If you like this and fancy something different, why not try a Greek classic, Avgolemono Chicken Soup (Greek Lemon Chicken and Rice Soup)?

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Soup weather is just around the corner and this Slow Cooker Whole Chicken Soup has got to be on top of your must-make list!

Slow cooking a whole chicken with onions, celery and carrots created THE most incredible broth. The chicken poaches in the broth until it is literally meltingly tender.

The shredded chicken and broth make up the backbone of this amazing chicken soup. Add a handful of vegetables and some noodles, orzo and herbs you have a healthy and delicious meal that can see you through the week!

Here’s Why You Will Love It!

It is simply PACKED with flavor
Hearty and healthy
Easy to make and thrifty too!
Can feed a crowd
Perfect if you a nursing a cold
Freezer friendly

Whole Chicken Soup Grocery List

You can add any vegetables you like in this soup, provided they cook relatively quickly so they go in with the pasta.

Large whole chicken
Onions, celery and carrots
Water and apple cider vinegar
Bay leaves and whole peppercorns
Tomatoes
Noodles, long grain rice or orzo
Lemon juice
Parsley and dill

How to Make Slow Cooker Chicken Soup

↓ For the full ingredients and detailed method, jump to the recipe card.

MAKE THE BROTH

Place the chicken in your slow cooker and arrange the onion, celery, carrots, parsley sprigs and bay leaves around it. Add the apple cider vinegar and enough water to just cover the chicken.

Cover and cook for 6 hours on HIGH or 8 hours on low. Use a large colander to strains the contents of the slow cooker into a large bowl.

Transfer the chicken onto a platter and shred it using two forks. Discard any skin and all the vegetables apart from the carrots.

MAKE THE CHICKEN SOUP

Add shallots, celery, the cooked carrots from earlier, broth and bay leaves into your slow cooker. Stir in the lemon juice, shredded chicken and orzo. Add salt, pepper and thyme. Cover and cook for 45 minutes or until the orzo is cooked through.

Stir in half the chopped herbs, reserving some to garnish with. Have a taste and adjust the seasoning.

Serve with some crusty wholemeal bread, garnished with herbs and a little grated Parmesan.

Slow cooker whole chicken soup with orzo and herbs

Storing and Freezing

The soup will keep for up to three days in a covered container in the fridge. The orzo will absorb some liquid so you will need to add a bit of water when reheating the soup.

You can also freeze the soup, ideally without the added orzo. You can add the orzo or any kind of small pasta when you reheat the soup.

Recipe Tips

Why not keep some of the shredded chicken to use in other recipes? You can make a chicken pasta bake, use it to make a Satay Chicken Salad, use it in sandwiches or make other types of chicken soup, such as this Sicilian Chicken Soup.
To remove the fat from the broth, place the cooled slow cooker in the fridge for a couple of hours or until the fat solidifies. Scrape the fat using a spoon before using.

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