This healthy Thai chicken soup recipe is bright, satisfying, and easy to adjust to your taste. It brings together the classic hot and sour flavors of Thai-inspired cooking with tender chicken, fresh lime juice, ginger, garlic, chili, and herbs. You can keep it mild and refreshing or make it bold and spicy by adding more Thai chili. 
Easy Thai Chicken Soup Recipe
Thai chicken soup is loved for its balance of heat, tang, savory depth, and fresh aromatics. In this version, the gentle warmth of ginger and garlic builds the base, while fish sauce adds a salty, savory flavor. Fresh lime juice gives the soup its clean sour finish, and Thai chili brings the heat. The result is a healthy Thai chicken soup recipe that tastes comforting without feeling heavy.
This soup is also very flexible. If you enjoy a stronger sour flavor, add more fresh lime juice just before serving. If you prefer more heat, stir in extra minced chili. If the broth tastes too salty, add a little water or more low-sodium chicken stock to soften the flavor. Because the seasoning is easy to adjust at the end, this hot and sour Thai chicken soup can be made exactly the way you like it.
Another great thing about this recipe is that it works well for meal prep. The flavors become deeper after the soup rests, so leftovers can taste even better the next day. When reheating, warm the soup gently and then add a fresh splash of lime juice before serving. This keeps the citrus flavor bright and lively instead of dull.
You can make this soup with cooked shredded chicken breast, chicken thigh meat, or leftover roast chicken. Chicken breast keeps the soup light and lean, while chicken thigh meat adds a richer flavor to the broth. If you are starting with raw chicken, cut it into bite-size pieces and cook it in the pot before adding the broth and vegetables. This simple step makes the recipe useful whether you have leftovers ready or are cooking from scratch.
Serve this Thai chicken soup on its own for a lighter low-carb meal, or pair it with rice or noodles if you want something heartier. The broth is flavorful enough to enjoy by itself, but it also works well with simple sides. Fresh cilantro at the end adds color and a clean herbal finish. 
More low carb recipe inspiration
Healthy Thai Chicken Soup
6
servings
5 mins
15 mins
20 mins
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound cooked shredded chicken breast or chicken thigh meat, about 2 cups
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 Tablespoon fresh ginger, grated or finely minced
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons fish sauce or use tamari fish sauce for gluten free
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken stock
- 1 kaffir lime leaf, smashed, optional
- Fresh lemongrass stalk, about 2 inches long and smashed
- 1 fresh Thai chili, minced, or to taste
- 1 bell pepper, chopped
- 1 large tomato, chopped
- 2 Tablespoons fresh lime juice
- Fresh chopped cilantro, for garnish
Instructions
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Heat a pot over medium heat. Add the olive oil, onion, and garlic. Cook until the onion softens and becomes translucent, stirring as needed so the garlic does not burn.
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Add the cooked shredded chicken, fresh ginger, and fish sauce. Stir well and cook for about 1 minute to bring out the aroma of the ginger and season the chicken.
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Pour in the chicken stock. Add the smashed kaffir lime leaf, lemongrass, bell pepper, tomato, and minced Thai chili. Stir to combine.
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Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer on low for about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the fresh lime juice just before serving. Taste and adjust with more fish sauce, chili, lime juice, or water as needed. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve warm.
Notes
Note 2: For a spicier soup, add more minced Thai chili. For a more sour soup, add extra fresh lime juice at the end. Lime juice tastes best when added after cooking.
Note 3: If using raw chicken instead of cooked shredded chicken, cut it into small bite-size pieces and cook it in the pot before adding the stock and remaining ingredients.
Video
Healthy Hot & Sour Thai Chicken Soup
Nutrition Information per Serving
Carbohydrates: 5g,
Protein: 14g,
Fat: 6g,
Saturated Fat: 1g,
Cholesterol: 36mg,
Sodium: 533mg,
Potassium: 323mg,
Sugar: 1g,
Vitamin A: 675IU,
Vitamin C: 28.5mg,
Calcium: 18mg,
Iron: 0.7mg
Soup
Keto, Paleo, Whole 30
131
This recipe was originally published in 2018 and republished in 2020 with an updated video.