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Key Ingredients for Your Zucchini Noodle Soup Jars & Smart Substitutions

Crafting the perfect Zucchini Chicken Noodle Soup Jar begins with selecting fresh, high-quality ingredients. Each component plays a vital role in building the robust flavor and satisfying texture of this healthy meal. Below, we’ve outlined the essential ingredients along with practical substitutions to ensure this recipe is adaptable to your pantry and preferences, making it easy to create a delicious low-carb chicken soup for your meal prep.

• Olive oil – A good quality extra virgin olive oil forms the base for sautéing your aromatics and chicken, imparting a subtle, fruity flavor. Its medium smoke point makes it suitable for this initial cooking step. If you prefer a more neutral taste or have other cooking oils on hand, feel free to use any light cooking oil such as grapeseed, avocado oil, or even canola oil, all of which are excellent for general sautéing.
• Chicken breasts – Lean, versatile, and protein-packed, diced chicken breasts are the primary protein in this comforting soup. They cook quickly and absorb flavors beautifully. For a richer flavor profile and slightly more tender texture, consider using boneless, skinless chicken thighs, which are also a fantastic option. If you’re looking for plant-based alternatives to create a vegetarian or vegan zucchini noodle soup, cooked chickpeas (drained and rinsed), diced firm tofu (pressed to remove excess water and lightly sautéed for texture), or pre-cooked lentils can be excellent substitutes, providing a hearty texture and protein.
• Garlic – Freshly minced garlic provides an indispensable aromatic foundation for the soup, building a deep, savory base. Its pungent, distinct notes are crucial for that classic comforting soup flavor. While fresh is always best for maximum flavor and aroma, pre-minced jarred garlic can be used in a pinch for convenience, though you might need a bit more to achieve the same intensity of flavor.
• Yellow onion – Onions are another cornerstone of flavor in almost any savory dish, and this soup is no exception. Diced yellow onion caramelizes beautifully when sautéed, adding natural sweetness and depth to the vegetable base. White onion or shallots are excellent substitutes, offering similar aromatic qualities with slight variations in pungency. For a milder flavor, or if you prefer a different aromatic, you could even use a thinly sliced leek (ensuring it’s thoroughly washed to remove any grit).
• Celery – Celery adds a refreshing crispness and a classic aromatic essence to the soup, contributing to the traditional “mirepoix” base. If you don’t have celery on hand, or prefer a different green vegetable, a handful of fresh spinach or chopped kale can be stirred in at the very end of cooking (or just before adding boiling water to the jar) to provide a similar nutritional boost, vibrant color, and slight textural contrast.
• Carrots – Sweet, vibrant carrots contribute both a beautiful color and a subtle natural sweetness to the soup, along with a significant boost of Vitamin A. Don’t hesitate to get creative with other root vegetables if carrots aren’t available or if you want to diversify your nutrients. Diced sweet potato, parsnips, or even a different color of bell pepper (though red pepper is already listed) would work well to add bulk and flavor.
• Red pepper – Red bell pepper adds a touch of sweetness and a beautiful pop of color to the soup, along with a generous amount of Vitamin C. Green, yellow, or orange bell peppers can be easily swapped in for similar flavor and nutritional value. Alternatively, for a different flavor and texture, you could include diced mushrooms or even some tender green beans.
• Thyme, parsley and oregano – This classic herb trio infuses the soup with warm, earthy, and aromatic notes that are characteristic of comforting chicken soup. Fresh herbs provide the most vibrant flavor, but dried herbs can certainly be used (as a general rule, use about 1/3 the amount of fresh when substituting with dried). A good quality Italian seasoning blend will also provide a very similar, well-rounded flavor profile and is a convenient option if you’re short on individual herbs.
• Salt & pepper – Essential seasoning to enhance all the other flavors in the soup. Always taste and adjust to your preference, as the bouillon also contributes sodium. Freshly ground black pepper will offer a more pungent aroma and a deeper flavor compared to pre-ground pepper.
• Chicken bouillon cubes – These convenient cubes are key to quickly creating a rich, savory broth without needing to have pre-made chicken stock on hand. They dissolve easily in hot water to form the flavorful liquid base of your soup. Vegetable bouillon cubes are the ideal alternative for a vegetarian version or if you simply prefer a lighter, plant-based broth. You can also use liquid chicken or vegetable broth, but you’ll need to reduce the amount of boiling water added to the jar when rehydrating your meal.
• Spiralized zucchini noodles – The true low-carb star of our soup, transforming it into a healthy and keto-friendly meal! I often opt for the convenience of pre-spiralized zucchini noodles found in the produce or prepared foods section of most grocery stores. These are typically ready to use and often have some excess moisture already drained, which is a big plus. However, making your own fresh zucchini noodles is simple and cost-effective if you have a spiralizer. You’ll typically need about 3-4 medium zucchinis to yield enough noodles for four generous servings. Ensure you drain excess moisture from homemade zoodles to prevent sogginess – we’ll cover how to do this later in the FAQs.