This classic chicken noodle soup recipe is one of my all-time favorites. I first saute the meat and vegetables for maximum surface flavor before simmering them in a big pot of aromatic herbs.
Are you interested in other ways to make this soup? Try my Instant Pot chicken noodle soup or crockpot chicken noodle soup.
Table of Contents
A warm bowl of homemade chicken soup is the perfect comfort food when you need to nourish the body. There are countless ways to make it, but this recipe incorporates a few steps and ingredients that enhance the flavor of each spoonful.
Ditch the mushy store-bought canned stuff loaded with added salt. Making soup from scratch tastes so much better. It’s also easy to make a large batch to feed the family or reheat the leftovers whenever you crave a warm meal.
Pan selection
I make the soup in a large, heavy-bottomed pan like a Dutch oven. This vessel enables you to sear the meat, saute the celery and carrots, braise the chicken, and boil the pasta in the same pot. It also evenly distributes and holds heat well, which is great for simmering the ingredients.
Bone-in chicken breast works best
Lean white meat is typically used in chicken soup recipes. However, the flavor is very neutral and can easily taste bland. Instead, I use bone-in chicken breast with the skin on. Searing the flesh adds flavor to the surface, just like browning a steak.
The bones prevent the cooked chicken from drying out. They act as a barrier and insulator so the protein can gently cook. Browning the bones deepens the soup’s color, and the bone marrow adds flavor.
Sauteing the vegetables
Adding a mirepoix to the soup, a classic combination of chopped onions, carrots, and celery develops the savory and subtly sweet notes in the dish. Sauteing them first with a little olive oil deepens their flavor and produces a slight caramelization. It helps to eliminate the sharp sulfurous taste in raw onions.
Cook the herbs in fat to elevate their flavor
To draw out the fragrant fat-soluble flavors from the thyme and rosemary, cook them in oil with the vegetables. This process is called blooming and takes under a minute to make a significant impact. The fat helps to dissolve the compounds locked inside, diffusing them better into the stock.
Blooming the spices is guaranteed to add a more luxurious, herbaceous taste to the soup. I add the bay leaves in with the liquid. We want to keep them whole because they are inedible. Their larger surface area will gently infuse the dried flavor into the soup.
Simmer the soup
The cartilage and connective tissue of bone-in cuts of chicken turn from collagen to gelatin when simmering in chicken broth or stock. When this happens, it adds body and richness to the soup base. Another bonus is that breast halves (also called splits) are much more affordable, nearly half the price of boneless options.
Add the noodles
Wide egg noodles are the top choice for chicken noodle soup. They are delicate with a wide surface area and cook quickly in the liquid. If you don’t have any on hand, no problem. You can use any pasta type like ditalini, mini shells, elbows, or orzo works. I prefer anything that can easily fit into the curved end of a spoon.
Instead of using a separate large pot to boil the noodles, cook them directly in the chicken stock. I do this after I remove the breast while it’s cooling down. Cook them to al dente, and they will continue to soften when you add the shredded chicken back to warm up. You don’t want the noodles to become mushy.
Ways to add more flavor
- Add fresh or dried herbs like sage, basil, and oregano.
- Herbes de Provence adds a French twist with tarragon, marjoram, fennel, and lavender.
- A squeeze of lemon juice adds a subtle acidity and brightness.
- Add a spicy kick with diced red bell pepper, hot peppers, or chili powder.
- For a heartier soup, add sliced zucchini, green beans, corn kernels, or potatoes.
- A splash of heavy cream creates a more luscious consistency.
Storing and freezing
Make sure to cool the soup down to room temperature before storing it. Measure it out into smaller portions for individual meals throughout the week. The soup lasts for seven days in the refrigerator.
Reheat on the stovetop over medium heat or microwave until hot. Frozen soup can be stored for up to 2 months, defrost and then reheat.
What to serve this with
Recipe Science
Using other types of chicken
Bone-in chicken thighs are a subtable substitute but trim the excess fat as it can make the soup too greasy. Boneless works, too, and cooks quicker but will be less flavorful. Make sure to check for doneness sooner. Alternatively, for a super convenient option, add leftover rotisserie chicken before serving.
Chicken Noodle Soup
Ingredients
- 2 ½ pounds bone-in chicken breasts, skin on
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for seasoning
- ½ teaspoon black pepper, plus more for seasoning
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 2 cups yellow onions, ½" dice
- 1 cup celery, ¼" slices
- 2 cups carrots, peeled, ¼" slices
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 ½ teaspoon chopped thyme, or ¾ teaspoon dried
- 1 teaspoon chopped rosemary, or ½ teaspoon dried
- 2 dried bay leaves
- 8 cups unsalted chicken stock
- 4 cups wide egg noodles
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
Instructions
- Season the Chicken – Season both sides with salt and pepper.
- Cook the Meat – Heat a large pot or dutch oven over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Once hot, place the chicken skin-side down. Cook until golden brown, about 6 to 8 minutes.Flip and cook until the bones are browned, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate. There should be about 1 tablespoon of drippings left in the pan.
- Saute the Vegetables – Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the pan and heat over medium heat. Once hot, add the onions. Stir and cook until softened and lightly brown, about 5 minutes. Add celery, and cook for 3 minutes. Add carrots, and cook for 2 minutes.Add garlic, thyme, and rosemary to the pan, stir and cook for 30 seconds. Add salt and pepper, and stir to combine.
- Simmer the Soup – Add the chicken back to the pan, skin-side up. Add bay leaves and chicken stock. Bring the liquid to a boil, cover, and reduce to a simmer over medium-low heat. Reduce heat to low if needed to keep the stock at a simmer. Cook the soup until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 160ºF (71ºC), about 15 to 25 minutes. Discard bay leaves and remove the chicken from the pot.
- Shred the Chicken – Once cool enough to handle, remove the skin and bones. Shred the chicken into small pieces using two forks.
- Add the Noodles – Turn the heat to medium-high. Once the stock is at a rapid simmer, add the pasta. Stir and cook until tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Turn off the heat. Add the shredded chicken and allow it to warm for a few minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.
- To Serve – Garnish the soup with chopped parsley and serve hot.
Recipe Video
Equipment
Notes
- Using Boneless Chicken Breast or Thighs: Sear the surface and check for doneness earlier as they cook quicker. The soup will not have as much body with boneless cuts.
Nutrition Facts
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000-calorie diet. All nutritional information is based on estimated third-party calculations. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.
Marlene Kish says
Hi Jessica, Thanks for this Awesome recipe, going to make this tomorrow, instead of using egg noodles , I will use UDON noodles, can’t wait to make this. Autumn, is warm comfort food. And this will be a good start. Thank-you AND HAPPY AUTUMN, Beautiful time of the year.
Jessica Gavin says
Happy autumn! I love that you are using udon noodles in the chicken noodle soup. Let me know how it tastes!
Lor says
Since the chicken adds so much to the stock, do you think I could use my homemade vegetable stock? Perhaps that would be a different soup, but still good? Also, could I save myself some work by using sprigs of my fresh rosemary and thyme, then removing the stems after the leaves have cooked off?
Jessica Gavin says
You can definitely use homemade vegetable stock! You can just add the sprigs, I just noticed that the rosemary tends to fall off and will leave larger leaves in the soup if you are ok with that.
Heather says
Hello, where does the chopped parsley come in? I’m not sure I saw it in the directions or the video but it is in the ingredients list. Thanks!
Jessica Gavin says
Use some parsley to garnish the soup.
Helen says
I was looking for a way to use the skin on bone in chicken breasts I got at the farmers market for meal prep. This recipe was perfect delicious and easy! I skipped the noodles to be GF and added extra veg for bulk!
Jessica Gavin says
Love that you added extra veggies to the soup, Helen!
Linda says
The BEST chicken noodle soup I’ve made! Favorite of family and friends!
Jessica Gavin says
Thanks for the feedback, Linda!
Kate says
The flavors are delicious. If you are planning to use this soup to have leftovers though, you should cook the pasta separately so you don’t end up with soggy pasta that has absorbed all your liquid when you go to reheat.
Jessica Gavin says
Thanks for your feedback and leftover tips for the chicken noodle soup!
Donna says
I will never make chicken soup any other way after trying this recipe. What a difference from my otherwise “bland”
CN Soup!
Jessica Gavin says
Thanks for your feedback, Donna!
Rose says
I can’t wait to try your recipe. Sounds like it is going to be good. However, in step 3, you say there will be left over chicken fat. I leave the chicken fat in the pan and add more olive oil. Is that correct?
Jessica Gavin says
Yes, leave the fat in the pan and add the olive oil as well.
Tina says
Hi Jessica!! I’m making this soup tonight however, what would you suggest for someone who hates carrots? I’m trying it tonight without the carrots to see how it turns out! Wish me luck! ?
Jessica Gavin says
Hi Tina- Parsnips are yummy, or even butternut squash or some sweet potato instead of the carrots.
Greg Divine says
Made this tonight for dinner and everyone loved it. Definitely a keeper and I will be making this many more times. It’s such a comfort to have bowl of delicious soup on a cold winter night and this is a delicious soup . Thank you so much for sharing your recipe with us.
Jessica Gavin says
You’re welcome, Greg. Chicken soup for the soul!
Catherine Cox says
I chose this recipe out of a gazillion on Google because Jessica does such a fabulous job of breaking down the “why” & “how” for the home cook. While I thoroughly enjoy & appreciate America’s Test Kitchen, for the same reason, they occasionally go a little TOO far into depth, & I find Jessica to be a happy medium. 🙂
Thanks hun!!
Jessica Gavin says
You’re so welcome, Catherine! I’m thrilled to hear that you find my culinary science tips helpful!
Krystal says
LOVE LOVE LOVE!
Family of 6 and very picky eaters. All four of my children LOVED this! They ask for it frequently. I did add a little more stock and a smidge more seasonings as to not dilute with more stock. Thank you so much for this delicious recipe!!
Jessica Gavin says
Yay! Always a mom win when all the kids enjoy the meal. Great job!
Lena says
Love this recipe, it’s my families favorite chicken noodle soup. I have made it as is several times. This time around I was trying to come up with a few different ways to use the leftover Thanksgiving turkey. I added bacon drippings in place of pan drippings and added the thigh bones from the turkey when adding broth. I followed the remainder of the recipe adding leftover turkey to simmering broth to reheat.
Jessica Gavin says
Yay! Oh wow, bacon drippings in the soup sounds incredible!
Patrice says
I would love to make this soup; however I have a friend who cannot eat onions. Do you have a suggestion for a replacement?
Jessica Gavin says
Are they not able to eat any alliums like shallots? You can increase the amount of carrots and celery for more aromatics. Fennel is a nice addition to the soup.
Sowmya says
This looked so simple and delish!
Jessica Gavin says
Thank you! Let me know if you give the soup a try.
Clare McCullough says
Just made this for my parents tonight, it turned out so well! I used a bag of Kluski egg noodles and upped the amount of meat to a little over 3 pounds. Additionally, only had 4 cups of chicken broth so I added 4 cups of water and a bouillon cube to substitute. Even still, what a lovely taste! Thanks for the recipe, I will be returning to this often 🙂
Jessica Gavin says
Great job making the adjustments to the chicken soup recipe, you rocked it!
Eric Straehla says
Wow, just made this recipe for chicken noodle soup. This recipe taste just what you would think chicken noodle soup should taste like. Going to add some root vegetables next time maybe some parsnips and some rutabagas. Off the charts !!! Thanks Jessica I’m trying your Insta pot chili as we speak.
Jessica Gavin says
Thank you, Eric! The addition of parsnips and rutabagas would be lovely!
Julissa Irizarry-Lee says
Definitely a keeper! This recipe was super easy, so yummy and ingredients were perfect for our family. I have picky kids and they loved it! Can’t wait for the weather to drop and make this again to get cozy. AMAZING!