Chicken and Vegetable soup Carnivore
How to Make and Can Delicious Chicken and Vegetable Soup at Home
Welcome to the wonderful world of home canning where the magic of preserving delicious food meets the comfort of a warm homemade meal. Imagine coming home on a chilly evening after a long day at work and feeling the cozy warmth of a steaming bowl of savory soup that is completely ready to eat in just a few minutes. This special recipe is all about making a big batch of wholesome chicken and vegetable soup and using pressure canning to lock in all the natural flavors and nutrients safely for months to come. It takes the guesswork out of busy weeknight dinners by giving you healthy comfort food right from your pantry shelf whenever you want it. You no longer have to wonder what is for dinner because your own homemade goodness is waiting in a glass jar just for you.
People absolutely love this recipe because it combines rich and savory homemade broth with tender chunks of chicken and a rainbow of vibrant garden vegetables. There is a deep sense of satisfaction that comes from opening a jar of soup that you made entirely with your own two hands without any mysterious preservatives or hidden sodium. It tastes remarkably fresh and comforting every single time you pop open a lid because the canning process seals in the wholesome goodness of carrots and celery and peas. Family members and friends always ask for seconds because the flavors blend together so wonderfully while sitting in the jars on your shelf. It brings a smile to everyone at the dinner table and makes ordinary days feel a little bit more special and loved.
You should definitely make this wonderful soup when you want to feed your body wholesome ingredients or when you need a comforting meal during cold winter months. It is an amazing choice for busy parents who want to feed their children a nutritious meal without spending hours in the kitchen every single night. Fitness enthusiasts also adore this recipe because it provides lean protein from tender chicken along with vitamins and minerals from fresh garden vegetables without any unwanted heavy oils or artificial additives. Whenever you feel a little under the weather or simply crave something warm and nurturing for your soul this soup is the ultimate remedy. It heals your spirit and satisfies your hunger in the most natural and delightful way possible.
Making shelf stable soup at home is also a fantastic way to save money and reduce food waste by using up extra vegetables sitting in your refrigerator crisper drawer. When you buy fresh vegetables in bulk or harvest them from your own backyard garden canning allows you to preserve your harvest for the entire year. You gain total control over what goes into your food so you can keep the salt and seasoning levels exactly where you want them for your personal health needs. It teaches you a valuable traditional skill that connects you to the kitchens of past generations who relied on home preservation to get through every season. Once you taste your own pressure canned soup you will never want to go back to store bought cans again.
Ingredients You Will Need
- Three pounds of boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts cut into bite sized pieces
- Two tablespoons of olive oil for searing the chicken
- Two large yellow onions diced finely
- Four medium carrots peeled and sliced into round coins
- Four stalks of celery washed and sliced evenly
- Two cloves of garlic minced completely
- Ten cups of low sodium chicken broth or homemade stock
- Two cups of fresh green peas or corn kernels
- One teaspoon of dried thyme leaves
- One teaspoon of dried rosemary crushed gently
- Salt and black pepper to taste for seasoning
- Clean mason jars with new lids and screw bands
Step By Step Method
- Prepare your workspace by washing all your mason jars thoroughly in hot soapy water and rinsing them completely before you begin cooking anything. Check the rims of the jars to make sure there are no small chips or cracks that could ruin the tight seal during the canning process.
- Heat the olive oil in a large heavy bottomed soup pot over medium heat on your stove top until it shimmers gently. Add the cubed chicken pieces to the pot and cook them for about five minutes until they turn white on all sides and release their natural juices.
- Toss in the diced onions and minced garlic and cook everything together for another three minutes until the onions become soft and translucent. Your kitchen will start smelling wonderful as the garlic and onions blend with the savory chicken aromas.
- Add the sliced carrots and chopped celery to the pot along with the dried thyme and dried rosemary and stir everything well to combine all the ingredients. Let the vegetables cook for about five minutes while stirring occasionally to help them release their sweet natural flavors into the pot.
- Pour the ten cups of chicken broth into the pot and bring the entire mixture to a gentle boil over medium high heat. Once it reaches a boil reduce the heat to low and let your soup simmer uncovered for about twenty minutes so all the flavors meld together.
- Stir in the fresh green peas or corn kernels during the last five minutes of simmering so they stay bright and vibrant in the finished soup. Season your broth carefully with salt and black pepper remembering that flavors can sometimes intensify slightly during the pressure canning process.
- Ladle the hot chicken and vegetable soup carefully into your prepared hot mason jars while leaving about one inch of headspace at the top of every single jar. Make sure to distribute the chicken and vegetable pieces evenly among all the jars so every serving has a great mix of ingredients.
- Wipe the rims of each jar clean using a damp paper towel to remove any stray drips of soup or oil which ensures a proper seal. Place a clean flat lid on top of each jar and twist the screw band down until it is fingertip tight.
- Place your filled jars inside your pressure canner according to the specific instructions provided by the manufacturer of your canning equipment. Process the jars at the correct pounds of pressure for your specific altitude making sure to follow safety guidelines for meat products strictly.
- Once the processing time is complete turn off the heat and let the pressure canner cool down naturally all the way to zero pressure. Carefully remove the jars from the canner and set them upright on a thick towel in a draft free spot to cool completely for twenty four hours.
Why This Recipe Is Special
This amazing recipe stands out because it brings restaurant quality comfort food right into your everyday pantry without any complicated or intimidating cooking techniques. The pressure canning method locks in the tender texture of the chicken and the bright crispness of the vegetables so nothing ever tastes mushy or overcooked. From a health perspective it provides a wonderful balance of lean protein and essential vitamins and dietary fiber to keep your body feeling strong and energized. The taste is rich and deeply satisfying with fragrant herbal notes of thyme and rosemary that make every spoonful feel like a warm hug. It is truly a labor of love that rewards you with delicious convenience every single time you open a jar.
Extra Tips for Better Taste
You can easily customize this basic recipe by swapping out the vegetables based on what is currently in season or what your family loves to eat. Try adding diced potatoes or parsnips if you want a heartier texture that fills you up on extra cold winter afternoons. Adding a splash of fresh lemon juice right before serving a jar can brighten up all the rich flavors and give the soup a delightful lift. Make sure you never add noodles or rice directly into the jars before canning because starch absorbs too much liquid and becomes unsafe and unpleasantly mushy during pressure processing. Instead you can always cook your favorite pasta or rice separately on the stove and drop it into your bowl right before pouring the hot canned soup over it.
Final Thoughts
Preserving your own food is a deeply rewarding journey that brings immense joy and security to your daily life and your home kitchen. Taking the time to prepare wholesome ingredients and tuck them away safely on your shelves gives you a wonderful sense of accomplishment and self reliance. Every jar you open in the future will remind you of the peaceful afternoon you spent creating delicious comfort food for the people you love. We hope this recipe inspires you to embrace home canning and fills your pantry with many months of warm and nourishing meals. Happy cooking and enjoy every single comforting bite of your homemade soup.
Nutrition Details
| Nutrient | Amount Per Serving |
|---|---|
| Calories | Two hundred twenty calories |
| Protein | Eighteen grams |
| Carbohydrates | Twelve grams |
| Dietary Fiber | Three grams |
| Total Fat | Nine grams |
| Sodium | Six hundred milligrams |
Disclaimer
Everyone has a unique body with different nutritional needs and health considerations so individual experiences and physical reactions may vary. The information provided in this article is meant for general inspiration and educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical or dietary advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if you have specific health conditions or dietary concerns before making major changes to your diet. Practice safe home canning guidelines and follow tested recipes carefully to ensure your preserved food remains safe and delicious to eat.
Made this recipe? Let us know how it went.
