Ingredients
2 tbsp. butter
2 large carrots, peeled and sliced into coins
1 stalk celery, chopped
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp. all-purpose flour
1 1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts
3 sprigs fresh thyme
1 bay leaf
3/4 lb. baby potatoes, quartered
3 c. low-sodium chicken broth
Freshly chopped parsley, for garnish
Preparation
Step 1In a large pot over medium heat, melt butter. Add carrots and celery and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.Step 2Add flour and stir until vegetables are coated, then add chicken, thyme, bay leaf, potatoes, and broth. Season with salt and pepper. Bring mixture to a simmer and cook until the chicken is no longer pink and potatoes are tender, 15 minutes.Step 3Remove from heat and transfer chicken to a medium bowl. Using two forks, shred chicken into small pieces and return to pot. Step 4Garnish with parsley before serving.
Scroll down for more tips on making this one-pot meal, or check out some more of our favorite chicken soup recipes. Can I substitute dried herbs for the fresh thyme and parsley? Well . . . yes and no. Yes, you can absolutely use dried thyme instead of fresh. Dried herbs are more potent, so we’d recommend sticking to about ½ teaspoon in this case. The parsley, on the other hand, is a last-minute addition designed to add freshness to the finished stew. Dried parsley won’t add much freshness, so in this case, it’s best to just leave it out. Don’t worry– the stew will still be delicious! Why are we adding flour to the vegetables? Flour is a natural thickening agent, so adding a bit will give the finished stew a little more texture and body. Stirring it into the softened vegetables (as opposed to trying to whisk it into the broth later on) ensures that it will dissolve and distribute evenly throughout the soup, instead of clumping up. What can I serve with this? A slice of homemade bread is always delicious with soup– and if you’re feeling extra adventurous, you could even whip up a batch of biscuits! Not feeling the carbs? Try a simple side of fresh greens– we love this spinach salad. If you’ve made it already, let us know what you think in the comments below!
