Cozy Paleo Evening Soup (Printable)
Hearty paleo soup with chicken, vegetables, and herbs for a comforting, nutritious meal.
# List of ingredients:
→ Protein
01 - 2 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced (approx. 14 oz)
→ Vegetables
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 large onion, diced
04 - 2 carrots, sliced
05 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
06 - 1 1/4 cups butternut squash, peeled and cubed (approx. 10.5 oz)
07 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
08 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
09 - 4 cups chicken broth (paleo-friendly, no additives)
10 - 1 cup chopped kale or spinach (approx. 5 oz)
11 - 1 medium zucchini, diced
→ Herbs & Spices
12 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
13 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
14 - 1 bay leaf
15 - ½ teaspoon paprika
16 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
→ Garnish (optional)
17 - Fresh parsley, chopped
18 - Lemon wedges
# Steps:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, sliced carrots, and sliced celery. Sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in minced garlic, peeled and cubed butternut squash, diced red bell pepper, and diced zucchini. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
03 - Add the diced chicken to the pot. Cook for approximately 4 minutes until lightly browned on all sides.
04 - Pour in chicken broth, then add dried thyme, dried oregano, bay leaf, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Bring mixture to a boil.
05 - Reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for 20 minutes until the vegetables are tender and chicken is fully cooked.
06 - Stir in chopped kale or spinach and cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes until the greens wilt.
07 - Remove the bay leaf. Taste and adjust seasoning as necessary. Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley and lemon wedges if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It comes together in under an hour but tastes like you've been simmering it all day.
- One pot means minimal cleanup while you actually get to enjoy your evening instead of scrubbing dishes.
- The vegetables stay tender but not mushy, and the chicken soaks up all those herby, savory flavors.
02 -
- Don't skip the initial sauté of the aromatic vegetables—that ten-minute foundation is where ninety percent of the flavor gets built, so rushing it shows in the final bowl.
- The broth quality matters more than you'd think, so taste it on its own first to make sure it's actually something you'd want to sip, not just a vehicle for salt.
03 -
- Cut your vegetables slightly larger than you think you need to because they shrink more than you expect during that twenty-minute simmer, and you want pieces you can actually see and taste, not a murky blend.
- Keep the bay leaf whole and never broken so you can find it easily at the end—a shard of bay leaf in your mouth is the smallest regret but still worth avoiding.