Nourish your immune system with this Beet Chicken Soup 🍲 As the seasons change and immune health becomes a top priority, there’s no better way to support your body than with a warm, nourishing bowl of soup. This Immune-Boosting Chicken Soup with Beets is more than just comfort food—it's packed with immune-supportive ingredients like garlic, ginger, turmeric, and nutrient-rich vegetables to help your body fight off seasonal sniffles and fatigue.
Beets, the star of this recipe, bring a vibrant color and an extra dose of antioxidants, vitamin C, and folate to the mix. Paired with chicken bone broth, leafy greens, and a hint of lemon, this soup is as delicious as it is healing. Whether you’re looking for a cozy meal or a natural way to support your immune system, this chicken soup is the perfect solution.
Why Beets Are Great for Immunity:
Beets: High in beta-carotene and vitamin C, they support immune health and fight inflammation.
Color Appeal: They add a beautiful color to the soup, making it visually appealing and nutritious.
To find out more about how beets can benefit your overall health, head on over here to my blog post.
Ingredients:
1 lb organic, free-range chicken (breast or thighs, boneless and skinless)
1 tbsp olive oil or coconut oil
1 medium onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1-inch piece of fresh ginger, grated
2 medium beets, peeled and diced
1 cup carrots, diced
1 cup celery, diced
1 cup mushrooms, sliced (shiitake or button mushrooms)
1 medium zucchini, diced
1 cup kale or spinach, chopped
1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes
6 cups chicken bone broth (for added collagen and minerals)
1 tsp turmeric powder (anti-inflammatory)
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (for a metabolism boost)
1 tsp sea salt (adjust to taste)
Juice of 1 lemon (for vitamin C)
1/4 cup fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped
Instructions:
Prepare the Chicken:
Dice raw chicken into bite-sized pieces or poach it separately and shred it later.
Sauté Aromatics:
Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until softened (about 3-4 minutes).
Add garlic and ginger, stirring until fragrant (about 1 minute).
Add Beets and Vegetables:
Stir in beets, carrots, celery, mushrooms, and zucchini. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add Spices and Broth:
Sprinkle turmeric, cumin, thyme, black pepper, and salt over the vegetables. Stir to coat evenly.
Pour in the bone broth and diced tomatoes. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
Cook the Chicken:
Add the chicken pieces to the pot. Lower the heat to a simmer, cover, and cook for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken and beets are fully cooked and tender.
Add Greens and Lemon:
Stir in kale or spinach and cook until wilted (about 3-4 minutes).
Squeeze in fresh lemon juice for a bright, immune-boosting finish.
Taste and Garnish:
Adjust seasonings to taste. Sprinkle with fresh parsley or cilantro for garnish.
Serve:
Serve the soup as is AND enjoy all the health benefits!
Notes: This recipe is easily modified to use ingredients you have on hand.
Don’t have coconut oil? Use olive or avocado oil instead.
If you have other fresh produce not listed here, try using that instead! Think about what veggie combinations you enjoy, and use what you have!
Beets are wonderful for supporting detoxification pathways, and therefore immune function; however, those may not be something you have on hand. You can omit those entirely, or you could substitute cubed sweet potato or butternut squash instead.
You can add coconut milk or a different milk alternative to add a touch of creaminess.
You could use bone-in cuts of chicken. Cook following the same directions. Before serving, remove chicken pieces from the soup and shred it – removing the bones. Add chicken back into the soup, stir and serve.
Pre-cooked or rotisserie chicken would also work in this recipe.
You could add in any additional herbs or seasonings that you like to boost the flavor and to boost the nutrient content of the soup.
For kiddos, you could add in gluten-free pasta to make a yummy chicken noodle soup. I recommend cooking the noodles or pasta separately and adding them into bowls of soup individually to keep the pasta from getting too mushy. You could also add in rice to stretch this meal further. I recommend cooking separately and adding into individual servings as well.
While using broth is ideal for the nutritional benefits, if you don’t have any on hand, use filtered water instead. You may need to add some additional seasonings to boost the flavor of the soup, but you will still benefit from all the nutrients of the chicken and veggies cooking in the water.
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