Collard Greens Chicken Vegetable Soup (Printable)

Hearty soup with tender chicken, potatoes, and nutritious collard greens simmered in aromatic broth.

# Ingredient List:

→ Poultry

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 14 oz), or 3 thighs

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 large yellow onion, diced
03 - 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
04 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
05 - 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
06 - 4 cups collard greens, stems removed and leaves chopped
07 - 3 garlic cloves, minced

→ Broth & Seasonings

08 - 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth
09 - 1 bay leaf
10 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
11 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
12 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Oil

13 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

# How to Make:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion, sliced carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5 to 6 minutes, until the vegetables are softened and translucent.
02 - Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, ensuring the garlic does not burn.
03 - Add the chicken breasts (or thighs) to the pot, followed by the diced potatoes, chicken broth, bay leaf, dried thyme, oregano, salt, and pepper.
04 - Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and no longer pink inside.
05 - Remove the cooked chicken from the pot using tongs or a slotted spoon and place on a cutting board. Shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces using two forks.
06 - Return the shredded chicken to the soup. Add the chopped collard greens and simmer for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, until the greens are tender and fully cooked.
07 - Discard the bay leaf. Taste the soup and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as desired.
08 - Ladle the soup into bowls and serve hot. Garnish with fresh herbs such as parsley or chives if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The combination of tender chicken and hearty greens creates that rare perfect balance where you feel both comforted and nourished, not weighed down.
  • Everything cooks in one pot, which means deeper flavors melding together and only one thing to wash at the end.
02 -
  • Adding the collard greens at the end rather than with the other vegetables keeps their color vibrant and prevents them from turning to mush.
  • Dont rush the initial vegetable sautéing step - those 5-6 minutes develop the foundation flavors that carry the entire soup.
03 -
  • If you find collard greens too bitter on their own, add a teaspoon of honey or a splash of apple cider vinegar to the broth to balance the flavors.
  • For meal prep, chop all the vegetables the day before and store them in separate containers in the refrigerator - it cuts the active cooking time in half.
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