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    Home / Soup / Pho Ga (Chicken Pho)

    Pho Ga (Chicken Pho)

    A lighter, sweeter take on pho, with golden chicken broth, tender shredded chicken, and soft rice noodles perfumed with ginger.

    ⏱ 20 minPrep time
    🔥 1 hr 30 minCook time
    🍽 6Servings
    🏷 SoupCategory
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    In the north, chicken pho is the cousin everyone loves almost as much as beef. The broth is lighter and sweeter, perfumed with ginger and star anise, and it comes together in a fraction of the time. It is the pho of sick days and lazy weekends, the one you make when a family needs comforting. If beef pho is a project, chicken pho is a promise you can keep on a weeknight.

    Golden broth, silky noodles, and a spoonful of comfort

    A whole chicken simmers gently until the meat is fall-off-the-bone tender and the stock turns golden and fragrant. Shred the meat back into the broth, ladle it over soft rice noodles, and top with scallions and cilantro. A squeeze of lime and a few basil leaves make it sing, and the leftovers are even better the next day. It is proof that pho does not need hours of bones to warm you to the core. It is the bowl you will find yourself making again the week after, without even planning to.

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    Step by stepInstructions

    1. Char the onion and ginger in a dry skillet or under the broiler until blackened in spots, about 5 minutes.
    2. Put the whole chicken in a large pot with the charred onion, ginger, star anise, coriander seeds, and enough water to cover, about 4 quarts.
    3. Bring to a boil, reduce to a gentle simmer, and cook for 1 hour 15 minutes, skimming foam now and then.
    4. Lift out the chicken and let it cool until easy to handle, then shred the meat, discarding skin and bones.
    5. Strain the broth and season with fish sauce, sugar, and salt. Keep it hot.
    6. Cook the rice noodles according to the package, drain, and divide among bowls.
    7. Top the noodles with shredded chicken, ladle the hot broth over, and finish with scallions and cilantro. Serve with the garnishes on the side.

    💡 Chef tips & storage

    Use a whole chicken on the bone for the richest broth and simmer gently so the meat stays tender. Leftover broth freezes beautifully for a fast meal later.

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    Recipe details

    Prep20 min
    Cook1 hr 30 min
    Servings6
    CategorySoup
    PublishedAugust 17, 2026
    Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

    Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

    Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →

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