Anti-Inflammatory Turmeric Chicken Soup (Printable)

Golden nourishing soup with turmeric and healing spices, perfect for immune support and soothing inflammation.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Base

01 - 2 lbs bone-in chicken thighs or whole chicken pieces
02 - 2 tbsp olive oil or coconut oil
03 - 1 large yellow onion, diced
04 - 3 medium carrots, sliced
05 - 3 celery stalks, chopped
06 - 4 cloves garlic, minced

→ Healing Spices

07 - 2 tbsp ground turmeric (or 3 tbsp fresh, grated)
08 - 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
09 - 1 tsp ground cumin
10 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
11 - 1 bay leaf
12 - Salt, to taste

→ Liquid Base

13 - 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth
14 - 2 cups water
15 - 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

→ Optional Additions

16 - 1 cup cooked rice, quinoa, or noodles
17 - 2 cups fresh spinach or kale, chopped
18 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped
19 - 1 can (14 oz) coconut milk (for creaminess)

# How-To Steps:

01 - Heat oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook for 3–4 minutes until translucent. Add carrots and celery; cook for another 3 minutes until slightly softened.
02 - Stir in minced garlic, turmeric, ginger, cumin, and black pepper. Toast spices for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
03 - Nestle chicken pieces into the pot, skin-side down if using skin-on pieces. Pour in chicken broth and water, ensuring the liquid covers the chicken by about an inch. Add the bay leaf and bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat.
04 - Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 45–60 minutes, until the chicken is very tender and the broth is deeply golden.
05 - Remove chicken pieces, let cool slightly, then shred meat and discard skin and bones. Return shredded chicken to the pot. Stir in lemon juice and salt to taste.
06 - If using coconut milk or leafy greens, add them now. Simmer for 2–3 minutes until greens are wilted and soup is creamy.
07 - Remove the bay leaf. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley before serving.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The turmeric and black pepper combo works together to reduce inflammation naturally
  • It freezes beautifully so you can always have healing soup ready
  • The broth gets deeply flavorful from simmering chicken on the bone
02 -
  • The black pepper is not optional because it helps your body absorb the turmeric
  • Simmering uncovered concentrates the flavor better than covering the pot
03 -
  • Grate fresh turmeric if you can find it because the flavor is so much brighter
  • Let the lemon juice warm up in the hot soup for a minute before serving
Go Back