Pho Chicken Soup

Warm, aromatic, and deeply satisfying, this Pho Chicken Soup recipe is a lighter take on Vietnam's beloved comfort food, perfect for any season. Featuring tender, shredded chicken thighs simmered in a fragrant broth infused with star anise, cinnamon, cloves, fresh ginger, and fish sauce, this dish delivers layers of complex, savory flavor with every sip. Served over delicate rice noodles and garnished with vibrant fresh cilantro, basil, bean sprouts, jalapeño slices, and lime wedges, it’s a symphony of taste and texture that balances richness with brightness. Ready in under two hours, this homemade chicken pho is both easy to make and impressively authentic. Ideal for cozy family dinners or meal prepping, this recipe is sure to become a staple in your soup repertoire.

Nutriscore Rating: 65/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:90 mins

Total Time:110 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 2 pounds chicken thighs
• 1 large (quartered) onion
• 3 inches (sliced) fresh ginger
• 2 pieces star anise
• 1 piece cinnamon stick
• 4 pieces cloves
• 3 tablespoons fish sauce
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 8 ounces rice noodles
• 1 cup (chopped) fresh cilantro
• 2 cups bean sprouts
• 1 sliced into wedges lime
• 3 pieces (sliced) green onions
• 1 cup fresh basil
• 1 sliced jalapeño

Directions

Step 1

Place the chicken thighs, quartered onion, and sliced ginger in a large pot.

Step 2

Add star anise, cinnamon stick, and cloves to the pot.

Step 3

Fill the pot with enough water to cover the ingredients by about 1 inch.

Step 4

Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat and simmer gently for about 60 minutes.

Step 5

Remove the chicken thighs from the pot and set aside to cool slightly. Continue simmering the broth.

Step 6

Once the chicken is cool enough to handle, shred the meat and discard the bones.

Step 7

Strain the broth to remove all solids, returning the liquid to the pot.

Step 8

Add fish sauce, salt, and sugar to the broth, stirring to combine. Adjust seasoning to taste.

Step 9

In a separate bowl, soak the rice noodles in hot water for about 15 minutes or until softened, then drain.

Step 10

Arrange shredded chicken, rice noodles, chopped cilantro, bean sprouts, sliced green onions, fresh basil, and jalapeño slices in serving bowls.

Step 11

Ladle the hot broth over the ingredients in each bowl.

Step 12

Serve immediately with lime wedges on the side for squeezing over the soup.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1621.9g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2397.6

Total Fat 104.0g	0%
Saturated Fat 29.6g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.2g
Cholesterol 852.7mg	0%
Sodium 9856.5mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 109.8g	0%
Dietary Fiber 16.2g	0%
Total Sugars 23.0g
Protein 253.3g	0%

Vitamin D 63.5IU	0%
Calcium 387.1mg	0%
Iron 17.5mg	0%
Potassium 3329.7mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 39.2%

Protein: 42.4%

Carbs: 18.4%