Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
This soul-warming chicken noodle soup combines tender chicken, fresh vegetables, and hearty egg noodles in a rich, flavorful broth. Perfect for cold days, sick days, or whenever you need a comforting bowl of homemade goodness that tastes like it's been simmering all day.
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Servings: 6
Calories: 385kcal
Ingredients
- 2-3 chicken breasts
- 8 cups water or chicken broth
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 2-3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 large bay leaf
- 2 cups chopped celery
- 1 cup chopped carrot
- 1 lb dried egg noodles
- 6 ounces Monterey Jack cheese shredded
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large pot, combine chicken breasts, onions, minced garlic, bay leaf, and water or chicken broth. Bring to a boil.
- Boil until chicken can be easily pulled away from the bones, about 30-45 minutes.
- Remove chicken from pot and set aside to cool until safe to handle.
- Add chopped celery and carrots to the broth and bring back to a simmer.
- While vegetables cook, shred or cut the cooled chicken into bite-sized pieces.
- Return chicken pieces to the pot with the simmering vegetables.
- Continue simmering until vegetables are almost tender, about 10-15 minutes.
- Add dried egg noodles to the pot and simmer until pasta and vegetables are fully cooked, about 8-12 minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Remove bay leaf before serving. Sprinkle shredded cheese on top if desired and stir gently.
Notes
- Using chicken broth instead of water creates a much richer, more flavorful soup base
- Don't overcook the noodles as they will continue to soften in the hot broth after cooking
- For make-ahead preparation, cook soup without noodles and add them fresh when reheating to prevent mushiness
- Feel free to adjust vegetable quantities based on preference - this recipe is very forgiving
- Leftover rotisserie chicken can be substituted for raw chicken breasts to save time
- Soup can be frozen for up to 3 months, but freeze without noodles for best results
- Add fresh herbs like parsley or thyme in the last few minutes of cooking for extra flavor
Nutrition
Serving: 1.5cup | Calories: 385kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 85mg | Sodium: 680mg | Potassium: 420mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g