Chicken Soup Recipes That Will Cure Your Cold for Real

Green tortilla soup
<a href="http://iwillnoteatoysters.com/green-tortilla-soup-with-urfa/" target="_blank">Courtesy of I Will Not Eat Oysters</a>
<a href="http://iwillnoteatoysters.com/green-tortilla-soup-with-urfa/" target="_blank">Courtesy of I Will Not Eat Oysters</a>

That tasty golden broth not only keeps you hydrated, but the steam helps clear the sinuses and the chicken has an amino acid that'll help thin out that ball of mucus in your throat. Plus, garlic and onions have antiviral properties (i.e., they'll beat the snot out of your cold). So get slurping, and get better soon.

Chicken matzo soup
<a href="http://www.foodiecrush.com/craving-matzo-ball-soup/" target="_blank">Courtesy of FoodieCrush</a>

Chicken meatballs and matzo balls unite to form an ultra-restorative broth. Find the recipe here.

Key ingredients:

  • Chicken broth
  • Ground chicken
  • Matzo ball mix
  • Noodles
  • Carrots
Cheesy chicken soup
<a href="http://www.ohsweetbasil.com/chicken-tortilla-soup-recipe.html" target="_blank">Courtesy of Oh Sweet Basil</a>

Though cream isn't the best thing when you have a cold, it sure makes for a seriously comforting chicken soup. Recipe here.

Key ingredients:

  • Salsa con queso
  • Rotisserie chicken
  • Chicken broth
  • Green chiles
  • Potatoes
  • Corn
  • Milk
Chicken gnocchi soup
<a href="http://pinchofyum.com/crockpot-chicken-gnocchi-soup" target="_blank">Courtesy of Pinch of Yum</a>

This creamy soup cooks in the Crock-Pot, so you can take an extra dose of NyQuil and go back to bed. Recipe here.

Key ingredients:

  • Chicken breasts
  • Chicken broth
  • Evaporated milk
  • Mini potato gnocchi
  • Bacon
  • Baby spinach
Asian noodle soup
<a href="http://neighborfoodblog.com/2015/01/asian-chicken-noodle-soup.html" target="_blank">Courtesy of Neighbor Food Blog</a>

It’s just like Western chicken noodle soup, but with lots of spices that’ll go straight to your sinuses. Get the recipe here.

Key ingredients:

  • Chicken broth
  • Chicken breasts
  • Sriracha
  • Thai red curry paste
  • Ginger
  • Rice noodles
Jalapeño popper chicken soup
<a href="http://lecremedelacrumb.com/2014/11/jalapeno-popper-chicken-soup.html" target="_blank">Courtesy of Le Creme de la Crumb</a>

This spicy soup is guaranteed to make you feel better, even if you’re not sick, because jalapeño poppers make everything better, duh. Recipe here.

Key ingredients:

  • Half & half
  • Chicken broth
  • Shredded chicken
  • Cream cheese
  • Sharp white cheddar
  • Jalapeños
chicken noodle soup
<a href="http://www.recipetineats.com/chicken-and-vegetable-noodle-soup/" target="_blank">Courtesy of RecipeTin Eats</a>

Don't try to make stock from scratch when you’re sick, but you can make this soup, which has a base of store-bought stock. It’ll taste just like homemade. Recipe here.

Key ingredients:

  • Chicken thighs
  • Onion
  • Celery
  • Carrots
  • Chicken broth
  • Egg noodles
Thai chicken ramen
<a href="http://www.halfbakedharvest.com/thai-peanut-chicken-ramen-noodle-soup/" target="_blank">Courtesy of Half Baked Harvest</a>

This may be the best instant ramen you’ve ever tasted, mostly because the broth doesn’t come from a packet. Find the recipe here.

Key ingredients:

  • Chicken thighs
  • Thai red curry paste
  • Coconut milk
  • Chicken broth
  • Peanut butter
  • Instant ramen noodles
Lemon chicken and orzo soup
<a href="http://damndelicious.net/2014/04/25/lemon-chicken-orzo-soup/" target="_blank">Courtesy of Damn Delicious</a>

This lemony broth just kicked your herbal tea’s ass. Recipe here.

Key ingredients:

  • Chicken stock
  • Chicken thighs
  • Carrots
  • Orzo pasta
  • Lemon
chicken meatball soup
<a href="http://www.howsweeteats.com/2012/02/mini-chicken-meatball-soup/" target="_blank">Courtesy of How Sweet Eats</a>

The meatballs are miniature, which makes them easier to swallow. You know, because you have a sore throat and all. Get the recipe here.

Key ingredients:

  • Ground chicken breast
  • Romano cheese
  • Spinach
  • Chicken stock
  • Diced tomatoes
  • Ditalini rigati pasta
Creamed chicken soup
<a href="http://www.bakersroyale.com/creamed-chicken-and-corn-soup/" target="_blank">Courtesy of Bakers Royale</a>

Start the base with condensed cream of chicken soup, and bolster it from there. Recipe here.

Key ingredients:

  • Chicken thighs
  • Cream of chicken soup
  • Creamed corn
  • Chicken broth
  • Corn
  • Bacon
Green tortilla soup
<a href="http://iwillnoteatoysters.com/green-tortilla-soup-with-urfa/" target="_blank">Courtesy of I Will Not Eat Oysters</a>

The spices will remind you that you’ve still got taste buds. Get the recipe here.

Key ingredients:

  • Chicken breasts
  • Chicken stock
  • Green chiles
  • Corn tortillas
  • Tomatillos
Creamy chicken soup
<a href="http://www.wellplated.com/creamy-chicken-noodle-soup/" target="_blank">Courtesy of Well Plated</a>

The creaminess comes from evaporated skim milk, so it's actually quite healthy! Find it here.

Key ingredients:

  • Chicken stock
  • Shredded chicken
  • Egg dumpling noodles
  • Evaporated skim milk
  • Crushed tortilla chips
Chicken and dumplings soup
<a href="http://joythebaker.com/2015/04/chicken-and-dumplings/" target="_blank">Courtesy of Joy the Baker</a>

No chicken soup round-up would be complete without chicken and dumplings. Few things will cure you better than this stuff. Recipe here.

Key ingredients:

  • Chicken thighs
  • Chicken broth
  • Frozen peas
  • Flour
  • Butter
  • Buttermilk


Sign up here for our daily Thrillist email, and get your fix of the best in food/drink/fun.

Perry Santanachote is Thrillist's recipes editor and sometimes plays sick just for the soup. Follow her at @perrysant.