Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup is the ultimate comfort food! This easy chicken noodle soup recipe is made right in your kitchen, and it tastes like home. Learning how to make chicken noodle soup is simple; so much easier than I thought! Make a pot of this soup to warm you up all winter long!
What’s in this Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe?
This is Mom’s homemade chicken noodle soup recipe, and anytime Mom makes something, you know it’s good! A bowl of hot chicken noodle soup is such a classic, something we should all know how to make at home.
It’s a simple thing to make, but it all starts with the ingredients. We need the best of the best to go into this recipe; all the right vegetables, all the right herbs. That’s what makes it taste so good, obviously!
- Olive Oil: Helps the veggies and butter to cook without burning. You can use canola, vegetable, or avocado oil instead.
- Butter: Unsalted butter flavors the base of the soup.
- Carrots: Add a sweet and earthy flavor. You’ll need about 3-4 carrots.
- Celery: Adds a sweet and herby flavor. You’ll need 2 ribs.
- Yellow Onion: Adds a sweet and slightly astringent flavor.
- Garlic: Adds rich, earthy flavor.
- Chicken Broth: Forms the base of the soup. I like unsalted chicken broth, like Swanson brand. You can also use homemade chicken broth or stock.
- Dry Sherry: Adds a crisp, tangy, and slightly nutty flavor to the soup. If you’re not a fan of wine, you can swap this out for more broth.
- Ground Black Pepper: Adds a woody, spicy, warming flavor to the soup.
- Parsley: Adds fresh herbal flavor. You can use dried or fresh.
- Parisien Bonnes Herbs: A delicious blend of chives, dill, basil, French tarragon, chervil, and white pepper that deepens the flavor of this soup.
- Bay Leaves: Add a subtle bitterness that enhances the other flavors of the soup and makes it less heavy.
- Thyme: Adds an earthy and slightly minty flavor. You can use dried or fresh.
- Nutmeg: Adds a sweet, nutty, warming flavor to this soup. You can leave it out if you’re not a fan, but I love it.
- Chicken Granules: A type of bouillon that adds great depth of flavor and richness to the soup. If you use salted chicken broth, reduce the amount of granules you add.
- Chicken: I like diced cooked chicken, like rotisserie chicken. You can also use diced cooked chicken breasts.
- Egg Noodles: I love egg noodles for their richness. They really stand up well to this soup. I use Neva’s Old Fashion Homemade Egg Noodles, but Reames Egg Noodles (frozen) are also excellent.
Pro Tip: If freezing the soup, make the soup up to the point of adding the noodles. Freeze the soup without noodles added, then when ready to serve, add the noodles and simmer until noodles are cooked. This keeps the noodles from turning mushy.
Variations on Chicken Noodle Soup
There are quite a few ways to modify this recipe to make it more to your tastes. To make it vegetarian, simply omit the chicken and swap the chicken broth and granules for vegetable broth and granules.
You could add a can or two of chickpeas if you like for the protein. To make it gluten-free, swap the egg noodles for your favorite gluten-free noodles. For a spicier soup, add some crushed red pepper flakes. And for a creamier soup, stir in some heavy cream at the end of cooking.
Yes! Chicken noodle soup provides hydration and electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and magnesium. Chicken is a great source of protein, and the veggies are full of vitamins and minerals.
I like egg noodles because they hold up well in the soup and soak up a lot of flavor. You could also use ditalini, orzo, or bowties.
Absolutely! While chicken noodle soup is certainly not a cure for a cold, it can help you feel better by keeping you hydrated and sated and providing vitamins, minerals, and protein to help you recover.
Dogs can only eat chicken noodle soup that is homemade, prepared with low-sodium broth, and free of harmful seasonings. Dogs cannot have onions, high-sodium foods, and many herbs and seasonings, including nutmeg. Therefore, this particular soup recipe is not safe for dogs.
Yes; however, I recommend making the soup without the noodles and then cooking and adding the noodles when you’re ready to eat the soup. Follow the directions for cooking the noodles al dente, then stir them into the reheated soup and serve immediately.
How to Store and Reheat Easy Chicken Noodle Soup
Store leftover homemade chicken noodle soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave in 30-second increments until warmed through or on the stovetop over medium-low heat until warmed through.
How to Freeze Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup with Egg Noodles
To freeze homemade chicken noodle soup, make the soup up until the point where you would add the noodles (step 7). Do not add the noodles. Let the soup cool to room temperature, then freeze whole or in individual portions in airtight containers for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before adding the noodles to the soup just before simmering.
What to Serve with Chicken Egg Noodle Soup
Hot, fresh chicken noodle soup is ready to serve! It tastes so good with some crusty bread, crumbled crackers, or cheddar bay biscuits. Serve smaller bowls of soup with a grilled cheese sandwich or BLT. It’s also great with a healthy side salad!
Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (¼ stick)
- 3 carrots peeled and sliced (about 2 cups)
- 2 ribs celery sliced (about 1 cup)
- 1 sweet yellow onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth or stock (Swanson Unsalted recommended)
- ½ cup dry sherry
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper or to taste
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley or 2 tablespoons chopped fresh
- 1 teaspoon Parisien Bonnes Herbs (a combo of chives, dill, basil, French tarragon, chervil, & white pepper)
- 3 bay leaves
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme or 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 3-4 teaspoons chicken granules (see note)
- 4 cups diced cooked chicken cut into bite-size pieces (I used rotisserie chicken)
- 8 ounces dry egg noodles (⅔ package) — I use Neva’s Old Fashion Homemade Egg Noodles, but Reames Egg Noodles (frozen) are also excellent.
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Heat the oil and butter in a heavy-bottomed soup pot or Dutch oven set over medium-low heat.2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Once the oil/butter is hot, place the carrots and celery in the pot and sauté for 3 minutes.3 carrots, 2 ribs celery
- Add the onion and sauté until translucent.1 sweet yellow onion
- Add garlic and sauté 30 seconds.2 cloves garlic
- Add all other ingredients except the noodles.8 cups low-sodium chicken broth, ½ cup dry sherry, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon dried parsley, 1 teaspoon Parisien Bonnes Herbs, 3 bay leaves, ½ teaspoon dried thyme, ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg, 3-4 teaspoons chicken granules, 4 cups diced cooked chicken
- Bring to a boil, then turn down the heat and simmer for 30-40 minutes (see notes if planning to freeze the soup).
- Add the noodles and bring to a boil.8 ounces dry egg noodles
- Turn down the heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes.
- Remove the bay leaves before serving.
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
- Chicken Granules: If using salted broth, reduce the amount of chicken granules used.
- Freezing: If freezing the soup, make the soup up to the point of adding the noodles. Freeze the soup without noodles added, then when ready to serve, add the noodles and simmer until noodles are cooked. This keeps the noodles from turning mushy.
- If using rotisserie chicken or salted chicken stock, do not salt until after the soup cooks for 15 minutes. Taste first – then add salt only if needed.
Nutrition Information
More Chicken Noodle Soup Recipes We Love
Respecting the time and exertion you put into your site and nitty gritty data you offer.
Make the recipe easy to find!
This is very nice post and interesting
The recipe gives another option other than the chicken granules, but it seems to have bugged out and just shows the word “chicken”.
There is nothing better than a comforting bowl of chicken noodle soup, especially if it’s mom’s!! <3
I SO AGREEE!
How much dry sherry and egg noodles?
So sorry about that! must be a glitch with the recipe card. I’ve just updated the recipe…1/2 cup sherry and 8 ounce package noodles. Enjoy!
Ah I like the use of nutmeg, I’m going to try that next time I make chicken noodle soup. I’ve got to build up a supply of chicken bones/scraps first though for stock :)
Hope you love it! We really like it in there :)