This Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup is made from scratch. It is rich, delicious, and comforting.
During cold and flu season, what we all really need is a delicious soup recipe (or seven) that will not only nourish our bodies, but will soothe our souls. Recipes can remind us of being taken care of and loved; it’s one of their magic super powers. I really believe this Chicken Noodle Soup recipe has that ability.
Made with tender bone in chicken thighs, thick and delicious egg noodles, and fresh vegetables, your family will want you to make this soup for them over and over.
I love this recipe! This is our go to chicken noodle soup recipe! I think the skin on chicken thighs really make the flavor of the soup!
Chicken Noodle Soup Ingredients
One of the things I love about this recipe is that, besides the chicken thighs, most of the ingredients can be kept in your pantry and refrigerator. That way, you can make chicken noodle soup whenever your body (or soul) needs it.
- Chicken Thighs: I love the flavor that thighs bring to this recipe, but if you would prefer to use chicken breasts, you can read about that substitution below.
- Unsalted Butter: If you only have salted butter on hand, you will want to wait until the end, and only add it after tasting it.
- Celery, Carrots, & Onion: This trio starts so many soups for good reason. They add the perfect flavor profile for a soup.
- Dried Thyme & Dried Basil: I love the flavor these herbs bring to the soup, but you could really use whatever dried herbs you love most.
- Chicken Stock: Chicken broth will also work here. If you would like to make your own, you can follow the steps in my Turkey Broth, and substitute the bones of a rotisserie chicken.
- Frozen Egg Noodles: I love how easy these are to keep on hand and the texture they bring to the soup. Please see below for alternatives.
- Garlic
- Bay Leaves
- Salt & Pepper
How to Make Chicken Noodle Soup
This soup has a few steps, but none of them are complicated. This is a recipe that even a beginner cook could accomplish and feel great about. For the complete steps and measurements, be sure to see my recipe at the bottom of the post.
- Brown the chicken. Melt butter in a stock pot and use that to brown the chicken thighs.
- Sauté the vegetables. Remove the chicken and use their drippings to cook the vegetables, adding in the seasonings.
- Simmer the chicken. Add in the chicken stock and return the thighs to the pan, so they fully cook in the broth.
- Cook the noodles. Remove the chicken to shred (or dice) it, and then cook the egg noodles in the broth.
- Put it all together. Return the chicken to the pot, and serve.
Why Brown the Chicken?
You’ll notice that we are browning the skin of the chicken thighs in step one. Then in step two, we discard the skin completely. The reason we brown the skin is to render the fat from the skin into the pan before we cook the vegetables. It deepens the flavor of the soup in a great way.
Can I Use Chicken Breasts?
You could definitely opt to use chicken breasts (boneless skinless or with skin on) in this recipe. If you do that, make sure that you keep a close on the internal temperature of it as it boils in step 3. There is nothing worse than over cooked chicken breasts.
Using Egg Noodles
I love the texture that frozen egg noodles bring to this dish. They are thick and wonderful in this soup. I do not typically make my own noodles because I am a mom of three littles and a business owner who works an embarrassing number of hours each week.
That being said, my homemade egg noodles would be amazing in this! I highly encourage you to experiment and find what you love best.
Additionally, you could also use a dry pasta that you love. That is what I do in my Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup and that recipe is a winner as well.
Homemade Egg Noodles
Storing Leftovers
Leftovers of this soup can be stored in an airtight container for up to four days in your refrigerator. If you know for sure you plan on having leftovers, I would consider using a dry pasta noodles instead of the egg noodles. Only cook as much as you plan on eating and boil more noodles when you eat the leftovers.
Leftovers can be frozen in a container with room for expansion and kept in the freezer for up to three months. Again, I would encourage you to cook the noodles separately.
Other Great Soup Recipes
If you are looking for other comforting soups, here are a few favorites:
If you make this soup or any of my other recipes, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think!
Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
Ingredients
- 2 TBSPs butter
- 1 lb bone in chicken thighs
- 3 celery stalks diced
- 2 medium carrots peeled and sliced
- 1/2 a yellow onion diced
- 1/2 TBSP dried thyme
- 1/2 TBSP dried basil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/2 to 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 8 cups chicken stock
- 12 ounces frozen egg noodles see note
Instructions
- In a large stock pot over medium heat, melt the butter. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper and add them to the pot. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes on each side.
- Remove the chicken from the pan, and discard the skin. Remove the pan drippings, reserving 2 TBSPs and returning it to the pan.
- Add the celery, carrots, onion, and garlic to the pan. Add the seasoning, and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the chicken broth to the pan, and bring to a boil. Return the chicken to the pan, reduce the heat and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes. The soup should have just a very slight bubble to it.
- Remove the chicken and bring back to a boil. Add the frozen noodles and simmer for 20 minutes (or according to package instructions).
- When the chicken is cool enough to handle, shred it. When the noodles are done cooking, return the chicken to the pot and serve!
Notes
Debra Girvin says
Can you freeze this soup?
Yes, though I wouldn’t freeze with the noodles. If you are making it ahead, you will want to freeze it before adding the noodles.
Callie says
The best! I do it with a pre bought rotisserie chicken and it makes it super fast to throw together
Gerry says
What other vegetables can I add in addition to carrots? I made this soup and my family loved it, but they would like more vegetables. This is a delicious soup.
You can definitely add in more of what we are already adding – carrots, celery, and onion – or you can consider adding some of the vegetables I put in my Vegetable Soup. That recipe will give you a good sense of when to add them and how much. You will likely need to add more chicken broth if you add more vegetables.
June says
This is not homemade. The noodles are store bought. I was looking for homemade all around.
You can use this recipe for egg noodles and then it will be completely homemade. Of course you will need to make your own chicken broth then.