Best Thai Chicken Soup
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Warm up this winter with a cozy bowl of Thai chicken soup. Tender chicken is simmered in a fresh and flavorful Thai-inspired broth and served over vermicelli noodles. Make it in the slow cooker or on the stovetop for an easy and comforting weeknight meal!
This Thai coconut chicken soup is good ’til the last slurp! The creamy broth is layered with Thai flavors of ginger, garlic, red curry paste, coconut milk, and fresh lime. The chicken and vermicelli make it a hearty soup, and it’s a great recipe for the slow cooker because you can set it and forget it until dinner time!
Try our Thai chicken zoodle soup for a lightened-up version.
Is this an authentic Thai chicken soup recipe?
If you’ve ever traveled through Thailand, you’ll know that there are many different types of incredibly delicious Thai chicken soup. This recipe is inspired by the Thai flavors that we love – coconut, garlic, ginger, fish sauce, palm sugar, and red curry paste. While it is not an authentic Thai chicken soup recipe, it is very tasty and we are sure you will love it!
Key ingredients needed
This Thai coconut chicken soup is chock-full of tasty ingredients and fresh flavors. It might seem like a long list but don’t fret, the methods for making it are simple.
Here’s everything you need:
- Vegetables: we use carrots and red bell peppers but you can use other quick cooking vegetables like broccoli florets, snow peas, zucchini, or green beans.
- Onion, ginger, and garlic: this aromatic trio is the flavor base of the Thai soup broth.
- Fish sauce + soy sauce: fish sauce and soy sauce season the broth and boost the umami flavor. Use gluten-free soy sauce or tamari, if needed.
- Palm sugar: palm sugar is made from sap and has a unique flavor, but you can use coconut sugar or brown sugar if that’s what you have on hand.
- Chicken stock: we always have some of our homemade chicken stock on hand, but a store-bought stock or broth also works.
- Boneless, skinless chicken thighs: boneless skinless chicken thighs are a quick and convenient option. You can also use boneless skinless chicken breasts if you prefer.
- Coconut milk: we use a full-fat coconut milk for its creamy texture and rich taste.
- Rice vermicelli: rice vermicelli noodles are thin and cook quickly. You can also use the thicker rice sticks if you prefer, but you may need to adjust the cooking time.
Can I freeze Thai chicken soup?
If you’re planning on freezing this soup, add the coconut milk and vermicelli noodles before serving for the best texture. When it comes time to reheat, mix in the coconut milk on the stovetop and cook the noodles right before serving.
How to make this on the stovetop
This Thai chicken noodle soup can easily be made on the stovetop, so don’t worry if you don’t have a slow cooker. To make it on the stovetop, follow the same instructions but instead of setting the crockpot to low, simmer the chicken in a pot on the stove for 30 minutes (until cooked through). The main difference is you can’t walk away while your soup cooks, but it’s ready in less time overall.
Recipe FAQs
Can I use leftover chicken?
Yes, you can. You can still make the broth in the slow cooker or on the stovetop then add the leftover cooked chicken when you add the coconut milk and the lime juice.
What’s the best curry paste to use?
You may have learned already that not all curry pastes are created equal. We like Mae Ploy curry paste. When in doubt, look for where the curry paste is made and choose one that is made in Thailand; it’s the safest bet.
Is this soup spicy?
It really depends on how spicy your curry paste is. If you’re unsure, start with just a little bit and add more (to taste) at the end.
Thai Chicken Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 medium carrots (chopped)
- 1 medium red bell pepper (chopped)
- ½ medium yellow onion (chopped)
- 2 inch piece of ginger (minced)
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 4 tablespoons red curry paste
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce (gluten-free if needed)
- 1 tablespoon palm sugar (or brown sugar)
- 3 cups chicken stock
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 2 15-ounce cans coconut milk
- 1 lime (juiced)
- 8 ounces rice vermicelli (cooked according to package directions )
- Optional toppings: lime wedges, sauteed mushrooms, cilantro, cherry tomatoes, black pepper
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients EXCEPT the coconut milk, lime, and rice vermicelli to your slow cooker and stir together. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours.2 medium carrots, 1 medium red bell pepper, ½ medium yellow onion, 2 inch piece of ginger, 4 cloves garlic, 4 tablespoons red curry paste, 2 tablespoons fish sauce, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon palm sugar, 3 cups chicken stock, 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- Remove the chicken thighs and shred them using two forks. Return the chicken to the slow cooker, add the coconut milk and lime juice, and stir. Let the coconut milk warm for 10-15 minutes before serving.2 15-ounce cans coconut milk, 1 lime
- Place the cooked rice vermicelli into soup bowls and top with the Thai chicken soup. Squeeze a little lime over the top and serve with any or all of the optional toppings.8 ounces rice vermicelli, Optional toppings: lime wedges, sauteed mushrooms, cilantro, cherry tomatoes, black pepper
Equipment
Video
Notes
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
More Thai chicken recipes
For more inspiration, check out all of our soup recipes.
I have been making this recipe for years and I really like how easy and flavorful it is! I found the original ratios to make far too much liquid. I cut it to 1 cup of broth and 1 can of coconut milk. I use mushrooms instead of bell pepper. I love that you truly can just dump everything in the crockpot and that there’s protein and veggies all in one dish. Thank you!
I love hearing this — thank you for sharing! 😊 I’m so glad it’s been a longtime favorite, and your adjustments sound spot-on, especially the mushrooms swap and dialing back the liquid. I’m with you on loving a true dump-and-go meal with everything in one pot. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful note!
I make this recipe monthly!! I use green curry paste instead though. It’s so good, and while I make Nagi’s Thai Green curry recipe (Recipe Tin Eats) when I have more time, it’s so nice to get this going in under 10 minutes in the morning and know I’ll come home to a big delicious bowl of this after work 🙂
I love hearing that so much!
Do you think it would be OK to cook on high for like four hours?
I think that should work!
Such a delicious recipe! Have made it for other people and they all love it!
I’m so happy to hear that!
I sauteed my veggies on the stovetop, added the remaining ingredients, except for the chicken. Once everything cooked through, I added cooked rotisserie chicken, coconut milk then the noodles. I served it with lime and jalepenos….
So!
Damn!
Tasty!!!
Thank you for bringing this recipe to my repertoire! It will be on repeat.
Love it!!