Bok Choy Chicken Soup

By
Rhonda Parkinson
Rhonda Parkinson
Rhonda Parkinson is a freelance writer who has authored many cookbooks, including two Everything guides to Chinese cooking.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 04/14/23
Tested by Joan Velush
Chicken soup with shredded bok choy in bowls

The Spruce Eats

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Total: 15 mins
Servings: 3 to 4 servings
Yield: 4 cups
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
53 Calories
3g Fat
4g Carbs
4g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 3 to 4
Amount per serving
Calories 53
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 3g 4%
Saturated Fat 0g 2%
Cholesterol 5mg 2%
Sodium 1113mg 48%
Total Carbohydrate 4g 1%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 4g
Vitamin C 33mg 167%
Calcium 131mg 10%
Iron 2mg 9%
Potassium 535mg 11%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

A tried and true chicken soup is often a recipe staple that makes appearances during cold and flu season, as well as on the holiday table. But if you are feeling a bit tired of this standard recipe, why not explore one of the chicken soup recipes from around the globe? This quick and easy Chinese recipe brings together the quintessential comfort of chicken soup with the ubiquitous flavors of the Far East while pumping up the nutritional benefits with a bit of bok choy. You can use store-bought or homemade chicken broth; using a broth from scratch, or adding cooked chicken or raw, peeled shrimp, will increase the nutrition even more.

Serve this soup with fresh, crusty homemade bread, and a salad.

“It’s hard to believe how good this soup is considering it’s made with only six ingredients. The bok choy simmered in chicken broth with Asian flavors is outstanding. The heat added by the addition of red pepper flakes creates a warming, satisfying bowl of soup.” —Joan Velush

Bok Choy Chicken Soup Recipe/Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 4 cups chicken broth

  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, more to taste

  • 2 teaspoons soy sauce

  • 2 teaspoons Asian sesame oil

  • 1 large garlic clove, finely chopped

  • 10 leaves bok choy, thinly sliced crosswise

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for bok choy chicken soup recipe gathered

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  2. Bring the chicken broth to a boil in a medium saucepan.

    Chicken broth in a saucepan

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  3. Stir in the red pepper flakes, soy sauce, Asian sesame oil, and garlic.

    Chicken broth with condiments in a saucepan

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  4. Add the bok choy leaves. Simmer for up to 10 minutes, until the bok choy leaves turn dark green and are wilted and tender. Divide between bowls and serve.

    Shredded bok choy added to the broth in the saucepan

    The Spruce Eats

Other Chicken Soups from Around the World

If you would like to explore other countries' versions of chicken soup, there are plenty of interesting and flavorful recipes to choose from. A Thai chicken and vegetable soup bring together the flavors of garlic, ginger, lime juice, and coconut milk, making for a rich and comforting soup. The avocado, tomato, and onion in Mexican chicken soup add color and texture while the squeeze of lime juice offers a refreshing finishing touch. And kotosoupa, Greek chicken soup, is somewhat similar to a traditional soup with the addition of potatoes, diced tomatoes, and orzo while the country's popular avgolemono, or Greek egg-lemon chicken soup, uses eggs to thicken the broth and lemon zest to brighten the dish.

Chicken Broth vs. Chicken Stock

Sometimes it seems these terms may be used interchangeably, but chicken broth and chicken stock are actually very different. Chicken broth is made from chicken meat while the stock is made from the chicken bones. As a result, the chicken stock has a richer flavor due to the gelatin being released from the bones while they simmer for a long period of time. You don't want to substitute chicken stock for broth in most recipes. For example, chicken soup calls for broth because you don't want the richness of stock to take over. However, if a recipe lists chicken stock and you only have broth, you can add some more flavor by simmering the broth along with vegetables like carrots, onion, celery, leeks, herbs, and garlic.

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