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    Home » Recipes » Cuban Food

    Cuban Chicken Soup (Sopa de Pollo)

    Published: May 5, 2018 · Modified: Jan 8, 2022 by Elizabeth · 3 Comments

    • Share1
    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe
    Cuban chicken soup with noodles carrots, potatoes, pumpkin, corn and chicken served in a dark gray bowl with lime wedges and a beer mug in the background.

    Made with chicken, pumpkin, potatoes, carrots, celery, corn and fidelini noodles, this Cuban chicken soup, or sopa de pollo, is fully loaded with goodness. We start by making a homemade chicken broth, and then we add all the delicious and good-for-you veggies.

    Cuban chicken soup with noodles carrots, potatoes, pumpkin, corn and chicken served in a dark gray bowl with lime wedges and a beer mug in the background.

    To add even more goodness, the soup gets its yellow color from turmeric. This Cuban chicken soup does take time to make, but if one of your loved ones is under the weather, make this soup and they will taste the love.

    If you’re in the mood for more hearty, delicious soups try this Cuban-style beef soup, this ajiaco soup recipe, or this potaje de lentejas. Enjoy!

    This site contains affiliate links to products. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Sopa de pollo ingredients

    • Chicken – Skin on and bone in assorted dark meat pieces: drums, thighs, wings
    • Onion – Yellow onion is best but white will also work
    • Garlic Cloves – Since it’s for the broth just peel and smash
    • Celery Ribs – We need 2 to make the broth and 1 for the soup
    • Carrots – 2 carrots to make the broth and 1 for the soup
    • Bay Leaf
    • Seasoning – Dried oregano, cumin, turmeric and salt (we use kosher salt)
    • Water – We’re making our on broth for this delicious Cuban chicken soup
    • Chicken Base – Better than Bouillon is my go to chicken base but if you have a favorite use that
    • Pumpkin – cooking pumpkin
    • Potato – Russet works well
    • Corn Cob – cut it down to roughly 1 inch rounds
    • Noodles – Fidelini or Fideo noodles are a thin vermicelli type noodle that comes dry and coiled, usually in a bag. They can be found at many Latin markets, or check the international aisle at regular supermarkets. In a pinch, substitute a thin noodle like vermicelli or thin spaghetti if you can’t find fidelini.

    Prepare the chicken broth

    Cut 2 carrots and 2 celery ribs into roughly 2-3 inch pieces. Peel and cut the onion in half or quarters. Peel the garlic and smash slightly.

    Add the chicken, the prepared onion, carrots and celery, garlic cloves, bay leaf, dried oregano, cumin and water to a large pot. Make sure the pot is filled at least ¾ of the way, and that the water covers all of the ingredients.

    Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, immediately lower the heat to medium to medium-low; the water should remain at a simmer.

    Half-cover the pot. Simmer the chicken broth for about 90 minutes, stirring only occasionally. Using a large spoon, wooden spoon or strainer, skim off the foam and grease that rise to surface and discard. Do this the first 15-30 minutes of the cooking time; remember to half cover the pot again.

    While you make the broth prep vegetables for the chicken soup

    Cut the remaining carrot into rounds, half rounds or cubes, and dice the remaining celery, pumpkin, potato, and slice the corn cobs.

    Remove the chicken broth from the heat. Using tongs or a slotted spoon, remove the chicken from the pot and set on a plate or sheet pan to cool. When the chicken is cool enough to handle, remove all meat from the bones and tear into bite sized pieces. Discard any bones, skin and cartilage.

    While the chicken cools

    Strain the broth: Using a large slotted spoon, remove the vegetables from the pot and discard. Strain the broth using a fine sieve. Note: I like to strain the broth twice; I strain it into a very large bowl (or two). Then I wash the pot, and strain the broth again while pouring it back into the large pot.

    Prepare the noodles

    Fill a large sauce pan with water and set over high heat. When the water comes to a boil add the fidelini noodles and cook to package directions. When they’re done, drain the water.

    Don’t add uncooked noodles to the soup. Cook the noodles in a separate pot, then add them to the soup when they’re cooked already. This extra step prevents the noodles from absorbing all of the delicious chicken broth you spent the afternoon making!

    Finish the Cuban Chicken Soup

    Place the chicken broth back into a clean, large pot over medium-high heat. When the broth comes to a simmer add 1-2 tablespoons of the chicken base and the turmeric powder to the broth. Stir well until the chicken base dissolves completely.

    Add the sliced carrots, celery, pumpkin, potatoes and corn cobs to the pot, cover and cook for 5-7 minutes. Bring to a boil, at about medium-high to medium heat. When the soup starts to boil, lower the heat and keep it at a simmer, uncover the pot and stir only occasionally.

    Add the reserved chicken meat and the cooked noodles to the pot; stir to combine all the ingredients well. Cover and cook the soup for another 5-10 minutes until the carrots, potatoes and pumpkin are tender. Taste the soup and add salt, if needed.

    Serve this fully loaded Cuban chicken soup with lots of lemons or limes, and your favorite hot sauce.

    Cuban chicken soup with noodles carrots, potatoes, pumpkin, corn and chicken served in a dark gray bowl with lime wedges and a beer mug in the background.
    Print Recipe
    4.89 from 9 votes

    Cuban Chicken Soup

    Made with chicken, pumpkin, potatoes, carrots, celery, corn and fidelini noodles, this Cuban Chicken Soup is fully loaded with goodness.
    Prep Time20 mins
    Cook Time1 hr 50 mins
    Total Time2 hrs 10 mins
    Course: Soup
    Cuisine: Cuban
    Keyword: chicken soup
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 410kcal
    Author: Elizabeth

    Ingredients

    • 2 pounds Chicken bone in (we used assorted dark meat pieces, drums, thighs, wings)
    • 1 Large Onion peeled, halved or quartered
    • 5-6 Garlic Cloves peeled and smashed
    • 3 Celery Ribs divided (2 for the broth and 1 for the soup)
    • 3 Carrots peeled, divided (2 carrots for the broth and 1 for the soup)
    • 1 Bay Leaf
    • 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano
    • ½ teaspoon Cumin
    • 16 cups Water
    • 2 tablespoons Chicken Base like Better than Bouillon® chicken base
    • ½ teaspoon Turmeric Powder
    • 1 pound Pumpkin cut into 1-2 inch cubes
    • 1 Medium Potato cut into 1 inch cubes (about ½ lb.)
    • 1 Corn Cob cut into 1 roughly inch rounds
    • 6 ounces Fidelini Fideo Noodles
    • Salt to taste

    Instructions

    Prepare the chicken broth

    • Cut 2 carrots and 2 celery ribs into roughly 2-3 inch pieces. Peel and cut the onion in half or quarters. Peel the garlic and smash slightly.
    • Add the chicken, the prepared onion, carrots and celery, garlic cloves, bay leaf, dried oregano, cumin and water to a large pot. Make sure the pot is filled at least ¾ of the way, and that the water covers all of the ingredients.
    • Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, immediately lower the heat to medium to medium-low; the water should remain at a simmer. Half-cover the pot. Simmer the chicken broth for about 90 minutes, stirring only occasionally. Using a large spoon, wooden spoon or strainer, skim off the foam and grease that rise to surface and discard. Do this the first 15-30 minutes of the cooking time; remember to half cover the pot again.

    While you make the broth, prepare the vegetables for the soup:

    • Cut the remaining carrot into rounds, half rounds or cubes, and dice the remaining celery, pumpkin, potato, and slice the corn cobs.
    • Remove the chicken broth from the heat. Using tongs or a slotted spoon, remove the chicken from the pot and set on a plate or sheet pan to cool. When the chicken is cool enough to handle, remove all meat from the bones and tear into bite sized pieces. Discard any bones, skin and cartilage. Set the chicken meat aside.

    While the chicken cools

    • Strain the broth: Using a large slotted spoon, remove the veggies from the pot and discard. Strain the broth using a fine sieve. Note: I like to strain the broth twice; I strain it into a very large bowl (or two). Then I wash the pot, and strain the broth again while pouring it back into the large pot.

    Prepare the noodles

    • Fill a large sauce pan with water and set over high heat. When the water comes to a boil add the fidelini noodles and cook to package directions. When they’re done, drain the water and set the noodles aside until ready to use.
    • Place the chicken broth back into a clean, large pot over medium-high heat. When the broth comes to a simmer add 1-2 tablespoons of the chicken base and the turmeric powder to the broth. Stir well until the chicken base dissolves completely.
    • Add the sliced carrots, celery, pumpkin, potatoes and corn cobs to the pot, cover and cook for 5-7 minutes.
    • Bring the soup to a boil, at about medium-high to medium heat. When the soup starts to boil, lower the heat and keep it at a simmer, uncover the pot and stir only occasionally.
    • Add the reserved chicken meat and the cooked noodles to the pot; stir to combine all the ingredients well. Cover and cook the soup for another 5-10 minutes until the carrots, potatoes and pumpkin are tender. Taste the soup and add salt, if needed.
    • Serve this chicken soup with lots of lemons or limes, and your favorite hot sauce.

    Notes

    Don’t add uncooked noodles to the soup. Cook the noodles in a separate pot, then add them to the soup when they’re cooked already. This extra step prevents the noodles from absorbing all of the delicious chicken broth you spent the afternoon making!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 410kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 85mg | Sodium: 1453mg | Potassium: 757mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 8905IU | Vitamin C: 14.1mg | Calcium: 93mg | Iron: 4mg
    The nutritional information above is computer generated and is only an estimate. There is no guarantee that it is accurate.This data is provided as a courtesy for informational purposes only.

    More Cuban Food

    • Cuban Appetizers and Snacks
    • Quick Cuban Style Black Beans
    • Arroz con Huevo Frito
    • Cuban Coffee (Café Cubano)
    • Share1

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Rich

      January 08, 2022 at 12:49 am

      5 stars
      I forgot to rate your recipe … 5 stars for sure!! Btw, I also added a pack of Sazon seasoning during the broth preparation phase.

      Reply
    2. Rich Aguiar

      January 08, 2022 at 12:46 am

      I followed your recipe this past weekend and it was a home run. The soup came out so well! You did forget to mention to add the onion during the broth making step, but it was obvious to me to do so. The next time I make this I will probably add another 1/2lb of chicken. I also chose to leave the bone in on the dark meat pieces but I did remove the skin after the broth making phase.
      So so good! Thank you.

      Reply
      • Elizabeth

        January 08, 2022 at 11:27 am

        Hi Rich,
        Thank you so much for letting me know, I went in and made that correction. Also, thank you for your kind review, so happy you enjoyed it!

        Reply

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    Hi, I’m Elizabeth! welcome to Cook2eatwell. Food is my favorite subject; I like to cook food, talk about food, write about food, and most importantly, eat food. Lucky for me, my husband Eddie feels the same way. 

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