Collard Greens Chicken Vegetable Soup (Printable)

Tender chicken, potatoes, and collard greens simmered in savory broth for a hearty, wholesome bowl.

# What You Need:

→ Poultry

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 14 ounces), 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 and 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 diced onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5 to 6 minutes until vegetables are softened.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add chicken breasts or thighs to the pot, followed by diced potatoes, chicken broth, bay leaf, dried thyme, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper.
04 - Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes until chicken is cooked completely.
05 - Remove chicken from pot using tongs and shred using two forks into bite-sized pieces.
06 - Return shredded chicken to the soup. Add chopped collard greens and simmer for an additional 10 to 15 minutes until greens are tender.
07 - Remove and discard bay leaf. Taste soup and adjust salt, pepper, and seasonings as desired.
08 - Ladle soup into bowls and serve hot. Garnish with fresh herbs if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in just an hour, yet tastes like you've been tending it all day.
  • The collard greens stay tender without turning mushy, and somehow absorb all the broth's best flavors.
  • One pot, minimal fuss, and you end up with six generous servings that reheat beautifully.
02 -
  • Don't skip removing the bay leaf—it's easy to miss in a bowl and genuinely unpleasant to bite into.
  • If your chicken seems dry after shredding, it overcooked; next time pull it at 18 minutes instead of 20, or use thighs which forgive overcooking more gracefully.
03 -
  • Make a double batch and freeze half in portions; it reheats beautifully and tastes even better the next day when the flavors have had time to mingle.
  • If you're using boneless chicken thighs instead of breasts, add a few extra minutes to the initial simmer since they're slightly thicker.
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