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
Chelsey says
Hello! Can I make this in the morning and let it simmer all day until dinner?
I would not recommend that with this recipe. I think you might enjoy my Creamy Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup instead.
Diane H. says
I made this & it was delicious! After browning the chicken & cooking the vegetables, I put all in the Crock-Pot. I cooked the noodles separately. I used Reames frozen noodles, which personally, I don’t care for. I like Muellers wide noodles better, but that’s just me. I will make this again – Thank-you
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Kathy says
This really hit the spot. I’m recovering from a sore throat/cold and it’s just the thing I needed. I did cheat and I used a rotisserie chicken that I shredded. I doubled the butter since I didn’t have the chicken drippings. I also had dry noodles so I used those. This soup makes the house smell amazing and my 9 year old son really liked it!
I’m so glad that you liked it!
Kay says
I love this soup. I’ve made it 3 times since Christmas, twice with my boyfriend. He loves it and has fun cooking it. Homemade chicken noodle
I’m so glad you enjoy it!
Joan says
I forgot to add the seasoning when I was sautéing, but I added the seasoning to the stock. Is that okay?
Definitely!
Nancy Johnson says
This was the best! I used rotisserie chicken and adjusted the cooking times. I divided it into 12 servings and froze the leftovers because I live alone but love home cooking. It was perfect for lunch with a grilled cheese on our Wisconsin cold winters days. Really it is the best recipe I’ve made from Pinterest in a while. Thank you for sharing!
I’m so happy to hear that you liked it! Wisconsin girl here too! This weather is killing me. I’m glad you have some delicious soup to get through it.
Rebecca Allen says
I have made a lot of chicken noodle soup in my life, but I have got to say this is the best one yet. My husband and I loved it! Even better the next day. The only thing different I did, was boil a whole chicken to make my broth and then pulled the meat from the chicken. I think we found a keeper! Thank you very much!
I’m so glad to hear you liked it!
Ana says
I ran out of Thyme! Can I substitute with another spice like Rosemary or tarragon?
For sure! It will have a different taste, but as long as you enjoy those seasonings it will be delicious.
Lucy says
Loving all the great soup recipes.
I’m so glad to hear it!
Courtney says
I have drumsticks… could I use those instead of thighs?
I would be comfortable doing that, though the recipe might need some tweaking as you go. I haven’t tested this with drumsticks, so I don’t know what those tweaks would be.