Description
A quick, comforting, and customizable homemade chicken noodle soup that takes about 45 minutes to make. Perfect for sick days, busy weeknights, or when you need a warm hug in a bowl.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 3 large carrots, diced
- 3 stalks celery, diced
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme (or 1 tablespoon fresh)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 bay leaf
- 8 ounces wide egg noodles
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: 1 cup green beans, 1 medium potato, 2 cups spinach, 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Prep ingredients: Chop onion, dice carrots and celery, mince garlic, and measure herbs.
- Sauté aromatics: Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery; cook for 5-7 minutes until softened and translucent.
- Add garlic and herbs: Stir in minced garlic and dried thyme; cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned. Add bay leaf if using.
- Add chicken and broth: Add chicken pieces and pour in chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 10-15 minutes until chicken is cooked through.
- Shred chicken: Remove chicken from pot, let cool slightly, then shred with two forks. Set aside.
- Cook noodles: Bring a separate pot of salted water to a boil. Cook noodles until al dente, then drain and rinse with cold water (or cook directly in the soup for 8-10 minutes in Step 7).
- Combine and finish: Return shredded chicken to the pot. Stir in cooked noodles. Simmer for 2-3 minutes. Adjust salt and pepper, then stir in fresh parsley and lemon juice if using.
Notes
For best results, cook noodles separately to prevent them from becoming mushy. If freezing, freeze the soup base without noodles and add fresh noodles upon reheating. Shredded chicken distributes better than cubed. Use fresh herbs at the end to preserve flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 25
Keywords: chicken noodle soup, easy soup, comfort food, homemade soup, quick dinner, healthy soup, gluten-free option