Hairy Bikers Chicken Soup Recipe
Need a hug in a bowl? This Hairy Bikers Chicken Soup Recipe warms from the inside out. Learn how to make Hairy Bikers Chicken Soup with simple ingredients.
Ingredients
- 1.2 kg whole chicken or 500g chicken thighs
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large onion chopped
- 2 carrots sliced thick
- 2 celery stalks chopped
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 2 medium potatoes diced
- 1.5 litres chicken stock
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 100 g pearl barley
- Salt and black pepper
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
- Juice of 1 lemon
Instructions
Prep the Chicken
- Cut chicken into large pieces if whole. Pat dry. Season with salt and pepper.
Heat the Pot
- Warm olive oil in large soup pot over medium heat. Oil should shimmer gently.
Brown the Chicken
- Add chicken pieces skin-side down. Brown 5 minutes each side. Remove to plate.
Cook the Base
- Add onion, carrots, celery to pot. Cook 8 minutes until softened. Stir often.
Add Garlic and Potatoes
- Stir in minced garlic. Cook 1 minute. Add diced potatoes. Mix well.
Deglaze and Simmer
- Return chicken to pot. Pour in stock. Add bay leaves and thyme. Bring to boil.
Add Barley
- Stir in pearl barley. Reduce to low simmer. Cover partially. Cook 30 minutes.
Shred and Finish
- Remove chicken. Shred meat off bones. Discard skin and bones. Return meat to soup.
Season and Serve
- Add lemon juice, parsley, salt, pepper. Simmer 5 minutes. Serve steaming hot.
Notes
- Bone-in chicken makes richer broth.
- Rinse barley first to remove starch.
- Taste before adding salt—stock varies.
- Add frozen peas last 5 minutes.
- Swap barley for noodles if preferred.
- Make creamy: Blend half before serving.
- Spicy kick: Add pinch of chilli flakes.
- Use leftover roast chicken for quick version.