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This healthy detox soup recipe is a classic, delicious and nutritious way to eat a bowl of vegetables and chicken. It includes a variety of veggies (plus plenty of ideas on ways to add more or swap some of them). Unlike some recipes that include only veggies, this one is a chicken detox soup for a protein boost. Make a big batch and you’ve got one of the best easy, healthy soup recipes for meal prep.
If you prefer a detox cabbage soup, you can add cabbage to this soup (see instructions below under the Ingredients section). Or try my cabbage soup recipe (made with ground beef), which is also great for detox. For other healthy meals you can prep ahead, try Greek chicken meal prep bowls, mason jar salad, or egg muffins for breakfast.
What Is Detox Soup?
Detox soup is a healthy soup packed with nutritious ingredients, like vegetables and protein. It’s often eaten as a cleansing meal to remove toxins, or kickstart a diet or healthier eating lifestyle. Some people even do a detox soup diet, where you eat only this soup either for all meals, or for 1-2 meals per day, for a few days.
Why You’ll Love This Healthy Soup Recipe
- Fresh and light taste
- Healthy, nutritious, and packed with vitamins
- Super easy to make
- Just 136 calories and 5 grams net carbs per serving
- Naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, whole30, paleo, low carb, and keto friendly
- Makes a great detox soup, or just a healthy soup for any day!

Ingredients & Substitutions
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for detox vegetable soup , what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
- Olive Oil – For sauteing. Avocado oil also works great.
- Onion – I used a white onion, but yellow onion will also work.
- Garlic – Use fresh cloves of garlic for the best flavor, or jarred garlic for convenience.
- Ginger – This is a great detox soup ingredient because it stimulates digestion and circulation. Fresh ginger has the best benefits and flavor, but you could also substitute frozen ginger cubes or tubed ginger for convenience.
- Chicken Breasts – I prefer to use organic chicken (get them shipped directly to you here) in healthy soup recipes for best flavor and nutrition, but any boneless skinless chicken breasts will work. You can also use boneless chicken thighs instead. The chicken gets cooked in the soup, but if you have leftover chicken, rotisserie chicken, or homemade shredded chicken, you can just add that to the soup instead and skip the 20-minute simmering at step 4. Even leftover turkey would work, which would make it a lot like my leftover turkey soup.
- Broth – I used chicken broth, but you can also use vegetable broth. For richer flavor and extra nutrients in your healthy soup, use bone broth instead.
- Hard Vegetables – We saute these. I used red and orange bell peppers for a pop of color, but you can use any color. Other firmer veggies, like carrots or celery, would be added at the same time.
- Soft Vegetables – My detox soup recipe has broccoli and cauliflower, with smaller florets so that they can fit on a spoon. These get added toward the end, so that they don’t get too mushy. Other soft veggies, such as zucchini or green beans, would get added toward the end as well.
- Spices – Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, sea salt, and black pepper. If you don’t have Italian seasoning, simply dried oregano works nicely. Turmeric is also a great addition for its benefits.
- Lemon – Adds a bright flavor, though you can skip it if you don’t like a lemony soup. Use fresh lemon for the best flavor, or bottled lemon juice for convenience. You can also use lime juice instead.

How To Make Detox Soup
This section shows how to make healthy soup, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- Saute aromatics. Heat oil in a dutch oven or large pot over medium-high to medium heat. Saute onion, garlic, and ginger until fragrant.
- Saute peppers and seasonings. Add bell peppers, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, sea salt, and black pepper and saute for a few minutes.


- Simmer. Add chicken breasts and broth. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer.
- Shred chicken. Remove chicken breasts from pot and shred, then add back to the pot. Stir in broccoli and cauliflower.


- Cook soft veggies. Add broccoli and cauliflower. Cook until tender.
- Finish. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice. I like to garnish my healthy soup with fresh parsley or fresh basil to serve. Feel free to add any fresh herbs you have on hand, or even a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.


Veggie Variations
It’s easy to customize this chicken detox soup recipe to your liking with your favorite vegetables. Here are some other ideas for what you can include in this dish…
Hard Vegetables:
These harder veggies are best to saute, so add them at step 2 with the onions or step 3 with the bell peppers:
- Cabbage – Detox cabbage soup is a popular soup addition. Shred the cabbage (or just use a bag of coleslaw mix to save time) before sauteing with the peppers.
- Carrots – Note that carrots are not low carb on their own, but I’m fine including them in small amounts in healthy soup recipes. You can dice them finely to cook more quickly, or simply slice into rounds.
- Celery – Thinly slice or dice one stalk celery (or a few), and saute with carrots and onions.
- Mushrooms – Slice thinly and brown them with the onions.
- Potatoes – This is an option if you want a more hearty healthy soup, though it would no longer be low carb. You can use white or sweet potatoes. Keep in mind that adding potatoes may require the soup to simmer for longer.
Soft Vegetables:
These softer vegetables cook quickly, so we add them toward the end (at step 6) so that they don’t get mushy:
- Green Beans – Fresh or frozen.
- Zucchini – Slice them into half moons or cut into cubes.
- Beans – Not low carb, but a healthy soup recipe addition if it fits your lifestyle. Try black beans, white beans, kidney beans, or chickpeas.
- Greens – Add kale or spinach just in the last couple of minutes of cooking.
You can find more ideas for healthy veggies to add to healthy soup recipes in the low carb vegetable list.
Storage Instructions
- Store: Keep this healthy soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- Meal prep: This is a great light meal to make ahead. Portion in individual containers for a ready-to-heat lunch.
- Reheat: Reheat soup in the microwave or a saucepan on the stove.
- Freeze: Let the soup cool completely, then transfer to freezer bags. Freeze flat until solid, then you an keep anywhere in the freezer for 2-3 months.

More Healthy Soup Recipes
If you like this detox soup recipe, you might also like these other healthy soup recipes:
Tools To Make Healthy Soups
- Dutch Oven – Cook this detox chicken soup in this dutch oven.
- Souper Cubes – Prep the healthy soup ahead and store in perfectly portioned cubes that can be frozen.
Healthy Detox Soup Recipe
Healthy Detox Soup (So Easy!)
This easy, healthy soup recipe makes the best detox soup! It's comforting, flavorful, low carb, and loaded with healthy veggies and chicken.
Recipe Video
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Ingredients
Tap underlined ingredients to see where to get them. Please turn Safari reader mode OFF to view ingredients.
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
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Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
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Add the onion, garlic, and ginger Saute for 3-4 minutes, until the garlic is fragrant and the onions are translucent.
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Add the bell peppers, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, sea salt, and black pepper. Cook for 3 more minutes.
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Add the chicken breasts and chicken broth. Simmer for 20 minutes.
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Remove the chicken breasts from the pot and shred using two forks. Add the shredded chicken back to the pot.
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Add the broccoli and cauliflower florets. Simmer for 10 more minutes, until the cauliflower and broccoli are tender.
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Remove from heat. Stir in the lemon juice.
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Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 cup
Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.
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64 Comments
Pat
2Easy, healthy and delicious! Used chicken thighs for more flavor!
Maria T
2Oh my goodness. This was exactly what I needed today. I haven’t felt well lately and have been indulging too much this past week in carbs. This detox soup was just what I needed. Absolutely delicious and extremely easy to make. I will be making this in big batches.
Beth
0Hello, this soup sounds delicious, however my husband is not a fan of fresh ginger. Can I omit or substitute this ingredient and get the same results?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Beth, You can omit the ginger.
Angel
0How necessary is the ginger to the flavor? I have a small allergy to it
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Angel, You can omit the ginger.
Charmaine
0Where do I find the recipe?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Charmaine, The recipe card is right above where you left this comment.
Tabitha
1This is one of the best soups I had tried!! I recommend everyone to try.
Dawn
1This was very good. Instead of using the chicken breast, I used leftover rotisserie chicken meat. Definitely a keeper!
Jeannie
0Soo good! It’s wonderful to have a recipe where I can add extra veggies. Seems there’s always something in the fridge that needs to be eaten before going bad. I added mushrooms, zucchini and fresh green. YUMMY! Thanks you!
Nicole
0Can you make this recipe in the crockpot using frozen veg and chicken?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Nicole, That sounds like it should work but I have never tested the recipe using a crock pot.
Cathi
0This was so good for a cloudy day. I used just cauliflower. I will definitely make it again.
Chad
0I NEVER leave comments, but this deserves it! Followed exactly except added carrots, celery, and bone broth. No Cauliflower this time. And I used an instant pot. Been sick this was THE BOMBDIGITY!! Bookmarked fo sho sho!
Sonja Sneddon
0I made the detox, chicken soup. I love it. I will most definitely make it again. Thank you very much.
Kris
0Super delicious. Added better than chicken boullion ( about a TBLS). And at the end added sliced portabello mushrooms… Super tasty with the right amount of spice!
Melody
0This is a great soup! I made it a few weeks ago when trying to jumpstart my weight loss. This morning I woke up with a sore throat and that “coming-down-with-something” feeling and decided to make it again! So good and soothing!
Renee K
0This soup was absolutely delicious! My hubby and I ate it all in two days. The only thing I changed was to add some chicken better than bouillon to the bone broth. Used canned chicken so that’s why I bumped up the flavor a bit. So easy and wonderful for a cold Wisconsin night. Used a veggie medley and rough chopped it in the food processor. Thank you so much for this great recipe. Will be adding this to the frequently used recipes!
Bonnie
0The nutrition info says this makes six one-cup servings. But if there are six cups of broth plus all that chicken and lots of vegetables, wouldn’t it have to make more than six cups?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Bonnie, The chicken and vegetables absorb the broth, so it still makes about 6 cups total.
Amy
0I wasn’t sure that I would like this, like at all but I am trying to get healthier. My whole family LOVED it… including me! 😋☺️ I did make my own no salt bone broth which was also delish. I am confident that we would still have loved it with store bought broth. The fresh ginger made this dish shine!
Jenny
0Made this soup twice the 1st time followed exact recipe the 2nd time I made my own broth with my left over Sam’s rotisserie bones and followed the recipe adding carrots and celery with the onions peppers garlic I also used my instant pot to make this then after I cooked the first process I put pot on the sauté mode and added the broccoli, cauliflower, and added 1 cup diced zucchini and some fresh spinach. I also added a 1/2 tsp of turmeric in the spices in the 1st part. This soup was very good and such a beautiful color. Thanks for sharing!
Leilani Reiff
0LOVE this soup! I changed it up a bit since I’m not a big fan of bell peppers. Instead I added a bag of frozen riced cauliflower and zoodles – delicious! I also added tumeric while the chicken was cooking. This is now one of my top 5 soups!!!!
Rosa
0I made this soup last night. I did the lazy way and bought everything already precut, frozen broccoli and cauliflower and an already cooked rotisserie chicken. I also added some shredded cabbage. They only had the purple cabbage so it tinted the soup lol but the soup taste so good! The broth has a lot of flavor and just the right amount of kick with the red pepper flakes. I’ll definitely make this soup again and plan to try the Detox beef cabbage soup too.
Sue
0Made this this afternoon. Chilly day in SWFL. Love the flavors here. Will definitely make again. 2 thumbs up!
Rosa
0I haven’t made this but I want to. Can you use frozen peppers and broccoli and cauliflower?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Rosa, Yes, you could do that.
Debbie
0Easy and delicious soup… I would definitely recommend this soup. Yummy !!!
Kim
0This recipe was absolutely delicious, my husband is a picky eater and he loved it, thanks for sharing this recipe , can’t wait to try more.
Sandie
0Perfection!! So easy to make too!!
URSULA ROGERS
0I’m trying to eat healthier, I try to make a crock pot of soup every week – keeps me from eating out as often. I mostly cook this way overnight in my crock pot. I also added a 1/2 can of whole kernel corn with the juice, 2 fresh chopped roma tomatoes, 1 cup fresh green beans & other items such as chopped red & green bell peppers & 1 small fresh chopped onion, 1/2 hand of chopped celery, 4 dashes of worchesthire sauce, 1/2 cup tomato ketchup, 1.2 cups chopped baby carrots & will add the 1 cup of chopped cabbage at the end of cooking time. I added leftover roasted chicken & made homemade bone broth from the chicken carcass the night before. I squeeze every last dollar out of that roasted chicken – more leftover roasted chicken, I will make tostados tomorrow, LOL.
Susan
0Delicious! Added a little left over fresh spinach that we had on hand as well. My husband also added some left over cooked pasta to his and said it was great!!
SJ Macleod
0I’m pescatarian so in order to keep the protein up in this soup I wonder if adding fake chicken (more carbs) or shrimp would do the trick? I don’t think I’d want to add cod, tuna or something like that.
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi SJ, I think either of those options would work in this recipe.
T.Brown
0These look delicious!*
michelle
0How many servings does this soup make?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Michelle, This recipe makes 6 servings.
Caitlyn
0This soup was delicious! I added fresh Cilantro and ried dill weed as well. I also used the juice of a whole lemon and 1 tsp of chili flakes for a little extra kick. Absolutely love this!
Caroline
0Hi all – wondering if I can change out chicken and use turkey instead – ?? How does this impact the carb content ?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Caroline, Yes, you could do that, and it wouldn’t change the carb count.
Abby Steadman
0This soup is delicious! I added carrots (4 small /medium) and a quarter head of cabbage. I didn’t have any cauliflower so I doubled the broccoli. I added 2 pounds of chicken. I juiced a whole large lemon and I doubled the garlic as I do for every recipe 🙂 sooooo good. Can’t wait to make it again! Oh, and I cubed the chicken instead of shredding because that’s how I prefer it.
EasyPeasyforme
0OMG, this soup is everything! I typically do not write a review of recipes, but this recipe is worthy of a review. The soupy is flavorful, and the recipe is easy to follow. I did not have bell pepper but had all of the other ingredients, and I couldn’t tell what I am missing. My chicken breakfast was thick, so I cooked them a little longer. I highly recommend that you give this recipe a try.
askaudreytech@gmail.com
0This is one of my favorite recipes – it’s healthy, delicious, and makes my gut happy. I love having it around for a quick and easy lunch. I add cabbage, mushrooms, a jalapeño pepper, and kale (see notes to know at which step you add the different veggies) – sometimes I add so many veggies I need to add in another cup of broth!
Sue
0Really flavorful soup. Made the recipe just as it and it turn out great. I will be making it again this weekend. It is filling and delicious.
Sandie
0Can this be made in something besides a Dutch oven?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Sandie, A large pot will work as well.
Ann
0So we do not have to have a pressure cooker?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Ann, This recipe does not call for a pressure cooker.
Renee Jarvis
0Soooooo good! I had some shredded chicken already, so I just added all of that, and then used the rest of the stock and veggies and added them later. Also really good when you are stuck in quarantine and nothing suits your palate.
Rosemary
0Can I make this in the crockpot?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Rosemary, I think this would work in the crock pot but I have never actually tried it. Let me know how it turns out for you!
Connie
0I loved this soup! It will be a staple in my life. So flavorful and I love having my vegetables in the soup. It is easier for me to get down. 🙂 Thank you.
Barbara
0Would this be just as good without the chicken? I really don’t care for boiled chicken.
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Barbara, Yes you could skip the chicken.
Kristyn
0This soup is packed with so many delicious flavors!! I’ll be making some this week!! I can’t get enough!
Taylor
0Love how healthy and delicious this soup is! I always pack in extra veggies and will sometimes use leftover rotisserie chicken to make it even easier. It has amazing flavor and is so comforting!
Sara Coleman
0One of my favorite soups! My family loves it!
Darlene Young
0Yummy, great flavor, made as is, and added 1/2 cup green beans. Lunches for the week!
Rochelle
0Can I swap out the capsicum with something else?…what do you recommend? Thanks.
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Rochelle, In the blog post there is a section on hard/ soft veggie variations, you can use any other options to replace the peppers.
Edmeral
0I made this tonight. It was absolutely delicious. Happy New Year Maya. Thanks for all you do. All your recipes have been a hit in my family.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Happy New Year, Edmeral! So glad you enjoyed it and that your family likes the recipes, too. That means a lot!
Amy L Huntley
0This is a great soup to start the new year out eating healthy! So much flavor and so hearty!