Detox Soup

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Give your body a reset with this veggie filled detox soup. It’s healthy, filling and packed with anti-inflammatory ingredients like turmeric, ginger, lemon and cayenne pepper. It comes together quickly in just one pot and is perfect for meal prep!

You are in for a treat with this detox soup recipe! It’s not just any ol’ detox soup with a broth base that’s loaded with veggies… no, it’s packed with flavor and is bound to be a family favorite! I love making a batch of this soup on the weekend and eating healthy all week long.

A bowl of detox soup topped with fresh cilantro. A spoon rests in the bowl.

Why You’ll Love This Soup

  • It’s made in just one pot! Yay for minimal dirty dishes.
  • It’s loaded with vegetables and flavor… this is not a boring detox soup. Promise!
  • Whether you’re sticking to your New Year’s resolutions or just want a delicious dinner, you have to make this recipe!
  • It’s completely customizable based on your flavor preference or what you have in your kitchen.
Ingredients measured out to make detox soup: veggie broth, chicken, onion, kale, ginger, turmeric, carrots, celery, cayenne, bell pepper, lemon, salt, pepper, olive oil, tamari, garlic, coconut milk, cilantro.

Ingredients Needed

  • oil – olive oil or avocado oil will work great.
  • vegetables – yellow onion, carrots, celery, garlic cloves, red pepper, and curly kale.
  • freshly grated ginger – ginger is anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant. It adds a delicious flavor and hint of spice to this soup!
  • freshly grated turmeric – turmeric is also anti-inflammatory and adds flavor depth and color to this soup.
  • cayenne pepper – an anti-inflammatory spice that can help with digestion. We’re just using a touch in this soup, but you you can add more or less to your liking.
  • sea salt and black pepper – to taste, brings out all of the flavors in the soup.
  • chicken breasts – you’ll cook the chicken right in the soup for added protein and flavor. Feel free to swap for turkey breasts, white beans or tofu/tempeh for a vegan version.
  • vegetable broth – the main source of liquid in this soup. You can also use chicken broth or bone broth if you’d like! I just recommend using low-sodium broth so you can control how salty the end result is.
  • coconut milk – adds a delicious flavor and creaminess to the soup! I like using full fat coconut milk for extra healthy fats and creaminess but you can use any type of coconut milk.
  • fresh lemon juice – just a splash of freshly squeezed lemon juice at the end of cooking brightens the soup and brings out the flavors! Plus, lemon juice is packed with antioxidants and can help aid with digestion, among many other health benefits.
  • tamari, coconut aminos or soy sauce â€“ any of these work! You can skip this, but it does add a delicious umami flavor to this soup.
  • fresh cilantro – add in fresh cilantro at the end of cooking and add more for serving. I love adding fresh herbs to soup for a flavor bonus.
Collage of 6 photos showing how to make detox soup: sautéing veggies and spices, adding chicken and broth, adding coconut milk, shredding the chicken, then adding the kale.

How to Make Detox Vegetable Soup

We’ll be cooking this entire soup in one pot! In a Dutch oven or large pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrots and celery and sauté for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally. When the vegetables have softened a bit and are fragrant, add in the garlic, ginger, turmeric, cayenne, salt and pepper. Sauté for 1 additional minute.

Add the bell pepper, vegetable broth, coconut milk and chicken to the pot. Stir to combine and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cover. Simmer for about 20 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked. Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the pot and shred using two forks.

Add the kale to the soup and simmer for 3-4 minutes or until the greens have wilted. Place the shredded chicken back into the soup and add fresh cilantro, tamari and lemon juice. Stir one more time and enjoy!

An overhead photo of a bowl of detox soup topped with fresh cilantro and lemon wedges. A spoon rests in the bowl.

FAQs

Can I make this soup in the Instant Pot or slow cooker?

Yes!! I’ve tested both version and both turned out delicious. See the recipe card for the instructions on how to make this in both the Instant Pot and slow cooker.

Can I swap out the veggies?

The best thing about this soup is that you can customize it based on what you have in your kitchen or what you’re craving! Feel free to swap or add in vegetables to this soup. You really can’t go wrong! Cabbage or broccoli would be delicious additions. You can also swap out the curly kale with a different green. I recommend using a sturdier green like swiss chard or lacinato kale so it doesn’t get too wilted.

Can I make this soup vegan?

Yes! To make this soup vegan, swap the chicken with 1-2 cans of chickpeas or white beans. Just add the beans in when you would add the chicken. Tofu or tempeh would also be a good plant-based substitute, I just recommend cooking it separately and adding it in at the end instead of earlier on during cooking.

Can I skip the cilantro?

Totally! I love cilantro but if you’re not a cilantro fan, parsley would be delicious as well!

What if I don’t have fresh ginger or turmeric?

If you can’t find fresh turmeric or ginger, use 2 teaspoons dried turmeric powder and 1 teaspoon dried ginger powder.

Can I skip the tamari?

Yes, if you don’t have tamari, soy sauce or coconut aminos on hand feel free to skip it. I love the umami flavor it adds to this soup, but it’s still delicious without. 

Can I skip the coconut milk?

The coconut milk adds a nice creaminess and delicious flavor, but if you don’t have it on hand you can skip this or use unsweetened almond milk or cashew milk instead. It might change the flavor a bit, but it should still add some creaminess. If you skip the milk all together, make sure to add more broth in its place!

Two bowls of detox soup. There are two spoons nearby and a small dish of fresh cilantro.

How to Serve Detox Soup

What I love about soup is that it can be a meal in one! If you are a volume eater or want to pair this soup side dishes, here’s what I recommend serving a bowl of soup with:

  • Almond flour crackers â€“ if you’re a fan of having crackers with your soup, you need to try making my homemade crackers. They’re easier than you might think.
  • Sourdough bread â€“ a slice of fresh warm or toasted bread would pair perfectly with this soup.
  • Strawberry salad or spinach salad – if you love having hot and cool ingredients together, you might want to add a simple side salad to your meal!

How to Store Detox Soup

Allow the soup to cool slightly and then carefully transfer to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You could also try freezing for longer storage but the texture of the vegetables may change a bit.

Detox soup in a large pot.

More Soup Recipes to Try

Be sure to check out all of the soup recipes here on EBF!

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4.53 from 236 votes

Detox Soup

Give your body a reset with this veggie filled detox soup. It’s healthy, filling and packed with anti-inflammatory ingredients like turmeric, ginger, lemon and cayenne pepper. It comes together quickly in just one pot and is perfect for meal prep!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients  

  • 2 Tablespoons olive or avocado oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 large carrots, chopped into ½-inch rounds
  • 2 ribs celery, thinly sliced
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 Tablespoon freshly grated ginger
  • 2 Tablespoons freshly grated turmeric
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground pepper
  • 1 large red bell pepper, thinly sliced
  • 1 lb chicken breasts
  • 6 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 13.5 oz can coconut milk
  • 1 bunch curly kale, roughly chopped
  • 2 Tablespoons lemon juice, juice from half of a lemon
  • 1 Tablespoon tamari, coconut aminos or soy sauce
  • ¼ cup fresh cilantro, plus more for topping

Instructions 

  • In a Dutch oven or large pot, add oil. Once hot add onion, carrots, celery and saute for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic, ginger, turmeric, cayenne, salt and pepper. Saute for 1 minute longer.
    Garlic, ginger, turmeric, cayenne, salt and pepper added to the onions, carrots and celery in a large pot.
  • Add bell pepper, vegetable broth, coconut milk and chicken to the pot.
    Coconut milk being added to the pot of ingredients.
  • Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer and cover. Simmer for about 20 minutes or until chicken is fully cooked. When chicken is fully cooked, remove from pot and shred using two forks.
    Chicken breasts on a plate being shredded with two forks.
  • Meanwhile, add kale and simmer for 3-4 minutes, or until kale starts to wilt.
    Fresh kale added to the detox soup.
  • Carefully place shredded chicken back into the soup and stir in fresh cilantro, tamari and lemon juice. Serve with extra chopped cilantro on top and side of choice. We like toasted sourdough or crackers.
    Shredded chicken added to the detox soup.

Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker

  • Add oil to Instant Pot and put on sauté setting. Add onion, carrots, celery and sauté for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic, ginger, turmeric, cayenne, salt and pepper. Sauté for 1 minute longer.
  • Add bell pepper, vegetable broth, coconut milk and chicken into the Instant Pot. Place the lid on the Instant Pot, lock lid and make sure the pressure release valve is closed. Press cancel on the pressure cooker and set the Instant Pot on high pressure for 15 minutes.
  • Once the timer reaches 0, the cooker will switch to keep warm. Carefully switch the pressure release valve to open to manually release the pressure. (I use tongs for this). Once the steam is released, remove the lid and use a meat shredded or fork to shredded chicken. The chicken should be cooked through and will just fall apart without needed to remove it from the Instant Pot.
  • Add kale, lemon juice, tamari and cilantro to Instant Pot while set to warm. Once kale has wilted a bit, portion soup into bowls. Serve with extra chopped cilantro on top and side of choice. We like toasted sourdough or crackers.

Slow Cooker

  • Add oil, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, ginger, turmeric, cayenne, salt, pepper, red bell pepper, chicken, vegetable broth and coconut milk to slow cooker.
  • Cook for 4 hours on high or 7-8 hours on low. The chicken should be cooked through and will just fall apart. Once this happens turn the slow cooker to warm and kale, lemon juice, tamari and cilantro to slow cooker and stir to combine.
  • Once kale has wilted a bit, portion soup into bowls. Serve with extra chopped cilantro on top and side of choice.

Video

Notes

  • Veggies: Feel free to swap or add in vegetables to this soup. You really can’t go wrong! Cabbage or broccoli would be delicious additions. For the greens, I recommend sticking to a sturdier green like swiss chard or lacinato kale so it doesn’t get too wilted. 
  • Protein: You can swap the chicken breasts for turkey breasts or another protein of choice.
  • Vegan: To make this soup vegan, swap the chicken with 1-2 cans of chickpeas or white beans. Just add the beans in when you would add the chicken. Tofu or tempeh would also be a good plant-based substitute, I just recommend cooking it separately and adding it in at the end. 
  • Herbs: I love cilantro but if you’re not a cilantro fan, parsley would be delicious as well!
  • Ginger: If you can’t find fresh ginger, use 1 teaspoon ginger powder. 
  • Turmeric: If you can’t find fresh turmeric, use 2 teaspoons dried turmeric powder. 
  • Tamari, soy sauce or coconut aminos: Feel free to skip this if you don’t have it on hand. I love the umami flavor it adds to this soup, but it’s still delicious without. 
  • Coconut milk:  The coconut milk adds a nice creaminess and delicious flavor, but if you don’t have it on hand you can skip this or use unsweetened almond milk or cashew milk instead. If you skip it, make sure to add more broth instead!

Nutrition

Serving: 1bowl | Calories: 216kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 50mg | Sodium: 773mg | Potassium: 433mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Soup
Cuisine: American
Keyword: detox soup
Did you make this recipe?Mention @eatingbirdfood and tag #eatingbirdfood!

About Brittany

Hey there, I’m Brittany, the creator of Eating Bird Food, cookbook author, health coach and mama of two littles. Here you’ll find quick and easy recipes that make healthy fun and enjoyable for you and your family!

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Recipe Rating




160 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Not only did I enjoy it, my kids loved to “taste the rainbow” of colors and flavors incorporated in the soup! Excellent recipe!

    1. WOO! I am so glad this recipe is a hit for you and the family, Ashley! Thank you so much for coming back and sharing your review & star rating, I really appreciate it!

  2. 5 stars
    Such a great soup! It warms! It refreshes! It’s light, can be vegetarian, can be spicy or not.

    Love!

    1. YUM! Glad you gave this soup a try and it is a hit, Tiffany. Thanks for sharing your review & star rating, I really appreciate it!

  3. 5 stars
    This was just what the doctor ordered after a day eating street food. I added leeks, roasted cherry tomatoes, and a tsp of curry. So good, even my picky teenagers devoured it.

    1. Ahh this sounds amazing, Jessica. LOVE the addition of different veggies. Thanks so much for coming back and sharing your review + star rating, I really appreciate it!

  4. Can’t wait to try this today. If I am using frozen chicken in an instapot do I need to adjust the cook time?

    1. Hi Lauren – no, you shouldn’t have to adjust the time for frozen, let me know how it turns out! Enjoy!

  5. 5 stars
    This is such a delicious soup. I’ve never had Tumeric before but wanted to try it. I really enjoyed this and will become a repeat recipe.

    1. YUM! I am so glad you are loving this recipe, Jana. Thank you for sharing your review & star rating, it means so much to me!

  6. I have a question: would it be possible to use the solid left over material from the Fire Cider to make this Detox soup? The Fire Cider and the Detox soup look amazing, and I cannot wait to try both.

    1. Hi Kelly! Great question, I’ve never tried it, but I don’t see why not! Let me know how it turns out!

  7. 5 stars
    i LOVE this recipe! the PERFECT meal to kick any cold! I love to add curry powder and halved potatoes to make it even more flavorful and hearty. add the potatoes once you’ve taken out the chicken breasts to shred and they will be perfectly cooked by the time you add the chicken back in and the kale!

    1. Amazing! I am so glad you are loving this recipe, Lex. Thanks so much for giving it a try and sharing your review & star rating, I really appreciate it!

  8. 5 stars
    This is my third time making this soup. It is delicious with tofu and I swap out the kale for spinach. Thank you!

    1. YUM! I am so glad you are loving this soup and it turned out great for you, Adrienne. Thanks so much for sharing your review & star rating, I really appreciate it!

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