Healthy Detox Soup

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for my healthy soup recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.

• Vegetables – I used mix of red and orange bell peppers, onions, broccoli, and cauliflower. See my variations below for more veggie ideas, and most importantly, the right time to add them for the perfect texture.
• Chicken – I use chicken breast most often in my healthy soup recipes, but boneless chicken thighs work, too. The chicken gets cooked in the soup, but if you have leftover oven roasted chicken, rotisserie chicken, air fried boneless chicken thighs, 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 works, which would make this recipe a lot like my leftover turkey soup.
• Detox & Flavor Boosters – I make this detox soup with fresh garlic, ginger, and lemon juice for their benefits. Garlic powder and ground ginger work fine if all you need is flavor. You can also use lime juice instead of lemon.
• Broth – I used store-bought, but this healthy soup will be even more flavorful with homemade chicken broth or bone broth.
• Seasonings – Including Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, sea salt, and black pepper. If you don’t have Italian seasoning, simply dried oregano or thyme works nicely. Turmeric is also a great addition for its benefits.
• Olive Oil – For sauteing. Avocado oil also works great. You can use butter as well, but I recommend lower heat to avoid burning it.

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.

1. Saute the aromatics. In a Dutch oven or large pot (this is my favorite), saute the onion, garlic, and ginger in olive oil, until fragrant.
2. Add the bell peppers, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, sea salt, and black pepper. Saute for a few minutes, until soft.

3. Add the chicken and broth. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer until the chicken is cooked through.
4. Shred the chicken. Remove chicken breasts from pot and shred, then add back in.
5. Cook the soft veggies. Add the broccoli and cauliflower, and simmer until tender.
6. Add lemon and garnishes. 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 healthy soup recipe with your favorite vegetables. The key is the timing of when you add them to the pot. Here’s how I do it:

• Aromatics – This term is fairly broad, but I consider this anything that adds flavor when sauteed. I recommend sauteing onions, garlic, bell peppers, celery, carrots, and mushrooms, so these are best added in step 2 or 3.
• Hard Vegetables – These are veggies that take longer to cook (usually around 20 minutes), but you don’t really need to saute them. Shredded cabbage, diced butternut squash, and white or sweet potatoes are good examples. Cabbage in particular is a common component in detox soups; if you prefer a more cabbage-forward version, I recommend my other cabbage soup recipe instead.
• Soft Vegetables – Produce that holds more water cooks fast, so I add them in the last 5-10 minutes to prevent them from getting mushy. These include green beans, zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, and canned beans or corn.
• Greens – If you want spinach or kale in your soup, these will wilt in just around 2 minutes. Peas also fall into this category because they soften so fast.

This gives you some idea for what to add and when. I’ve got more ideas for healthy veggies to add to healthy soup recipes in my low carb vegetable list!

More Healthy Soup Recipes

You can never have too many healthy soups! If you like this detox soup recipe, try one of my others next:

Instant Pot Vegetable Soup

Mexican Chicken Soup

The Best Chili

Butternut Squash Soup

Black Bean Soup

Creamy Pumpkin Soup