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You are here: Home / Recipes / Soup / Simple Chicken Pho

Simple Chicken Pho

Published: December 20, 2020 | Updated: November 17, 2022 | By: Jordan

17.0K shares

This post may contain affiliate links which will not change your price but will share some commission. Please read my privacy policy.

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This Chicken Pho Recipe (pho ga) is made with a savory broth, chewy rice noodles and tender slices of chicken. It’s like the Vietnamese version of chicken noodle soup!

If you love pho as much as I do, give this Shrimp Pho Noodle Soup a try next time.

chicken pho in a white bowl with red chopsticks

Chicken is a staple ingredient for meals in our house. About once a week, sometimes more…I am whipping up something tasty with chicken.

One of my favorite things about chicken is how versatile it is; from the same chicken I can make Mexican and Asian…or American and European.

This past month I poured my heart and soul into my first ever ebook for all of you! The book contains 25 incredible recipes and 1 bonus recipe for chicken stock so that nothing goes to waste.

I know weekdays and even weekends can be busy and we forget to plan lunch or dinner. If you are anything like me that means you are grabbing frozen pizza, bagel bites, or ordering take out.

RIP to that! This ebook…and this incredibly simple Pho recipe are taking over.

two bowls of chicken pho with chopsticks

Chicken Pho Recipe

If you have never had or made Pho before, you are in for a treat! Pho is refreshing, fragrant, delicious…and with this recipe, easy to make! There’s truly nothing better than a big bowl of pho on a cold winter day.

This Vietnamese dish is a staple in their cuisine and is perfect to serve any time of year, but it’s the best for those cold months when you want to warm your soul.

This quick version of pho soup is not an authentic recipe. I make this as a quick fix when I’m craving one of my favorite soups and don’t have a lot of time or feel like going to one of my favorite Vietnamese restaurants.

What is Pho?

Vietnamese pho, pronounced FUH not FO is a Vietnamese noodle soup consisting of broth, rice noodles, herbs, and meat. Pho is a very popular dish in Vietnam and considered the national dish of the country.

Traditional pho broth is simmered for hours, sometimes even days. The broth is make from scratch using beef bones or chicken bones, and allowing it to simmer over a long period of time is what helps develop such depth to make the most flavorful broth.

In this recipe, we make a simple pho broth with chicken stock and a few spices. If you like to make your own homemade beef broth, or chicken broth, feel free to use that instead!

Chicken Pho Ingredients

If you usually don’t cook Asian cuisine, you may not have some of these ingredients on hand. However, you can definitely find them at your local grocery store!

Chicken: I used a rotisserie chicken from my local grocery store. This little secret cut down the prep and cook time.

Noodles: this Pho calls for flat rice noodles, but any thin rice noodles will do. You can even buy pho noodles if you like. Check the International aisle of your local grocery store or your local Asian specialty store.

Pepper: a jalapeño pepper adds the perfect little kick to this recipe. If you really want to kick up the heat, us a serrano pepper.

Wet ingredients: chicken stock (you can use beef stock if you prefer), fish sauce, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, and lime juice.

Spices: star anise, garlic, and ginger.

Pro tip: you can use ginger paste instead of fresh ginger.

Optional toppings: some of my favorite toppings for this soup: lime wedges, cilantro, Thai basil, green onion, and bean sprouts. The toppings are the best part!

Tip: cooked baby bok choy and shiitake mushrooms are great additions to pho!

More herbs and spices you can add to make your savory broth more flavorful:

  • Black pepper
  • Fennel seeds
  • Coriander seeds
  • Cinnamon sticks

If using these spices, I suggest using whole spices rather than ground. Whole spices typically have more flavor because they have a longer shelf life.

How to Make Chicken Pho

1. Prepare the broth. Heat the sesame oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the star anise, garlic, and ginger; heat until fragrant, about 30-60 seconds.

Pour in the stock, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, fish sauce, lime juice, jalapeño pepper, and chicken. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 15-20 minutes uncovered.

ladle pouring broth over rice noodles

2. Cook the noodles according to the package instructions. Divide them between four serving bowls and ladle the hot broth over the noodles.

3. Garnish and serve. Garnish with lime, cilantro, Thai basil, and bean sprouts as desired.

Is Chicken Pho Healthy?

Yes! Chicken Pho (also known as Pho Ga) is packed with nutritious ingredients and is in high protein. However, Pho can also be high in sodium and calories, so portion control is important.

If you’re trying to cut back on sodium, you can use bone broth instead of chicken stock and substitute soy sauce with coconut aminos.

two bowls of pho, glass of water, and bowl of limes

What Does Pho Taste Like?

Pho soup tastes like a really nice chicken stock packed with so much flavor from fresh herbs, and spices.

Is Pho Healthier Than Ramen?

Pho broth is definitely healthier. Ramen broth is typically packed with sodium and MSG. Rice noodles are also a healthier alternative to ramen noodles which are made of wheat and egg.

Rice noodles are compliant with a gluten free diet.

What is the healthiest Pho?

Chicken pho generally has the least amount of fat and is a good source of lean protein.

Looking for a side dish to serve with pho? Try this simple Bok Choy recipe!

More Soup Recipes You Might Like

  • Mexican Street Corn White Chicken Chili
  • Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
  • Lemon Orzo Chicken Soup
  • Creamy Bacon Corn Chowder

WANT TO TRY THIS SIMPLE CHICKEN PHO RECIPE?

PIN IT to your chicken recipes, dinner recipes, or homemade pho recipes board to save it for later!
Find me on Pinterest for more great recipes. I’m always pinning!

chicken pho pin

Did you make this recipe? Post a photo on Instagram and tag me @JZEATS or #JZEATS so I can see! Leave a comment below and let me know what you think, too!

Check Out My Ebook!

chicken pho in a white bowl

Rotisserie Chicken Dinners Ebook

25 easy recipes that all start with a rotisserie chicken from your local grocery store.

They’ll make your life easier and dinner time even yummier.

YES, I WANT THIS!
chicken pho in a white bowl with red chopsticks
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5 from 15 votes

Simple Chicken Pho

This Chicken Pho Recipe (pho ga) is made with a savory broth, chewy rice noodles and tender slices of chicken. It's like the Vietnamese version of chicken noodle soup!
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time20 mins
Total Time30 mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Keyword: chicken pho, chicken pho recipe, pho recipe, simple pho
Servings: 4
Calories: 438kcal
Prevent your screen from going dark
Author: Jordan

Equipment

  • Dutch Oven

Ingredients

  • ½ tablespoon sesame oil
  • 3 star anise
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 teaspoon grated ginger or ginger paste
  • 6 cups chicken stock
  • 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
  • 2-3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
  • 1 teaspoon fish sauce
  • juice from 1 lime
  • 1 jalapeño pepper sliced
  • 1 rotisserie chicken thinly sliced or shredded
  • 8 ounces flat rice noodles
  • Optional toppings: lime wedges, cilantro, Thai basil, bean sprouts

Instructions

  • Heat the sesame oil in a large pot set over medium heat. Add the star anise, garlic, and ginger; heat until fragrant, about 30-60 seconds. Pour in the stock, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, fish sauce, lime juice, jalapeño pepper, and chicken. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 15-20 minutes uncovered.
  • Cook the noodles according to the package instructions. Divide them between 4 bowls and ladle the soup over the noodles.
  • Garnish with lime, cilantro, Thai basil, and bean sprouts as desired.

Video

Notes

  • Leftover rice noodles that have already been soaked or cooked should be kept in a shallow airtight container, or a resealable plastic food bag, in the fridge.
  • The noodles will keep for 3-4 days.
  • To reheat, bring the broth to a boil and pour over the noodles.
  • You may add extra jalapeño if you want more spice.
  • Use a chili pepper instead of the jalapeño for added heat.

Nutrition

Calories: 438kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 83mg | Sodium: 891mg | Potassium: 291mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information is approximate and was calculated using a recipe nutrition label generator.
Tried this recipe?I’d love to see your dish, mention @jzeats or tag #jzeats!
17.0K shares

Published: December 20, 2020 Filed Under: Chicken, Main Dishes, Recipes, Soup

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jess

    January 25, 2021 at 9:36 am

    5 stars
    I love Pho but had never made it at home because it seemed too difficult. This shortcut version makes it so simple!

    Reply
  2. Beth

    January 25, 2021 at 9:54 am

    5 stars
    This was so great and perfect for my family! I can’t wait to make it again!

    Reply
  3. Jen

    January 25, 2021 at 10:09 am

    5 stars
    My husband always orders this if it’s on the menu when we go out so I surprised him tonight for dinner. He loved it!

    Reply
  4. Wanda

    January 25, 2021 at 11:05 am

    5 stars
    We love making pho at home! It’s such a fun dish to enjoy family style! This was soo good.

    Reply
  5. Maria L vandinther

    November 18, 2021 at 6:17 pm

    5 stars
    I would lie to know if you chopped the garlic, or sliced them.i will try to cook this soup today.

    Reply
    • JZ Eats

      November 18, 2021 at 7:05 pm

      Hi Maria – I minced the garlic for this recipe. Hope you enjoy!

      Reply
  6. Bon

    April 13, 2022 at 12:13 pm

    5 stars
    Great recipe thank you for sharing! This was my first time trying this. I followed the instructions as stated and it turned out great for me. I definitely recommend!

    Reply
  7. Amy

    August 6, 2022 at 12:05 pm

    5 stars
    So satisfying and comforting! Love the flavors and how easy this is to make. And it’s so fun to assemble the bowls!

    Reply
    • JZ Eats

      September 13, 2022 at 9:34 am

      Garnishing the bowls is my favorite part!

      Reply
  8. Andrea

    August 6, 2022 at 2:38 pm

    5 stars
    Oh my gosh this was incredible. Loved all the flavors and that it’s easier to make than I thought. Can’t wait to dig into a big bowl of this Chicken pho again!

    Reply
  9. Tara

    August 6, 2022 at 3:03 pm

    5 stars
    Soooo flavorful with a kick of heat! The shredded chicken was superb. Thank you!

    Reply
  10. Tara

    August 6, 2022 at 8:16 pm

    5 stars
    Such a great use of rotisserie chicken! The flavors were fantastic and so so comforting. Yum!

    Reply
  11. Seema Sriram

    August 7, 2022 at 12:14 am

    5 stars
    This pho was so fresh and so tasty. I loved the broth the best and the bite of the rice noodles was wonderful.

    Reply
  12. Lada

    October 2, 2022 at 9:11 am

    To me, too much soya. This version didn’t taste like the one from resto.

    Reply

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about meI’m that girl behind the camera and the creator of all the delicious recipes on this website. I’m a Baltimore food blogger who enjoys nothing more than food!
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