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    Home » Recent Posts » Chicken

    Homemade White Bean and Kale Soup with Leftover Roast Chicken

    Published: Feb 8, 2021 · Updated: Aug 22, 2022 by Katy McAvoy

    I love when you share my recipes!

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    Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links, I make a small commission.


    A bowl of cozy comfort food is just the thing to warm up a cold day. This White Bean and Kale Soup is healthy, hearty, full of veggies and a delicious way to use up leftover roast chicken.

    Chicken, White Bean and Kale Soup

    A hot bowl of chicken soup is just good food. But it’s also a hearty meal when made with lots of veggies and protein-packed white beans. I love making this hearty soup during weekend meal prep. It lets me have a homemade meal in the fridge for those busy weeknights when there’s just no time to cook. Or I pack it into individual portions and make myself a delicious set of lunches for the week. 

    We're skipping the instant pot and pressure cooker in favor of making a delicious pot of soup on the stove top. While I always seem to have leftover roasted chicken, I don’t often have homemade chicken stock on hand. But for this recipe it doesn’t matter. Store-bought chicken broth is tasty and letting it simmer for a bit with herbs and veggies imparts a great homemade flavor. It’s the perfect way to get a great meal on the table with a little less work. 

    Ingredients

    • Olive oil
    • Yellow onion
    • Garlic
    • Carrots
    • Fresh parsley
    • White wine
    • Chicken broth or vegetable broth
    • Diced, canned tomatoes
    • Kale
    • Salt
    • Black pepper
    • Garlic powder
    • Onion powder
    • Lemon juice 
    • Cooked chicken
    • Great northern beans

    How to Make White Bean and Kale Soup with Chicken

    Heat olive oil in a large pot or dutch oven over medium heat. 

    Add onions, carrots, and garlic. Cook for 4-5 minutes. 

    Add parsley, wine, broth, tomatoes, kale, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and lemon juice.  

    Bring to a bubble, then reduce to simmer over medium-low heat. 

    Cover and simmer on low for 15-20 mins.

    Add chicken and white beans. Stir and cook another 5 mins until chicken and beans are heated through. 

    Serve and enjoy!

    A bowl of White Bean and Kale Soup

    Recipe Tips 

    Be sure to clean the kale by stripping the kale leaves off their stems before chopping. Kale stems are tough and not very tasty.

    Add the beans at the end! White beans will get tough if you add them in too soon, so be sure to not mix them in until the end of the cooking.

    Don’t have any leftover chicken meat on hand? Roast a chicken breast in the oven at 400 degrees for about 25 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Let it cool to room temperature before shredding or chopping up the chicken. 

    Leftover turkey is delicious in this homemade soup instead of the leftover rotisserie chicken. 

    Roasting Chicken in the Slow Cooker 

    Did you know you can roast a whole chicken in the slow cooker? It’s a great way to have a roast chicken dinner on a busy day. Then use that leftover meat to make this soup! Head to my slow cooker roast chicken recipe page for directions and tips. 

    Slow Cooker Roast Chicken

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What can I substitute for fresh parsley?

    Don't worry if you don't have fresh herbs available. Swap 1 tablespoon dried parsley for the fresh parsley, if that's what you have on hand.

    What can I use fresh tomatoes in this recipe?

    Yes! Substitute 2 cups of diced fresh tomatoes for the can of tomatoes, if desired.

    Can I use baby spinach instead of kale? 

    Yes, but add it at the end with the beans and chicken. Kale needs to be added in early to give it enough time to soften, but spinach wilts fast and won’t hold up to long cooking times.

    Can I add noodles to this soup? 

    Yes. Add in an additional 1 cup of chicken broth or vegetable broth along with 1 cup of dry egg noodles about 10 minutes after you’ve added the kale and broth. Cook until the noodles are al dente before serving.

    Enjoy Your White Bean and Kale Soup with...

    Garlic Cheddar Biscuits

    Enjoy your homemade soup with a side of these warm and buttery Garlic Cheddar Drop Biscuits.

    Still Have Lots of Leftover Chicken?

    Try one of these tasty chicken salad recipes!

    Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad
    Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad
    Curry Chicken Salad on a bed of lettuce
    Curry Chicken Salad with Grapes

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    Print the Recipe

    Print

    Chicken, White Bean, and Kale Soup

    Chicken, White Bean and Kale Soup
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    This Chicken, White Bean, and Kale soup is healthy, hearty, and full of veggies. It's a great dish to make during weekend meal prep so you can have easy, delicious soup for lunches or a fast weekday dinner.

    • Author: Katy McAvoy
    • Prep Time: 15 min
    • Cook Time: 30 min
    • Total Time: 45 min
    • Yield: 8 cups 1x
    • Category: Soup
    • Method: Stove Top
    • Cuisine: American

    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    • 2 Tbsp olive oil
    • 1 medium onion, diced
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced
    • 3 large carrots, diced
    • 2 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
    • ¼ cup white wine
    • 6 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth
    • 1- 15oz can diced tomatoes, drained
    • 2 packed cups kale, washed and chopped
    • 1 Tbsp salt
    • ½ tsp ground black pepper
    • 1 tsp EACH garlic powder and onion powder
    • 1 tsp lemon juice
    • 1 cup diced chicken, cooked
    • 1 - 15 oz can great northern beans, drained and rinsed

    Instructions

    Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. 

    Add onions, carrots, and garlic. Cook for 4-5 minutes. 

    Add parsley, wine, broth, tomatoes, kale, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and lemon juice.  

    Bring to a bubble, reduce to simmer. 

    Cover and simmer on low for 15-20 mins.

    Add chicken and white beans. Stir and cook another 5 mins until chicken and beans are heated through. 

    Serve and enjoy!

    Equipment

    Image of Chef's Knife

    Chef's Knife

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    Olive Oil

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    Image of Chicken Broth

    Chicken Broth

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    Keywords: white bean, kale, chicken, soup, comfort food, make ahead, meal prep, vegetables

    Did you make this recipe?

    Share a photo and tag me @katymcavoy on Instagram! I can’t wait to see what you made!

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    I love when you share my recipes!

    About Katy McAvoy

    Katy is the author, photographer, home cook, mixologist, and Michigander behind MittenGirl.com. Since 2017, she's been crafting easy-to-make cocktails and delicious meals, along with sharing her love of all things Michigan (a.k.a. The Mitten)!

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    Katy McAvoy

    Hi! I’m Katy (she/her). I’m an author, photographer, home cook, mixologist, Michigander, and lover of all things food and drink. I never turn down a good happy hour and believe that a couple hours of meal prep pays off for days. Follow me on Instagram to check out what I’m working on next!

    More about me →

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