Best Chicken Noodle Soup
Best Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe (Homemade) – Our Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup is so delicious! Plus, you can make it on the stovetop, in the slow cooker, or in the Instant Pot.
Our Favorite Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
In all honesty, it’s a little shameful that I’m just now sharing my classic homemade chicken noodle soup recipe with you.
I mean, we’re just shy of ten years of recipes here on A Spicy Perspective, and I have nearly every other variety of chicken soup posted. Yet, as I was looking through our recipe catalog a couple of months ago, looking for just plain chicken soup… I found the gaping hole.
Sorry guys!
Best Homemade Soup
This discovery brought on an insurgence of classic recipes this fall. I decided to go back to the basics and make sure we have all your traditional favorite recipes posted.
We are still adding our own brand of pluck to each recipe. They are certainly not boring!
Yet, I wanted to make sure we have all the classic comfort foods you desire, as well as simple “springboard” recipes that are easy for you to doctor and make your own.
Our simple, yet dazzling, Best Chicken Soup Recipe, started this journey… I think you will find it was worth the wait!
Easy Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe
Perfect Chicken Noodle Soup raises the bar high.
- It should look and smell comforting.
- It should be full of flavor, yet gentle on the belly.
- It should have a good balance of noodles, vegetables, and chicken floating in a lightly zesty broth.
- But above all, chicken noodle soup should be easy to make.
That’s because, so often when we make it, we are cooking our Best Chicken Noodle Soup recipe for someone we love that is sick in bed. Or maybe we are sick and should be in bed.
Either way, we want the soup to be so much more than the kind you pour out of a can (or carton.) Yet we don’t want anyone to struggle through the recipe.
We are hoping for easy chicken soup with mystical healing properties, that tastes like grandma made it.
Tall order? I’ve got you covered. *wink*
Best Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe
So here’s why we think this version is the best homemade soup from scratch…
- It’s chunky and well balanced, with plenty of protein, and veggies tucked between the noodles.
- We used bone-in chicken with skins and chicken broth, to intensify the chicken flavor. (Some recipes call for either bone-in chicken and water, or chicken breasts and broth.) Using both makes a big difference.
- We also enhanced the broth by adding a little bit of turmeric for color, and cornstarch at the end to thicken the broth just a tad. It’s not thick, mind you, and it’s not watery. It’s just right! (PS, the turmeric also offers additional healing properties.)
- We focused on freshness with vegetables, herby essence, and a pop of lemon juice to brighten things up.
- We used dried noodles that feel homemade once they cook.
- And best of all, we did all this while taking out unnecessary steps, so the recipe isn’t daunting.
We think it’s pretty awesome.
Chicken Noodle Soup Ingredients
- Oil or Butter – To brown the chicken.
- Bone-In Chicken Thighs – Thighs offer the best flavor, but you can also use a mix of bone-in thighs and breasts.
- Onion and Garlic – For zesty undertones.
- Celery – Sliced thin.
- Carrots – Sliced into rounds.
- Chicken Broth – The base of the soup.
- Fresh Thyme Leaves – You could also use dried thyme, if you can’t find it fresh.
- Bay Leaves – For deep herby notes.
- Turmeric – For color.
- Kluski Egg Noodles – Because they taste and feel homemade.
- Chopped Parsley – To add freshness at the end.
- Fresh Lemon Juice – Also for freshness.
- Cornstarch – Just a little, for thickening.
- Salt and Pepper – Always.
How To Make The Best Chicken Noodle Soup
- Brown the Chicken. Set a large 6-8 quart soup pot over medium heat. Add the oil. Place the chicken skin-side down in the pot. Brown the chicken skin.
- Saute the Vegetables. Place the onions and garlic in the chicken fat. Stir and saute for several minutes. Then stir in the celery, carrots, and thyme and saute another minute or two.
- Simmer the Soup. Add the chicken pieces, chicken broth, bay leaves, and turmeric to the pot. Cover and simmer.
- Now the Noodles. Stir the egg noodles into the soup and simmer another minute or so, until the pasta is cooked.
- Shred the Chicken. Pull out the chicken and place it on a cutting board. Shred the chicken with a fork, and stir the chicken back into the soup.
- Freshen Up. Add the lemon juice and parsley!
Get the Full (Printable) Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe Below
Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup
With this recipe, you can also make Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup.
Simply sauté the chicken and veggies, then transport the recipe ingredients over to a crockpot.
Cover and cook for 6-8 hours on low, or 3-4 hours on high heat.
Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
Yep! You can also make this easy chicken soup recipe in your Instant pot! See the recipe below for details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use boneless chicken thighs?
Yes, but unlike the bone-in chicken, you shouldn’t brown them. Instead, just simmer them for 15 to 20 minutes in the broth and then shred the chicken.
Can I use bone broth in this recipe?
Absolutely! Use it in the same proportion as with chicken broth or chicken stock.
How long does this recipe last?
If stored properly in an airtight container, this recipe can last in the fridge for 3 to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
More Chicken Soup Recipes You Will Love!
- Chicken Detox Soup
- Creamy Parmesan Chicken and Rice Soup
- Italian Chicken Orzo Soup
- Chimichurri Chicken Lentil Soup
- Healthy Chicken White Bean Soup
- Lean Green Chicken Soup
- Spicy Thai Chicken Soup
- Chicken Barley and Kale Soup
- Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Soup
- Slow Cooker Chicken Ramen Noodles
- Chinese Hot Pots
- Healthy Italian Wedding Soup
- Vietnamese Chicken Pho (Low Carb)
- Southwest Detox Soup
- Green Curry Chicken Soup
- Greek Lemon Chicken Soup
- Creamy Lemon Chicken Soup with Spinach
- Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Soup
- Famous Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Chicken and Dumplings Soup
- Chicken Minestrone Soup
- Creamy Chicken Tortellini Soup
- Low Carb Creamy Chicken Mushroom Soup
- Skinny Chicken Fajita Soup
- Skinny Creamy Chicken Broccoli Soup
- Chicken Cacciatore Soup
Favorite Classic Recipes…
- Authentic Texas Sheet Cake
- Best Mac & Cheese (Stovetop and Baked!)
- Easy One-Pot Jambalaya
- Classic Chipped Beef Dip
- Perfect Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- Nana’s Epic Ham Bone Soup
- Retro Spaghetti Pie
- Southern Tomato Pie
- Peruvian Chicken Soup Recipe by Frontier Coop
Best Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon oil or butter
- 2 1/2 pounds bone-in chicken thighs (or a mix of thighs and breasts)
- 1 large sweet onion, peeled and chopped
- 2-4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cups sliced celery
- 1 1/2 cups sliced carrots
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves (1 teaspoon dried)
- 12 cups chicken broth
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
- 8 ounce Kluski egg noodles
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Set a large 6-8 quart soup pot over medium heat. Add the oil. Generously salt and pepper the chicken thighs on both sides. Place them skin-side down in the pot. Brown the chicken skin, then flip and cook the chicken another 3 minutes. Remove the chicken from the pot and set aside.
- Place the onions and garlic in the chicken fat. Stir and saute for 3-4 minutes. Then stir in the celery, carrots, and thyme and saute another 2 minutes.
- Add the chicken broth, bay leaves, and turmeric to the pot. Then place the chicken thighs in the broth. Season with 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Stir well. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes. (Turn the heat down a little, if needed.)
- Use tongs to pull out the bay leaves, and chicken thighs. Place the chicken on a cutting board. Then stir the egg noodles into the soup and simmer another 6-9 minutes, until the pasta is cooked.
- Meanwhile, remove the chicken skins and bones. Shred the chicken with a fork. Then stir the chicken back into the soup.
- When the noodles are almost cooked, measure the cornstarch and lemon juice into a small bowl. Whisk well. Then stir the mixture into the soup to thicken the base a little. Finally, stir in the chopped parsley. Taste, then salt and pepper as needed.
Video
Notes
- Brown the chicken and vegetables on the stovetop as directed.
- Then place all the ingredients, except the noodles and parsley, in the slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on low for 3-4 hours.
- Then stir in the noodles, cover, and cook another 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, take out the chicken. Discard the bones and skin. Shred the chicken and place back into the slow cooker. Stir in the parsley and serve.
- Follow steps 1 and 2 from the original recipe above in a 6+ quart Instant Pot, using the Saute setting.
- Add the chicken thighs, chicken broth, bay leaves, and turmeric to the pot. Season with 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Stir well. Cover and set on the Soup setting for 10 minutes.
- Perform a natural release. It will take 8-10 minutes for the steam valve to drop.
- Then set on manual to simmer and follow the recipe instructions 4, 5, and 6. (above)
Nutrition
Making this recipe? Follow us on Instagram and tag @ASpicyPerspective so we can share what you’re cooking!
I have now passed this recipe on to four people, one of them being my Mom. We all love it so much. It’s so good!
Very hearty and very good. This is a great comfort food. Love the lemon, wakes it up.
This turned out well. The lemon really brought out the flavours. I only put a little bit of parsley as Im not much of a fan. Overall I would recommend this recipe. Thank you for sharing.
I cut this recipe in half thinking that would work for two and have some leftover. It was SO GOOD it was GONE in a day – lol. I should have made the full portion! I love making soups; this was by far the BEST chicken noodle soup recipe I’ve ever made. Don’t cut corners (like baking a boneless breast in the oven and then shredding). Slowly simmering the chicken in the broth is what brings the flavors in this recipe over the top.
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Made a double batch using Costco rotisserie chickens, about 1/3 extra of the vegetables in the recipe & German egg noodles. Everyone loved it and I’ll be making this recipe again for sure! Thank you for sharing this recipe :).
This was good. Thank you.
Truly the best chicken noodle soup I have ever made, and I have made many recipes!! Cook JUST like it says, and the Kluski noodles stand up to reheating without becoming too soft. This is my soup for those who are sick or who have had surgery, too! Always welcomed!
Very delicious recipe. I must try it. Here are some information on how long does cooked chicken last in the fridge
I love everything about this recipe. You nailed it! Thanks for sharing
Wow. Delicious! I used boneless thighs and deglazed the pan with a bit of white wine before adding in onions and garlic. Also added 4 tablespoons of better than bouillon chicken base to veggies prior to adding 12 cups of water ( 1 tsp of base per 8 oz of water to make 1 cup of stock) reduced simmer time to 20 min before removing chicken and cooking pasta. Used medium shell pasta and cooked for 9 min. No need for additional salt. Such a simple and delicious recipe. Thank you!
This is my new favorite chicken noodle soup :) thanks so much!
Really great soup…. Didn’t have turmeric and we used small shells instead of the egg noodles. Not even salty tasting… I just added the salt to my bowl since hubby isn’t a big salt fan…. Whatever we had left, we put into freezer bags for a quick lunch for home or when hubby wants it at work….
i made it today because i have a cold, it was delicious…… thank you for this amazing recipe 😊
Best chicken noodle soup I’ve made by far!!! I’ve made it so many times and it’s always a bonus when the kids love it too!!!! Thank you for sharing. I don’t thicken the soup or put lemon in it.
Making this soup for the third time in as many months. Love the flavor. And the lemon/cornstarch slurry adds just the right amount of acid.
I just made this and it is absolutely delicious. Easy to make and the flavours are fantastic. It was a huge family hit for lunch. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Love all the flavors here, I already know I’m going to enjoy this recipe a lot!
I love the use of the thinner egg noodles in this recipe, so yummy!
Just made this soup and it is truly the best, most flavorful chicken noodle soup I have ever had! Some changes in my recipe… 1) I used 2 parts bone broth 1 part normal chicken broth, which added lots of nutrients and flavor! 2) I added close to double the noodles than it asked for. I used frozen egg noodles which had great texture/chew and they were no preservatives. 3) I used fresh thyme from our garden which had a much stronger flavor! Would recommend this to everyone!!
This soup will cure any sickness you have, whether a cold or homesick.
My husband and I both loved it! Definitely will be making agin. I use a rotisserie chicken instead of chicken thighs.
Thank you for making me seem like a master chef with this awesome chicken soup recipe! My family loved it!!!
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There was a couple of ingredients I didn’t have handy like the bay leaves & Turmeric but this recipe still came out great!! Will definitely use it again & next time ill have everything :)
Can you make this with boneless?
Hi Carley,
Yes, however, don’t brown them. Simmer then in the broth for 15-20 minutes, then shred. :)
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I absolutely love this recipe, thank you for sharing!
John and I couldn’t eat enough of this! One of two kids also loved it. The one hold out liked the broth and the noodles. #whatevs Thanks Sommer!
A necessity to have a good homemade chicken noodle soup recipe on hand! Can’t wait to try yours!
This has so much flavor! You’ll never use the canned soup again!
There’s seriously nothing better than a good warm bowl of chicken soup in the fall and especially when you’re sick. Thanks for this lively homey recipe!
Such a warm and comforting soup!! My family would love this!!
This quickly became a favorite meal at my house!