Take the time to make Chicken Noodle Soup from scratch and you’ll never be able to make it another way again! My mom’s version is a step above the rest, made with homemade stock and egg noodles that take just minutes to make. The end result is the BEST Chicken Noodle Soup you’ll ever have!
My kids literally jump up and down with excitement whenever homemade Chicken Noodle Soup is on the menu, and rightfully so, because it is AMAZING! This is one of my go-to recipes to bring to friends or neighbors (along with a loaf of Artisan Bread) during the cooler seasons and it’s always a hit.
My mom always made chicken noodle soup with homemade egg noodles, but the great thing about this soup is that any kind of noodles will work!
Chicken Noodle Soup
Take the time to make Chicken Noodle Soup from scratch and you’ll never be able to make it another way again! My mom’s version is a step above the rest, made with homemade stock and egg noodles that take just minutes to make.
Prep: 20min
Total: 40min
Serving Size: 1 serving
Nutrition Facts: calories 256 kcal, Carbohydrate 22 g, Protein 19 g, Fat 9 g, Saturated Fat 3 g, Cholesterol 61 mg, Sodium 421 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 2 g, servingSize 1 serving
Ingredients:
- 1/2 Tablespoon butter
- 2 ribs celery (, diced)
- 3-4 large carrots (diced)
- 1 clove garlic (, minced)
- 10 cups chicken stock or broth*
- 1 teaspoon salt (, to taste)
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (, to taste)
- 1/8 teaspoon dried rosemary (,or more, to taste)
- 1/8 teaspoon dried sage
- 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 batch homemade egg noodles* (, or 5 cups dry egg noodles, farfalle or other bite-size pasta)
- 3 cups rotisserie chicken*
- 1 teaspoon Better than Bouillon chicken base (or more, as needed) (, or chicken bouillon granules)
Instruction:
- Add butter, diced celery and carrots to a large stock pot over medium-high heat. Saute for 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
- Add chicken stock and season the broth with rosemary, sage, crushed red pepper, and salt (definitely TASTE the broth before adding more salt), and pepper. Taste and add a spoonful of “better than bullion” chicken or chicken bouillon cubes or granules as needed.
- 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. The noodles will continue to cook once you remove the pot from the heat, and you don’t want them mushy.
- Add chicken meat from the rotisserie chicken. Taste the broth again and add more seasonings, if needed.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days, depending on the freshness of the chicken you used.
Ultra-Satisfying Chicken Noodle Soup
This quicker version of homemade chicken noodle soup skips cooking a whole chicken and calls on boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead. The soup still tastes incredible, satisfying, and classic. The significantly reduced cook time makes this chicken soup from scratch possible on a weeknight. We highly recommend chicken thighs for this because of their flavor and soft texture when cooked, but if you prefer them, chicken breasts will work.
Prep: 5min
Total: 40min
Yield: Makes 6 servings
Serving Size: 1/6 of the recipe
Nutrition Facts: servingSize 1/6 of the recipe, calories 298, Fat 11.4g, Saturated Fat 4.4g, Cholesterol 97.7mg, Sodium 748.7mg, Carbohydrate 22.9g, Fiber 1.7g, Sugar 7.5g, Protein 24.8g
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons butter, chicken fat or olive oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 large carrots, chopped
- 2 stalks celery, chopped (optional)
- Heaped tablespoon minced garlic (4 cloves)
- 2 bay leaves
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme or use 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken thighs (4 or 5 thighs)
- 8 cups chicken stock or broth, low sodium or use homemade stock
- 5 ounces egg noodles (or pasta of choice)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
- Water or more stock, as needed
Instruction:
- Melt butter in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onions, carrots, and celery. Cook, stirring every few minutes until the vegetables begin to soften; 5 to 6 minutes.
- Stir in the garlic, bay leaves, and thyme. Cook, while stirring the garlic around the pan, for about 1 minute.
- Pour in the chicken stock and bring to a low simmer. Taste the soup then adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Depending on the stock used, you might need to add 1 or more teaspoons of salt.
- Submerge the chicken thighs into the soup so that the broth covers them. Bring the soup back to a low simmer then partially cover the pot with a lid and cook, stirring a few times until the chicken thighs are cooked through; about 20 minutes.
- If, during this time, the broth seems low, add a splash more stock or a bit of water. Turn the heat to medium-low.
- Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate. Stir the noodles into the soup and cook until done, 6 to 10 minutes depending on the type of noodles used.
- While the noodles cook, shred the chicken into strips or dice into cubes. Slide the chicken back into the pot and then taste the soup once more for seasoning. Adjust with more salt and pepper, as needed. Stir in the parsley and serve.