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Chicken Soup with Delicata Squash and Kale

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LIZ DELLA CROCE

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This chicken soup with delicata squash and kale is a fabulous way to incorporate nutritious ingredients into your family’s diet, but it is also a very economical way to serve a crowd.

Spoonful of chicken soup with delicata squash and kale.

Are you getting bored with your chicken recipes? Soups and stews are the perfect solution for turning everyday chicken breasts into a healthy and delicious one-pot meal, and you can really let your produce drawer guide your way as well. The options are endless and fortunately, soup is extremely forgiving. That’s how I came up with this Chicken Soup with Delicata Squash and Kale, a delicious and quick meal the whole family can enjoy!

Ingredients

  • Onion: I use a white onion as they are slightly sweet and mild in flavor.
  • Garlic: Aromatic, nutty, and somewhat spicy, but it sweetens as it cooks.
  • Carrot: Also naturally sweet, but also adds some
  • Celery: Doesn’t add much in flavor, but adds a lot in nutrients like vitamin A and K, fiber, and iron.
  • Delicata squash: Full of antioxidants like vitamin A along with fiber, it has a slightly sweet and creamy flavor like other winter squashes.
  • Chicken: An affordable and easily accessible lean protein, chicken breasts or thighs would work for this recipe.
  • Rosemary: An earthy, woodsy, aromatic herb that adds great flavor.
  • Chicken broth: An easy go to for a flavorful base for your soup. Store bought, bouillon, or homemade all work great!
  • Diced tomatoes: I like to use a can of fire roasted diced tomatoes for an added depth of flavor, but any diced tomatoes will work.
  • Kale: A great leafy green full of iron and vitamin C, its hearty enough to only slightly wilt in the soup.

How to Make Chicken Soup with Delicata Squash and kale

Start your chicken soup with delicata squash and kale by washing and dicing your vegetables.

Then add some olive oil or cooking spray to the bottom of a large pot and add the onion, carrot, and celery.

Add the garlic and delicata squash, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Sauté until veggies are tender.

While veggies are sauteing, cut your chicken breasts into cubes.

Then add it to the pot with the vegetables, along with the rosemary and some more salt and pepper. Stir and cook until chicken is browned.

Then add the chicken broth and the can of diced tomatoes and stir. Bring to a boil.

While soup is coming to a boil, prepare your kale by washing and chopping, removing any large pieces of stem. Add it to the boiling soup, then reduce to low heat and simmer for about 30 minutes.

Chicken soup with delicata squash and kale.

Serve topped with fresh herbs like basil or a sprinkle of parmesan cheese, and enjoy your Chicken Soup with Delicata Squash and Kale!

Easy Substitutions

  • Make it vegan. Omit the chicken and use vegetable stock instead of chicken broth, and this soup is vegetarian and vegan!
  • Swap out the veggies. Instead of delicata squash, use acorn! Use spinach instead of the kale, or throw in some potatoes!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is delicata squash good for?

Delicata squash is great in soups or roasted with other vegetables in the oven or on a grill!

Do you leave the skin on squash for soup?

Depends on the squash! Delicata squash does not need to be peeled, and neither does acorn squash! But I would peel pumpkin or butternut squash before using them in soup.

Can you freeze this soup?

Yes you can! Kept in an airtight container, you can keep it in the fridge for 3-4 days, or keep it in the freezer for up to 3 months!

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Liz eating chicken soup with delicata squash and kale.

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Chicken Soup with Delicata Squash and Kale

4.22 stars average
Liz Della Croce
This chicken soup with delicata squash and kale is a fabulous way to incorporate nutritious ingredients into your family's diet, but it is also a very economical way to serve a crowd.
PREP: 15 minutes
COOK: 37 minutes
TOTAL: 52 minutes
Pin
Servings4

Ingredients
 

  • 2 medium onions (diced)
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 cup carrots (diced)
  • ½ cup celery (diced)
  • 1 delicata squash (seeded and chopped – no need to remove skin)
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (cut in large cubes)
  • 2 teaspooons rosemary (fresh (or 1 teaspoon dried))
  • 4 cups chicken broth (low sodium)
  • 1 14-ounce can fire roasted diced tomatoes
  • 6 cups kale (chopped)
  • Fresh basil (optional garnish)
  • parmesan cheese (optional garnish)

Instructions
 

  • Heat a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium-high and spray with non-stick spray.
  • Sauté onions, garlic, carrots, celery, and squash for 5-7 minutes or until tender, stirring frequently. Add a bit of salt and pepper to release juices.
  • Stir in diced chicken breasts, rosemary, and remaining salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until chicken is browned.
  • Add chicken broth and fire roasted tomatoes then bring to a boil.
  • Stir in chopped kale and simmer on low for 30 minutes. Adjust for seasoning before serving.
  • Garnish with fresh chopped basil or parmesan cheese. Tastes even better the next day as leftovers.

Last Step:

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Liz’s Notes

Excellent source of Vitamin A and C, Good source Calcium and Iron

Nutrition

Calories: 204kcal | Carbohydrates: 24.5g | Protein: 22.1g | Fat: 1.5g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 38mg | Sodium: 1296mg | Fiber: 5.2g


4.22 from 23 votes (20 ratings without comment)

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6 responses to “Chicken Soup with Delicata Squash and Kale”

  1. Elaine Avatar
    Elaine

    Delish & healthy soup. I added a few leftover mushrooms but otherwise followed the recipe. Flavorful and satisfying. My husband said to keep this one on the soup rotation!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      I love the addition of mushrooms, I’ll have to try that!

  2. Laurie McL Avatar
    Laurie McL

    Delish -even w/o the chicken! Used some duck fat and butter to sweat the veggies, added some minced celery and sliced leeks w/the onions, and roasted the squash in the oven (added it after veggies were cooked). Used some leftover whey and ‘potatoe’ water as part of the broth (along w/bio chick broth), added some millet for oomph (will also add very small lentils next time), sage, thyme and a bay leaf. Fire-roasted tomatoes are the BEST for so many dishes! Diced kale stems went in way before the chopped kale leaves. Colorful, tasty and healthy!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Oh love the idea of duck fat!!

  3. Sonja Avatar
    Sonja

    Love this soup! Great flavor, easy to make and versatile. Nice way to do something different with delicata. I usually purée so my picky 3 year old can’t pick out the veg and add some fun noodles at the end.

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      So glad you enjoy it! Great idea to puree!