Easy 5-Ingredient Crockpot Soup: Light & Hearty Recipe
This simple 5-ingredient crockpot soup is both light and hearty, requiring just five minutes of prep in the morning for a delicious dinner ready when you walk through the door. It’s the perfect set-it-and-forget-it meal for busy weeknights.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours (low) or 3 hours (high)
- Total Time: 6 hours 5 minutes (low) or 3 hours 5 minutes (high)
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 medium breasts)
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced into rounds (about 1.5 cups)
- 2 celery stalks, sliced (about 1 cup)
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced (about 1.5 cups)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Optional: 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Optional: Fresh parsley or thyme for garnish
Instructions
- Prep your vegetables first. Peel and slice the carrots into rounds about ¼-inch thick. Slice the celery the same thickness. Dice the onion into small, even pieces—about ½-inch.
- Layer the ingredients in the slow cooker. Start with the diced onion, then the carrots, then the celery. Place the chicken breasts on top of the vegetables.
- Pour the chicken broth around the chicken (not directly on top). The broth should come about halfway up the chicken.
- Season simply with about ½ teaspoon of salt and ¼ teaspoon of black pepper. Add optional garlic if using.
- Cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
- About 30 minutes before serving, remove the chicken breasts to a cutting board. Shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces using two forks.
- Return the shredded chicken to the pot. Stir gently. Taste and adjust seasoning. Let simmer uncovered for 15-20 minutes to thicken slightly.
- Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley or thyme if desired.
Notes
For a vegetarian version, swap chicken for 2 cans of drained chickpeas and use vegetable broth. For a heartier version, add 1 cup of diced potatoes or small pasta in the last 30 minutes. If soup tastes flat, add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or a splash of apple cider vinegar instead of more salt. Do not lift the lid during cooking. Let soup rest 10-15 minutes before serving for best flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1.5
- Calories: 185
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 480
- Fat: 3
- Saturated Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 28
Keywords: crockpot soup, 5-ingredient soup, easy soup, chicken soup, slow cooker soup, light soup, hearty soup, weeknight dinner