Easy Chicken Noodle Soup
When you want a hot bowl of comfort but don’t want to slave over the stove for hours, this quick and easy Chicken Noodle Soup recipe is the perfect choice. It has the simple, clean flavors you expect from this classic, and it’s ready in 30 minutes.
This quick and easy chicken noodle soup recipe is pure comfort in a bowl. In just 30 minutes, you’ll have a warm, flavorful soup made in one pot with tender chicken breast, fresh carrots, celery, and onion simmered in a savory broth. Perfect for busy weeknights or my favorite, a chilly winter night.
I’ve made more soup in my lifetime than I can count. My family calls me the soup guru, as I can now make all of my soup recipes from memory. Ive tested different noodles, veggies and broths and this is the variation I have found to be perfect. I know this foolproof method will be your staple now too whether for yourself or to drop off for a friend when they are sick.
Reader Taste Test Results
Donna S. – “Wow…Thank you sooo much for a nice easy dinner. I find that on a cold New England day….chicken soup just warms the soul”
Debra P. – “Our whole family loved this soup last night. Bravo!!!”
The Secret to Amazing Chicken Noodle Soup
Use a quality chicken broth – I once did a taste test comparing several brands of chicken broth from the grocery store, and the differences were staggering. Since you’re not making the broth yourself from the whole bird, you need to start with a good broth. My favorite brands are Imagine and Swanson. Think of this as drinking tap water or a high quality spring water!
Season the soup well – If a soup is underseasoned, it’s difficult for the flavors to come through, even if there is a good mix of vegetables and herbs. The salt helps you taste the flavor. Italian seasoning can also pack a flavor punch if you have it!
Use a fresh herb – Soup is a very aromatic food, and herbs are all about aroma and flavor. They make a big difference here! Rosemary and thyme are my top recommendations. This also adds a nice touch for presentation if you are serving to a group.
Chicken Variations – Use what is easy. I prefer to finely dice a chicken breast because thats the flavor and texture I like but rotisserie chicken might be easier for you, shred it to bite size pieces and add to your simmering soup for an even easier dinner.
The difference between broth and stock
Broth and stock may seem interchangeable, but they differ in both method and taste.
Broth – is made primarily from meat and vegetables, creating a clean, classic chicken-soup flavor and a lighter body.
Stock – is simmered with bones, giving it a richer mouthfeel and deeper, slightly gelatinous texture.
For a quick recipe like this, choose a flavorful broth so you can skip long simmering and still get full, savory taste. Try a few brands to find your favorite. Swanson and Imagine are two reliable options that I like. I find that the higher quality broths are only $1 or so more. Worth the extra cost if you ask me!
Select your pasta
There’s a lot of customization that can happen for this soup overall, but especially with the noodles. You can add any kind of pasta you’d like, like stars, spirals, and more, but I really love a wide pappardelle egg noodle, as they remind me most of homemade noodles.
You can also make this easy recipe much heartier by adding tortellini, like in my Chicken Spinach Tortellini Soup.
How to Make Quick and Easy Chicken Noodle Soup
- Chop carrots, onion, and celery into bite size pieces. Sweat in a large bowl with olive oil, salt and pepper over medium heat about 10 minutes until the veggies soften.
2) Add your chicken broth and fresh herbs. Thyme and/or rosemary are my go-tos. Use dried herbs if you do not have any fresh. Bring the liquid to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 10 Minutes
3) After 10 minutes of simmering, finely chop a chicken breast and season with salt & pepper. This will cook quickly. About 3 minutes. You can also add store bought rotisserie chicken here or my Crockpot Chicken Breast which is great for batch cooking for multiple meals.
4) I boil the noodles separately and also store them separately from the liquid, to avoid that mushy disintegrated noodle texture. My absolute favorite here is wide egg noodles. Make sure to cook the noodles al dente, as they will soften further in the broth.
Serving Chicken Noodle Soup like a Pro
When you’re ready to serve the soup, add a handful of noodles to a bowl and ladle over the hot broth. Sometimes I will garnish the bowl of chicken noodle soup with a sprinkle of fresh parsley, a squeeze of lemon juice, or some extra thyme leaves.
This homemade chicken noodle soup recipe goes beautifully with a side of fresh Asiago Black Pepper Bread or some Drop Biscuits. You can also use gluten-free pasta here, or simply omit the noodles to make it low carb.
Suggested Pairings
For a really special lunch, you can try pairing the chicken noodle soup with something more elaborate, like a Waffle Iron Grilled Cheese Sandwich or Chicken Cordon Bleu Panini. Cheddar Scallion Biscuits are also lovely, or you could do a salad on the side like this Kale Caesar Salad. You can also try my Chicken Dumpling Soup
FAQs & Troubleshooting
Yes, for up to three months. Leave extra room in the container to allow for expansion of the liquid. Also, chill the soup fully in the fridge before freezing.
It lasts a solid 5 days at a minimum, though I can usually keep it for 7 days in the coldest part of the fridge. I recommend storing the noodles separately, in an airtight container.
I recommend boiling the noodles separately and also storing them separately from the liquid, to avoid that mushy disintegrated noodle texture. Add the noodles just before serving.
Yes, though I’m not sure it’s worth the trouble since it requires a lot of extra time, and the flavor is not as good when the veggies aren’t sauteed. Using the instant pot may be a better option. To use the slow cooker, combine all ingredients except the pasta in the crock pot, and cook on low for about 4 hours, until the meat is cooked through. Then I would still cook the pasta separately in a large stockpot and add it as needed to each bowl before serving.
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Easy Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1.5 cups chopped celery
- 1.5 cups chopped carrots
- 1 cup chopped yellow onion
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 10 cups chicken broth (I like Imagine Organic and Swanson brands)
- 10 sprigs fresh thyme*
- 3 cups finely chopped chicken breast or thighs seasoned with a pinch of salt and pepper
- 8 oz pappardelle egg noodles or other desired noodle, cooked**
Instructions
- Heat a soup pot over medium heat, then add the olive oil, celery, carrots, onion, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 10 minutes until softened.
- Add the chicken broth and thyme, bring the soup to a boil, then reduce to a simmer over low heat.
- Simmer for 10 minutes, then add the chopped chicken and simmer for 3 minutes, until the meat is cooked through.
- Taste the broth and make any necessary seasoning adjustments. Depending on the salt content of the broth you use, it may need additional salt.
- Serve the soup in bowls with a handful of noodles added to each one. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
45 Comments on “Easy Chicken Noodle Soup”
This is my favorite chicken soup recipe. I use rotisserie chicken and one teaspoon of Italian seasoning (instead of fresh herbs since I never have those on hand). It’s quick, easy, and delicious.
Thank you Laura! Using a rotisserie chicken is always so great!
What is the serving size. I see it says 8, but 8 what?
Just had a kidney removed 2 weeks ago and made this today god it helps you feel great. Thank you for a wonderful recipe I will use over and over.
Need to par boil the chicken to get rid of surface scum for clear broth-taste is good but because of this looks were not appealing . Sorry
Wow…Thank you sooo much for a nice easy dinner. I fine that on a cold New England day….chicken soup just warms the soul
Lovely it definitely hits the spot on a cold damp winters night.
My FAVORITE thing to make, anytime of the year, day, night, is chicken noodle soup! My whole family loves AND when someone’s is sick, well they’re getting soup.! I sometimes will add a can of chopped chiles, it helps if you have a bad chest cold!
This may sound weird, but, I like reading other people recipe, AND, I enjoyed reading yours. Thank-you, Judi
Such simple ingredients & instructions. Great tip with dicing raw chicken breast. I added 1 heaping TBS Low Sodium Better Than Bouillon at end for additional flavoring. Excellent, fast, easy, delicious recipe- Thank you!