Collard Greens Chicken and Vegetable Soup (Printable)

Nourishing soup featuring tender chicken, potatoes, and vitamin-rich collard greens in a flavorful broth.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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

# Step-by-Step:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5 to 6 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add the chicken breasts or thighs to the pot, followed by the potatoes, chicken broth, bay leaf, thyme, oregano, salt, and pepper.
04 - Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
05 - Remove the chicken from the pot and shred with 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.
07 - Discard the bay leaf. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired. Serve hot, garnished with fresh herbs if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in just an hour, so you can have a restaurant-quality nourishing meal without the fuss.
  • One pot means minimal cleanup, which is honestly the real victory on busy weeknights.
  • The collard greens are so tender and flavorful that even people who claim they don't like greens tend to ask for seconds.
02 -
  • Don't skip the step of removing the collard green stems, they'll stay tough no matter how long you simmer them and create an unpleasant chewy texture.
  • Add the greens near the very end because they cook faster than you'd expect and can turn from tender to mushy in just a few extra minutes.
03 -
  • If you're short on time, use a rotisserie chicken and shred it while the vegetables simmer, cutting your total time down to about thirty minutes.
  • The soup actually tastes better on day two after everything's had time to marry together, so don't hesitate to make it ahead and reheat it gently on the stove.
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