Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup – a super easy and flavorful homemade chicken noodle soup made from scratch with chunks of tender chicken and loads of fresh vegetables topped off with egg noodles. Hearty, healthy and easy!
This homemade chicken noodle soup is a great home ready for a good reason. I have been under the weather for the past three days. But instead of resorting to over-the-counter medicines, I decided to go with natural remedies like a warm lemon and ginger drink (which I learned from my mom) and hearty bowls of soup.
And this one right here is on top of my list ’cause my family loved it so much. When I say “LOVED”, that means we can go for days eating this soup for dinner. Not convinced yet? Read on and you’ll see why. 😉
What’s in a homemade chicken noodle soup?
Flavorful chicken broth made from scratch, tender chicken, fresh veggies and egg noodles; you’ll regret passing up a great soup like this. While I do love this Chicken Tortilla Soup and Nigeria’s Ogbono Soup (so good with pounded yam..mmm), I’d give a run for my money with this soulful chicken noodle soup.
In this homemade chicken noodle soup, I decided to make the broth and soup from scratch (which we’ll talk more about later). There are also times though that I use store-bought broth, especially when pressed with time. If that’s the case, make sure to always go with low-sodium broth as they are less salty.
It also has loads of chicken chunks which I used to make the broth. Again, if time doesn’t permit, feel free to use rotisserie chicken or any leftover chicken. But if you want more flavors in your soup, I suggest you go with bone-in skinless chicken thighs.
And it doesn’t stop from there. You can throw in any fresh veggies you have like carrots and celery in this case here OR add broccoli florets, green beans, pumpkin, spinach and even corn kernels. For the noodles, I love the texture of egg noodles for this soup, but you can always use angel hair, thin spaghetti or any pasta you like.
How do I make the best chicken soup?
As with any soup, a good broth is always the deciding factor whether it’s a win or a flop. Making the broth from scratch is totally a game changer, resulting to a much flavorful chicken soup. I started off by sauteing celery, onions, minced garlic and bay leaf along with the seasonings to create a good base. This process will help bring out the richness of my bone-in skinless chicken thighs.
The darker the meat with the bones, the stronger and richer the taste is of your soup compared to using white meat like chicken breast. As mentioned earlier, rotisserie chicken and any leftover roasted chicken or turkey works as well. Don’t worry; this recipe is extremely forgiving.
So just imagine all the flavors in your broth/soup as the chicken and spices simmer in a pot. Once the chicken is cooked through, you chop them off, toss in the noodles to soak in all the goodness and throw back in the chicken meat. Simply delicious!
Feel free to adjust the taste with salt and pepper as you go along OR add in your preferred fresh or dried herbs like basil, rosemary or oregano. Also, a dash of crushed of red chili pepper flakes would be great if you want a little kick into it. Pair this warm bowl of delicious homemade chicken noodle soup with some easy homemade garlic bread, bread rolls or this moist and buttery skillet cornbread.
Enjoy!
Tips and Notes:
- Instead of using raw chicken meat, you can always use shredded rotisserie chicken or leftover roasted chicken or turkey.
- When using store-bought chicken broth, go with the low-sodium one as the regular ones are very salty.
- Aside from celery and carrots, you can throw in broccoli florets, green beans, pumpkin, spinach and even corn kernels.
- I prefer egg noodles for this soup, but you may replace it with angel hair, thin spaghetti or any pasta you like.
- You can make ahead the soup and freeze it. Just leave out the egg noodles and add them when your reheat the soup.
- If you want a kick in this soup, add 1/4 teaspoon of crushed red chili pepper flakes.
Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
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Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon butter or olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 cup celery stalk , sliced
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 teaspoons minced thyme
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon white or black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 4 -5 chicken thighs , bone-in
- 1-2 teaspoons chicken bouillon (optional)
- 1 1/2 cup carrots , sliced
- 6 cups broth
- 6 oz egg noodles
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large pot over medium meat. Stir in onion, garlic, celery, bay leaf, followed by thyme, Italian seasoning, white pepper, and paprika. Saute for about 2-3 minutes until onions are wilted.
- Add the chicken thighs, and chicken bouillon. Cook for about 1-2 minutes.
- Add carrots and broth to cover the chicken, you top with more water. Salt.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 or more or until the chicken is cooked through.
- Transfer chicken to a plate and shred the meat; discard the bones.
- Add shredded chicken back into the soup together with the noodles. Add water to cover noodles. Cover and cook for 6-8 minutes while stirring occasionally .
- Adjust seasoning salt, pepper and soup consistency to taste.
- Serve warm.
Tips & Notes:
- Serving size is an estimate only.
Nutrition Information:
How to Make Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
Heat oil in a large pot over medium meat. Stir in onion, garlic, celery, bay leaf, followed by thyme, Italian seasoning, white pepper, and paprika. Saute for about 2-3 minutes until onions are wilted.
Add the chicken thighs, and chicken bouillon. Cook for about 1-2 minutes.
Add carrots and broth to cover the chicken, you top with more water. Salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 or more or until the chicken is cooked through.
Transfer chicken to a plate and shred the meat; discard the bones. Add shredded chicken back into the soup together with the noodles. Add water to cover noodles.
Cover and cook for 6-8 minutes while stirring occasionally. Adjust seasoning salt, pepper and soup consistency to taste. Serve warm
Cheyenne says
I followed this recipe for the most part, just adding more or less of the ingredients as I liked, and this soup turned out DELICIOUS. I forgot how to make this dish and you brought it back to life. Thank you for this recipe, it’s wonderful!
Imma says
Aww good to know that it helps you to remember your days. Stay tuned for more original recipe to try:)
Diane Sharp says
I’d like to add more vegetables. What would you recommend? I’ve used quite a few of your recipes and love your use of seasonings.
Sadaf says
Hello! I have made at least 10 ofyour recipes and I absolutely adore all of them! I am Pakistani and can appreciate how you use these spices and the attention to detail. So excited to try more!
Best!
Sadaf Ahmad
imma africanbites says
Hi, Sadaf! Thank you for trying them out and for your lovely feedback. Can’t wait for you to try the rest. Enjoy!
BzKneez 237 says
Hi Imma!
Been following your recipes for years now, and always revert to them for some trusty doughnut or puff puff (and more)!
I am embarking on a meal prep trial, and on the hunt for soups (winter fuel!). I would love to try out your chicken noodle soup (I love chicken noodle soup!) but was wondering if you could suggest substitutions I could make to lower the calorific value.
Same question goes for delicious looking Vegetable Beef Soup!
Thank you!
ImmaculateBites says
For this recipe, I would cut back on the noodles and chicken. Also for the chicken go with chicken breast . And for the vegetable beef soup cut back on the beef and use cooking spray to slightly brown the chicken.
Francine Compton says
Thank for this recipe. It’s delicious. Made this as my daughter was finding it hard to swallow food while suffering from fever/flu. I blended it up for her and she loves it and so did everyone else who had it as it was.
ImmaculateBites says
Thanks for the feedback Francine. Hope your daughter gets to feel better soon!
Jill Day says
Hi Imma,
I love your recipes, and look forward to receiving a new email with a new recipe to try! I am going to make your chicken noodle soup this weekend, but was wondering if you could suggest something to help bring out the flavor of chicken breasts if I use those instead of thigh meat? I am just not a fan of chicken thighs. Thanks!
ImmaculateBites says
Hi Jill,
Bone in breast would do just fine. Thank you so much for your kind words.