Gather chicken, water or broth, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, salt, pepper, and optional herbs
Rinse the chicken and prepare the vegetables by washing and chopping them
Place the chicken in a large pot and add water or broth
Add onion, carrots, celery, garlic, salt, pepper, and herbs
Bring the pot to a boil over medium-high heat
Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer until the chicken is cooked through and tender
Remove the chicken from the pot and let it cool slightly
Shred or cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces
Return the chicken to the pot
Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning if needed
Simmer a few more minutes until the vegetables are tender
Serve hot