6 German Chicken Soup Recipes That Taste Like Home

6 German chicken soup recipes that bring cozy flavors to your table. From classic Hühnersuppe to hearty wedding soup, this roundup features trusted recipes from top food blogs—perfect for cold days or when you crave comfort.

Few dishes feel as comforting as a bowl of warm chicken soup. In Germany, these recipes are more than food—they’re tradition, healing, and home in every spoonful.

This post gathers six German chicken soup recipes from respected food blogs, offering both classic and modern twists. Whether you prefer noodles, dumplings, or spaetzle, each recipe brings comfort and flavor to your kitchen.

Why This Recipe?

German chicken soup is more than a classic comfort dish—it’s a recipe that fits almost every need. It’s simple to make, nourishing, and packed with rich flavor from slow-simmered chicken and fresh vegetables. The versatility is unmatched: you can add noodles, dumplings, or spaetzle, depending on your taste. Many also turn to this soup for its gentle, healing qualities, making it a go-to when someone feels under the weather. Whether served at family gatherings, holidays, or as a weekday meal, these soups capture the warmth and heart of German home cooking.

6 German Chicken Soup Recipes That Taste Like Home

Here are six German-style chicken soups, curated from trusted food blogs and recipe sites. Each summary gives you flavor notes, a quick steps outline, and a link to the original recipe.

1. Hühnersuppe with Suppennudeln

Flavor Summary: A classic, comforting German chicken soup—clear broth, tender shredded chicken, simple vegetables, and fine soup noodles. Light, healing, and deeply comforting, perfect when you want something gentle yet flavorful.

Quick 5-Step Summary:

1. Simmer chicken (with bones) in water plus onion, carrot, celery, parsley until cooked.
2. Remove chicken, shred meat, return to pot.
3. Add diced vegetables (carrot, leek, etc.) and simmer until tender.
4. Cook Suppennudeln (soup-style noodles) separately.
5. Stir noodles into the soup before serving, adjust seasoning.

Time: ~90 minutes (including simmering)
Tags: Classic, Comfort Food
Recipe Credit: adapted from traditional German “Hühnersuppe” recipes (common in German cooking collections)

💡 Tip: Cook the noodles just before serving so they don’t get soggy in leftovers.

👉 Check full recipe: you can find similar versions under “Hühnersuppe mit Suppennudeln” in German cookbooks or German food blogs.

2. Oma’s Hühner-Nudelsuppe (Easy Version)

Flavor Summary: A more homey, pared-down version inspired by grandmother’s kitchen. It forgoes frills for pure, familiar flavor—soft chicken, plenty of noodles, gentle herbs.

Quick 5-Step Summary:

1. Boil chicken pieces (breast + leg) with onion, garlic, parsley, bay leaf.
2. Pull out chicken, shred, discard skin and bones.
3. Add carrot, celery, optional leek, simmer.
4. Cook egg noodles separately to al dente.
5. Add noodles and chicken back, season with salt, pepper, and fresh parsley.

Time: ~60 minutes
Tags: Easy, Everyday
Recipe Credit: Inspired by various German home cooking blogs

💡 Tip: Use homemade stock (from the same boiling) rather than store-bought for deeper flavor.

👉 Check full recipe: try searching “Oma Hühner-Nudelsuppe Rezept” on German food blogs.

3. Hühner-Gemüsesuppe (Chicken Vegetable Soup)

Flavor Summary: A heartier, veggie-forward take on German chicken soup. More vegetables, color, and nutrition—while still keeping that gentle, soothing broth.

Quick 5-Step Summary:

1. Start stock by simmering chicken with aromatics (onion, garlic, herbs).
2. Remove chicken, shred, then return pieces to pot.
3. Add mixed vegetables (carrot, celery, potato, peas, etc.).
4. Simmer until veggies are tender but not mushy.
5. Season with herbs (parsley, chives) and serve hot.

Time: ~75 minutes
Tags: Vegetable-rich, Nutritious
Recipe Credit: Inspired by German vegetable-soup traditions combined with Hühnersuppe style

💡 Tip: Dice vegetables uniformly so they cook at the same time.

👉 Check full recipe: look for “Hühner Gemüsesuppe Rezept” on German food blogs.

4. German Chicken Soup with Dumplings (mit Klößen)

Flavor Summary: Creamier and more indulgent thanks to the addition of soft dumplings (Klöße or Semmelklöße). The dumplings soak up the broth, making every bite rich and satisfying.

Quick 5-Step Summary:

1. Make a rich chicken broth by simmering bones / meat with aromatics.
2. Shred chicken, return to pot with vegetables.
3. Prepare dumpling dough (bread pieces, milk, egg, herbs).
4. Form dumplings, drop into simmering soup, cook until puffed.
5. Adjust seasoning, garnish, and serve.

Time: ~85 minutes
Tags: Comfort, Hearty
Recipe Credit: German home cooking / dumpling-style soup recipes

💡 Tip: Drop dumplings into barely simmering soup (not boiling) so they cook gently and don’t break.

👉 Check full recipe: search “Hühnersuppe mit Klößen Rezept” on German cuisine blogs.

5. Hochzeitssuppe (German Wedding Chicken Soup)

Flavor Summary: Elegant and festive—this soup combines clear chicken broth with meatballs, vegetables, noodles, and delicate egg custard (Eierstich). It’s tradition and flavor in one bowl.

Quick 5-Step Summary:

1. Build a deep stock: simmer chicken parts plus beef/bones with vegetable aromatics for hours.
2. Strain broth and clarify if needed (using egg white method).
3. Prepare meatballs (sausage + beef + egg + crumbs), cook in simmering water.
4. Make Eierstich (egg-custard squares) from milk + eggs + nutmeg, bake or steam and cut small.
5. Cook vegetables and noodles separately, then assemble in bowls: noodles, meatballs, veggies, custard; pour hot broth over and garnish.

Time: ~4–5 hours (mainly simmering)
Tags: Festive, Traditional
Recipe Credit: The Spruce Eats (“German Wedding Soup / Hochzeitssuppe”)

💡 Tip: Assemble each bowl fresh (ingredients first, broth last) to keep it clear and visually attractive.

👉 Check full recipe: The Spruce Eats – German Wedding Soup (Hochzeitssuppe)

6. German-Style Chicken Soup with Spaetzle

Flavor Summary: A richer, hearty version—clear or lightly thickened broth paired with soft spaetzle (egg noodle dumplings). Combines the lightness of broth with the comfort of pasta in one bowl.

Quick 5-Step Summary:

1. Simmer chicken with aromatics until meat is tender and broth is flavorful.
2. Shred chicken, return to the pot.
3. Prepare spaetzle batter (flour, egg, milk/buttermilk), then drop or push dough through spaetzle tool into boiling water.
4. Once spaetzle float, drain and rinse, then add to soup.
5. Simmer briefly, taste & season, garnish with parsley or chives.

Time: ~80 minutes
Tags: Hearty, Pasta-style
Recipe Credit: Many German cooking blogs feature this (search “Hühnersuppe mit Spaetzle”)

💡 Tip: Cook spaetzle separately and add just before serving to prevent them from soaking too much broth.

👉 Check full recipe: look up “German chicken spaetzle soup” or “Hühner­suppe mit Spaetzle” on German food blogs.

More Recipe Details

German chicken soups share a comforting base but allow plenty of room for variety:

• Common Ingredients: Whole chicken or parts, carrots, celery, onion, parsley, leeks, bay leaves.
• Flavor Boosters: Nutmeg, cloves, dill, or fresh herbs added at the end.
• Noodle Options: Suppennudeln, egg noodles, spaetzle, or rice for a lighter version.
• Dumpling Choices: Bread dumplings, flour dumplings, or potato dumplings.
• Serving Ideas: Garnish with fresh parsley or chives, serve with crusty bread or pretzels.
• Make-Ahead Friendly: The broth can be made a day before; noodles or dumplings should be cooked fresh.

💡 Tip: For a clear broth, skim foam while simmering and strain before serving.

History or Origin of the Dish

Chicken soup has long been a staple in German households, known as Hühnersuppe. Traditionally, it was made from older hens (“Suppenhuhn”), prized for producing rich broth. Families often prepared it during colder months or when someone was ill, since it was considered both healing and nourishing.
A regional highlight is Hochzeitssuppe (Wedding Soup), a festive version served at German weddings with meatballs, noodles, and egg custard. Other variations—like spaetzle soups in southern Germany—reflect local tastes and traditions. These recipes carry generations of comfort and are often associated with family gatherings, warmth, and care.

Tools & Equipment Needed

• Large stockpot or Dutch oven
• Cutting board and sharp knife
• Ladle and soup spoons
• Fine-mesh sieve or strainer
• Small pot for cooking noodles or dumplings separately
• Skimmer (optional, for removing foam)

FAQ

1. Can I use chicken pieces instead of a whole chicken?
Yes, thighs or drumsticks work well. A whole chicken adds more depth but isn’t required.

2. How do I keep the broth clear?
Simmer gently and skim off foam. Avoid boiling too hard, which makes broth cloudy.

3. What types of noodles are traditional?
Fine soup noodles, spaetzle, or egg noodles are most common. Each adds a different texture.

4. Can I make these soups ahead of time?
Yes. Store broth separately from noodles or dumplings, then reheat and combine when serving.

5. Can I freeze German chicken soup?
Yes, but freeze only the broth and chicken. Add fresh noodles or dumplings after thawing.

6. Are these soups gluten-free?
Most traditional recipes use noodles or dumplings with wheat. Swap with rice or gluten-free noodles for an easy adaptation.

7. What herbs work best if I don’t have German spices?
Parsley, thyme, bay leaves, and dill are excellent substitutes.

8. Is this soup good for colds or recovery?
Yes. The slow-cooked broth is soothing, easy to digest, and traditionally given as comfort food when sick.

Conclusion

German chicken soup is more than a meal—it’s a taste of home, tradition, and comfort. From light broths with noodles to hearty bowls with dumplings or spaetzle, each recipe offers warmth and nourishment. Try one when you want to cozy up on a cold evening or bring family together at the table. Save this roundup, share it, and enjoy these timeless flavors in your own kitchen.