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Chicken Noodle Soup

Filed Under: Chicken Recipes, Fall & Winter, Main Course, Soup

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Is there a more comforting dish than homemade Chicken Noodle Soup? When it’s cold outside or someone is feeling a bit under the weather, it’s exactly what comes to mind.

Chicken Noodle Soup served in white bowls

I like to season Chicken Noodle Soup simply with just a bit of thyme to enhance the flavor of the broth and vegetables. I typically use homemade chicken broth as the base, using my easy recipe that not only yields delicious broth but ample, tender cooked chicken for making this soup. (The chicken and liquid from this Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken would also make a terrific base.) And if you’re short on time, you can always use commercial chicken broth and a rotisserie chicken or other leftover cooked chicken.

You’ll notice from my photos and video that I like to load my Chicken Noodle Soup with plenty of vegetables and noodles. If you prefer a brothier soup, feel free to increase the amount of broth and/or decrease the amount of vegetables and noodles.

One tip on the noodles: if you plan to eat this soup over 2 or 3 days, cook and store the noodles separately in the refrigerator, tossed in a bit of olive oil (see recipe notes for specific instructions). Otherwise they’ll get overdone and bloated in the leftover soup. Instead, reheat the noodles in the soup. Just stir in your desired amount of cooked noodles to heated soup in the last minute or so before serving.

cooking noodles separately for chicken noodle soup

How to Make Chicken Noodle Soup

Step 1: Soften onion in butter.

softening onions in butter

Step 2: Add celery, carrot, chicken broth and thyme; bring to boil.

sliced carrot and celery with softened onion in soup pot
adding broth to chicken noodle soup
adding thyme to chicken noodle soup

Step 3: Add pasta and cook until nearly tender. (Cook and store pasta separately if eating soup over 2 or 3 days.)

adding noodles to chicken noodle soup

Step 4: Stir in cooked chicken; cook and stir until heated through, about 2 minutes. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Serve.

adding chicken to chicken noodle soup

Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe Video

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Chicken Noodle Soup in white bowls
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5 from 7 votes

Chicken Noodle Soup

Homemade chicken broth is worth the extra effort, but your favorite canned or boxed chicken broth works just fine too.
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time20 mins
Total Time30 mins
Course: Soup
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 355kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 large onion coarsley chopped
  • 2 ribs celery thinly sliced into half moons
  • 1 large carrot thinly sliced
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 8 cups chicken broth ideally homemade
  • 6 ounces egg noodles see recipe note #2
  • 2 cups cooked chicken cut in rough 1-inch chunks

Instructions

  • Melt butter in a 3-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir until softened and translucent, 3-5 minutes.
  • Add celery, carrot, thyme, and broth. Bring to boil. Add egg noodles; cook and stir until nearly tender. Add chicken; cook and stir 2 minutes more.
  • Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Serve.

Notes

  1. I recommend making Homemade Chicken Broth or Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken (including the liquid) as the base of this recipe.
  2. If you’ll be eating this soup over a few days, cook the noodles separately until nearly tender. Drain and rinse with cold water. Transfer to a lidded container and toss with a drizzle of olive oil to keep the noodles from sticking together. Refrigerate. Add cooked noodles to reheated soup for a minute or two before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 355kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 95mg | Sodium: 1836mg | Potassium: 804mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 64.8% | Vitamin C: 45.3% | Calcium: 7.9% | Iron: 16.9%
Keywords: comfort food, kid friendly, light, low calorie, winter
Tried this recipe?I’d love to see it! Tag me on Instagram at @pinchandswirl or leave me a comment and rating below.

About Marissa

The best food happens at home. I love delicious food prepared simply with fresh ingredients and that’s just what you’ll find here! You can count on me for well tested, easy, mouthwatering recipes designed for home cooks.

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Comments

  2. Kevin says

    January 25, 2019 at 1:13 pm


    There is nothing better than a big bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup on a chilly winter day! I can taste it now! It’s the definition of a comfort food right here!

    Reply

  6. Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says

    January 24, 2019 at 10:20 am


    You are absolutely right – there isn’t a more comforting dish than chicken noodle soup, especially if it’s homemade! And, I’m totally with you, I like my soup loaded with all the goodies, so this is totally calling my name! Cozy perfection!

    Reply

  7. Linda says

    January 24, 2019 at 9:30 am

    I enjoy a good bowl of chicken noodle soup on a cold day, just like today. It’s always comforting and I love how you add l extra vegetables in this soup.

    Reply

  8. Dawn says

    January 24, 2019 at 6:51 am


    One of my all time faves, especially this time of year! It’s been so cold here lately and soup is definitely in order. Maybe some bread for dunkin’ 😉 ?? Hope you have a wonderful weekend ahead, Marissa 🙂

    Reply

  10. David @ Spiced says

    January 24, 2019 at 4:47 am


    That’s an excellent tip about storing the noodles separately! Whenever we make chicken noodle soup, I always store it all together…and then we can it ‘chicken noodle soup sludge’ by the 2nd and 3rd day. It’s still delicious! It’s just a thick version of soup without much broth. Your version looks fantastic, my friend. I’m actually feeling a little under the weather myself this morning, and a big bowl of this soup would be just what the doctor ordered!

    Reply

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