Cozy, delicious and easy to make – this easy sick day recipe is sure to help you feel a little bit better! Easy to make in the instant pot, crock pot or on the stove. Lemony and healthy! You can serve it with rice, pasta or zucchini noodles.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 cup celery chopped finely
  • 1 cup onion chopped finely
  • 1 tablespoon garlic minced, about 5 cloves
  • 2 cups carrots sliced in small circles
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoons pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 4 bay leaves
  • 680g boneless, skinless chicken breasts about 3 chicken breasts
  • 6 cups chicken broth low or no salt
  • 1/2 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice (off to the side)
  • 1 cup dry orzo or other pasta sub zoodles or GF pasta

StoveTop Instructions

  1. Chop all vegetables (I prefer to put mine in the food processor!) In a large pot, heat olive oil in the pan and sauté celery, onion + garlic until fragrant and softened (about 5-10 minutes)
  2. Once cooked, stir in carrots and spices (including bay leaves).
  3. Place whole chicken breasts on top of vegetables. Cover with chicken broth. Do not add lemon juice to the pot. 
  4. Cover pot and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat and simmer over low-medium heat for 45 minutes to an hour.
  5. While the soup cooks, bring a pot of water to a boil and cook your pasta per the directions.
  6. After one hour, remove bay leaves from the chicken broth and discard. Remove chicken from the pot + shred on a cutting board with forks or in a mixer.
  7. Add shredded chicken, lemon juice and cooked pasta or zoodles to the pot. Stir to combine and enjoy!
  8. Pro Tip: To avoid soggy pasta/noodles: Add cooked orzo or zucchini noodles to a bowl. Serve soup on top of the zoodles/pasta. This prevents the pasta/noodles from absorbing chicken broth and turning mushy

Crockpot Instructions:

  1. In a pan, heat olive oil over the stovetop. Sauté celery, onion + garlic until fragrant and softened, approximately 5-10 minutes.
  2. Add sautéd veggies to the crockpot. Stir in carrots and spices.
  3. Place whole chicken breasts on top of vegetables in a crock pot. Cover with chicken broth. Do not add lemon juice to the pot.
  4. Place the lid on the crockpot and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4-6 hours
  5. While the soup cooks, bring a pot of water to a boil and cook your pasta per the directions.
  6. Remove bay leaves from the broth and discard. Remove chicken from the pot + shred on a cutting board with forks or in a mixer.
  7. Add shredded chicken, lemon juice and cooked pasta or zoodles to the pot. Stir to combine and enjoy!
  8. Pro Tip: To avoid soggy pasta/noodles: Add cooked orzo or zucchini noodles to a bowl. Serve soup on top of the zoodles/pasta. This prevents the pasta/noodles from absorbing broth and turning mushy

Thank you The Clean Eating Couple for this yummy recipe!