I've Made Dozens of Pots of Chicken Noodle Soup, But THIS Is the Best One (2024)

  • Recipes

Kelli Foster

Kelli FosterSenior Contributing Food Editor

Kelli is a Senior Contributing Food Editor for Kitchn. She's a graduate of the French Culinary Institute and author of the cookbooks, Plant-Based Buddha Bowls, The Probiotic Kitchen, Buddha Bowls, and Everyday Freekeh Meals. She lives in New Jersey.

Follow

published Jan 2, 2024

Be the first to leave a review!

I've Made Dozens of Pots of Chicken Noodle Soup, But THIS Is the Best One (1)

This cozy classic has everything you love and cooks in just 30 minutes.

Serves6 to 8Makesabout 10 cupsPrep15 minutesCook25 minutes to 30 minutes

Jump to Recipe

We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

I've Made Dozens of Pots of Chicken Noodle Soup, But THIS Is the Best One (2)

There is nothing more comforting than chicken noodle soup. I’ve made this classic soup every which way: creamy chicken noodle soup, slow cooker chicken noodle soup, and instant pot chicken noodle soup. This easy stovetop method is the one I keep coming back to. It has everything you expect from classic chicken noodle soup: a bright, rich-flavored broth, juicy pieces of chicken, thick-cut vegetables, and tender egg noodles. Best of all, the upfront prep is minimal and the soup cooks in just 30 minutes.

Ingredients in Chicken Noodle Soup

  • Rotisserie chicken. Not only does using rotisserie chicken for chicken noodle soup make this fast and easy, but it ensures that the chicken is flavorful, juicy, tender, and won’t be overcooked or dry.
  • Unsalted butter or olive oil. Butter adds a nice touch of richness to the soup, though if you’d prefer to keep it dairy-free, olive oil works well as a substitute.
  • Vegetables. Yellow onion, carrots, and celery flavor the broth.
  • Chicken broth. A couple cartons of low-sodium chicken broth are the way to go when you want to keep things quick and easy, but if you’re game for a project, consider making your own chicken stock.
  • Extra-wide egg noodles. To keep things simple, minimize dirty dishes, and pack in more flavor, the egg noodles cook directly in the soup.
  • Fresh parsley or dill. Adding chopped herbs at the end of cooking is a great way to keep the soup feeling fresh while adding a pop of green.
  • Lemon. Adding a squeeze of lemon juice once the pot comes off the heat is totally optional, though for me personally, it’s always a must. A little bit of acidity adds brightness to the soup and ups the comfort level even more.

What Can I Add to Chicken Soup to Give It Flavor?

You have a lot of opportunity to add flavor to chicken soup throughout the cooking process, starting at the very beginning until you take the pot off the heat.

  • Sautéing aromatic vegetables, like onion, carrot, and celery then simmering them in the broth adds more flavor. As does mixing in a few sprigs of fresh thyme and dried bay leaves.
  • Season the soup with salt and pepper early on, allowing the flavor to concentrate as the soup simmers.
  • Adding fresh herbs like parsley or dill along with lemon juice is a great flavor boost. These additions keep the soup feeling fresh and bright, and the acidity of the lemon rounds out the savoriness of the broth.
  • Taste the soup at the end of cooking. If the flavor tastes a little flat, adding more salt or lemon juice will help.

If You’re Making Chicken Noodle Soup, a Few Tips

  • Cut the vegetables into thick pieces. Keeping the pieces large ensures that they stay tender without getting mushy, and keep their bright coloring.
  • Cook the noodles separately, if not eating all of the soup right away. This is because as the noodles sit in the soup, they absorb more and more broth, becoming soggy over time. I’ve found from experience that some egg noodles can hold up well, though most become a soggy mess and fall apart.
  • Toss in the extra meat from the rotisserie chicken. Depending on the size of the chicken, you may find that after you pull off the meat you need, there’s still more left on the bird. Go ahead and toss it in the soup as well, unless of course you have another plan for the leftover chicken, like making chicken salad.
Comments

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe

This cozy classic has everything you love and cooks in just 30 minutes.

Prep time 15 minutes

Cook time 25 minutes to 30 minutes

Makes about 10 cups

Serves 6 to 8

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

  • 1

    large yellow onion

  • 3

    medium carrots

  • 3

    medium stalks celery

  • 3 cloves

    garlic

  • 2 tablespoons

    unsalted butter or olive oil

  • 2 1/2 teaspoons

    kosher salt, plus more as needed

  • 1/2 teaspoon

    freshly ground black pepper

  • 2 (32-ounce) cartons

    low-sodium chicken broth (about 8 cups)

  • 5 sprigs

    fresh thyme

  • 2

    dried bay leaves

  • 1 (2 1/2- to 3-pound)

    rotisserie chicken, or about 1 pound cooked, boneless chicken

  • 6 ounces

    dried extra-wide egg noodles (about 3 1/4 cups)

  • 1/2 medium bunch

    fresh parsley or dill

  • 1/2

    large lemon (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the following, adding each to the same large bowl as you complete it: Dice 1 large onion (about 2 cups). Peel and cut 3 medium carrots crosswise into 1/2-inch thick rounds (about 1 3/4 cups). Cut 3 medium celery stalks crosswise into 1/2-inch thick pieces (about 1 1/4 cups). Mince 3 garlic cloves.

  2. Melt 2 tablespoons unsalted butter or heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a Dutch oven heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the onion mixture, 2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes.

  3. Add 2 (32-ounce) cartons low-sodium chicken broth, 5 sprigs fresh thyme, and 2 dried bay leaves. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Meanwhile, use 2 forks to shred the meat from 1 (2 1/2- to 3-pound) rotisserie chicken or 1 pound cooked, boneless chicken into bite-sized pieces (about 3 cups).

  4. Add the chicken and 6 ounces dried extra-wide egg noodles to the soup. Reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer and cook until the noodles are just shy of al dente, 6 to 7 minutes or 1 minute less than the package instructions. Meanwhile, finely chop the leaves and tender stems from 1/2 medium bunch fresh parsley or dill until you have 1/4 cup.

  5. Remove and discard the thyme sprigs and bay leaves. Taste and season with more kosher salt as needed. Add the chopped parsley or dill. If using, squeeze the juice from 1/2 large lemon until you have 2 tablespoons. Add to soup and stir to combine.

Recipe Notes

General Tips: If not eating immediately, cook the egg noodles separately for 1 minute less than the package instructions for al dente. Add to soup when ready to eat.

Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Filed in:

pasta

Chicken

poultry

Main Dish

Make Ahead

soup

I've Made Dozens of Pots of Chicken Noodle Soup, But THIS Is the Best One (2024)

FAQs

How do you doctor up store bought chicken noodle soup? ›

Smart! Canned soup-ers can follow suit: After sautéing your aromatics, deglaze the pan with a glug of the Good Juice. You can also stir a splash of acid—like lemon juice, white wine vinegar, or apple cider vinegar—to brighten things up.

How to make packaged chicken noodle soup better? ›

Adding cooked chicken to your soup isn't the only way to bulk it up and improve the flavor. You can also try stirring in some other additions. A similar option is to mix in some extra vegetables. Remember, heating up canned soup means you don't cook the broth as long as you would if you were making it from scratch.

How do you make chicken noodle soup less boring? ›

Add Some Herbs

Start by melting a little butter in a pan and add some fresh herbs like ground pepper, oregano, thyme, and basil. Mix the sauteed herbs into the broth to add flavor to a boring canned soup. You can also toss a sprig of rosemary or fresh sage into the pot while you heat up the soup.

Why is chicken noodle soup bad? ›

Why Chicken Noodle Soup Often Isn't as Healthy as You May Think. Misleading labels, high amounts of sodium, and unnecessary ingredients are just a few reasons to be choosier about which soup you eat. Maybe your mom always gave you chicken noodle soup when you were sick or to warm you up on a cold winter's night.

How do you make store bought chicken soup taste better? ›

Herbs: Fresh chives, thyme, or cilantro stirred in just before serving. Spices: Your soup is probably salty enough, but what about simmering a bay leaf in there for a while (don't forget to remove it before serving)? Depending on the soup's flavor profile, you could shake in some cumin or red pepper flakes.

How to enhance the flavor of chicken noodle soup? ›

Seasoning the Soup: If you feel the soup is missing some zing, add a bit more salt. You can also add a pop of flavor with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, a dash of fish sauce (we use this trick for store-bought stocks and broths often) or Worcestershire sauce.

How do you keep noodles from getting mushy in chicken noodle soup? ›

Wait until the very end of cooking to add the noodles

Mushy noodles, the outlet explains, are the result of overcooking. This occurs when the noodles are added too soon into the soup's cooking process, giving them ample opportunity — too much opportunity — to cook.

Can I put uncooked noodles in my chicken soup? ›

Bring broth to a boil. Add noodles (either uncooked homemade egg noodles, or dry store-bought pasta) and cook just until noodles are al dente. If using store-bought noodles, be cautious not to overcook them! Remove pot from heat as soon as they are just barely tender.

How do you keep chicken soup juicy? ›

Cold-poaching the chicken breasts, then removing them until the end of the cooking process, guarantees a perfectly tender and juicy texture. Using stock reinforces the flavor of the broth, creating a more deeply flavorful soup.

How do you add depth to chicken soup? ›

"If your broth is lacking in savory richness, try adding roasted onion, tomato paste, mushrooms, seaweed, soy sauce, or miso. These ingredients add umami flavor and depth to broth," she says. The choice of ingredient depends on the recipe, though.

Why add vinegar to chicken noodle soup? ›

Add Vinegar To Begin With To Avoid Oversalting

By adding a splash of an acidic ingredient to your soup as you cook it, you'll reduce the need to add as much salt, while still highlighting and deepening the flavors in the pot.

What thickens chicken soup? ›

Add flour or cornflour

You can also use flour or cornflour to thicken a soup. Put a tablespoon of either into a small bowl and stir in 2-3 tbsp of the soup until you have a smooth mixture. Stir this back into the soup and bring it to a simmer.

Is Campbell's chicken noodle soup bad for you? ›

Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup

Campbell's condensed chicken noodle soup is a classic and one of the most popular canned soups. But Frost, Gonzalez and Tills all said it's the least-healthy choice because it's so high in sodium: 890 mg per serving, or 39% of your daily value.

Is eating chicken noodle soup every day healthy? ›

Hence, a bowl of chicken soup can be a great addition in your daily diet. Other key ingredients in a chicken soup include onions, garlic and additional vegetables that add flavour and a healthy dose of important nutrients that is needed for a well-functioning immune system.

Why do doctors recommend chicken noodle soup? ›

Compared with hot water alone, studies show chicken soup is more effective at loosening mucus. The herbs and spices sometimes used in chicken soup, such as pepper and garlic, also loosen mucus. The broth, which contains water and electrolytes, helps with rehydration.

How do you upgrade store bought soup? ›

The addition of meat and vegetarian replacements like chicken or tofu, as well as carbs like rice or legumes add additional heft to any canned soup. Veggies and a splash of citric acid can brighten up a boring tomato soup.

How do you add depth of flavor to chicken soup? ›

A splash of vinegar or wine can add depth and complexity to the flavors of your chicken noodle soup. Try adding a small amount of apple cider vinegar or a dry white wine for a delightful tangy note. Just remember to add it gradually, tasting as you go, to avoid overpowering the soup.

How do you elevate chicken noodles? ›

  1. Butter and Milk (France) To give your noodle recipe a French twist, all you'll need are two ingredients: butter and 🥛 milk. ...
  2. Kimchi (Korea) ...
  3. Fried Bacon and Egg (USA) ...
  4. Peanut Butter and Sriracha Sauce (Thailand) ...
  5. Sliced Cheese (Italy) ...
  6. Sesame Oil and Soy Sauce (Japan) ...
  7. Garlic and Soy Sauce (China) ...
  8. Canned meat.
Sep 24, 2023

Is chicken stock or broth better for chicken noodle soup? ›

A good broth is the secret to the very best soup, such as chicken soup and beef and barley, while a rich stock is the foundation for superior braises, stews and sauces, including French classics like demi-glace and sauce Espagnole, as well as the very best turkey gravy.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Ms. Lucile Johns

Last Updated:

Views: 6177

Rating: 4 / 5 (41 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Ms. Lucile Johns

Birthday: 1999-11-16

Address: Suite 237 56046 Walsh Coves, West Enid, VT 46557

Phone: +59115435987187

Job: Education Supervisor

Hobby: Genealogy, Stone skipping, Skydiving, Nordic skating, Couponing, Coloring, Gardening

Introduction: My name is Ms. Lucile Johns, I am a successful, friendly, friendly, homely, adventurous, handsome, delightful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.