Slow Cooker Chicken Soup

Ingredients

5 lb chicken, giblets removed
1 bay leaf
1 1/2 C celery, chopped
1 1/2 C carrots, chopped
1 C yellow onion, chopped
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1 1/2 tsp dried minced garlic
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, optional
1 tsp garlic powder
6 C chicken broth

Directions

Prepare chicken; remove the giblets, rinse the inside and outside of the chicken well. Place chicken in a size appropriate slow cooker, at least 5-6 quarts.

Chop celery, carrots and onion. Add to slow cooker. Sprinkle with spices. Cover with at least 6 cups chicken broth.

Cook on high for 4 hours. Carefully remove chicken to a carving board or rimmed baking sheet.

While the chicken is removed from the slow cooker, scoop out the bay leaf and discard. Remove skin from chicken. Begin slicing off meat, shredding and returning to the slow cooker. Pull off as much meat as you can, using only white meat or both white and dark.

Stir ingredients. Divide among bowls.