spices:Fresh or dried herbs such as parsley, thyme, rosemary, and dill can add depth to the flavor. ...
  2. Aromatics:Sautéing aromatic vegetables like onions, garlic, and celery before adding the broth can build a flavorful base.
Apr 5, 2022

How to make chicken soup taste richer? ›

Pack in umami flavor.

"If your broth is lacking in savory richness, try adding roasted onion, tomato paste, mushrooms, seaweed, soy sauce, or miso. These ingredients add umami flavor and depth to broth," she says. The choice of ingredient depends on the recipe, though.

How to add deep flavor to chicken soup? ›

Fresh Herbs:Add fresh herbs like parsley, dill, or cilantro just before serving for a burst of fresh flavor. Citrus Zest:Grate the zest of a lemon or lime into the soup just before serving to add brightness. Ginger and Turmeric:Add grated ginger and a touch of ground turmeric for warmth and depth of flavor.

What can I add to canned chicken soup to make it better? ›

How To Make Canned Soup Taste Like Homemade
  1. Sauté some onions and/or garlic: Low and slow is the way to go. ...
  2. Add protein: Leftover chicken or steak, some cooked diced ham or bacon or sausage (just a little — that soup is already salty). ...
  3. More vegetables: This is a great place for leftover cooked veggies.
Apr 25, 2023

How to make canned chicken soup taste good? ›

The simple addition of one or two whisked eggs — stirred one way into a simmering pot of chicken noodle soup — helps bring out more of that natural chicken flavor and volatile flavor compounds that may have been lost in the process of canning.

What can I add to my soup to give it more Flavour? ›

Use fresh vegetables, high-quality meats or broth, and fresh herbs to add depth of flavor. Add acidity: A squeeze of lemon or lime juice, a dash of vinegar, or a splash of wine can brighten the flavors of a soup and make it taste more complex.

Why do you put vinegar in chicken soup? ›

Whether it's white wine or vinegar, a touch of acid added to the simmering pot will create a richer finished product. That's because acid helps break down the cartilage and other connective tissues in the bones of the chicken, which helps speed up the formation of gelatin in the stock.

Why add vinegar to chicken noodle soup? ›

Add Vinegar To Begin With To Avoid Oversalting

Vinegar, much like salt, is a flavor enhancer — it not only imparts its own taste and acidity to a soup, but in small quantities, it helps to bring out the brightness of other ingredients as well.

What can I use instead of lemon in chicken soup? ›

Here are 8 substitutes for lemon juice.
  1. Lime juice. Lime juice is the best substitute for lemon juice, as it can be used as a one-to-one replacement and has a very similar taste and acidity level ( 5 ). ...
  2. Orange juice. ...
  3. Vinegar. ...
  4. Citric acid. ...
  5. Lemon zest. ...
  6. White wine. ...
  7. Lemon extract. ...
  8. Cream of tartar.
Jun 24, 2019

What does chicken soup contain? ›

Vegetables. The best chicken soup recipes are chock-full of veggies like carrots, celery and onions — all of which are rich in vitamins C and K, not to mention other antioxidants and minerals. Vitamin C is a nutrient your body needs to form blood vessels, cartilage, muscle and collagen in your bones.

What is Chinese chicken soup made of? ›

When you think of chicken noodle soup, you're probably thinking of the American version, with egg noodles and a broth flavored with carrots, celery, and onions. A Chinese Chicken Noodle Soup broth is more pure in flavor, with just ginger, rice wine, and scallion as additional seasoning.

What is chicken soup made from? ›

Chicken soup is a soup made from chicken, simmered in water, usually with various other ingredients. The classic chicken soup consists of a clear chicken broth, often with pieces of chicken or vegetables; common additions are pasta, noodles, dumplings, or carrots, and grains such as rice and barley.

What are the white things in chicken soup? ›

The white stuff coming out of chicken as it cooks is simply extra protein that dissolves in water and is forced out of the meat by heat. Food scientist Topher McNeil, PhD, explains, “The [chicken] muscles themselves actually contract and squeeze out the liquid that's in between muscle cells.”

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