Using thick chewy homestyle noodles is just one of the secrets to an old fashioned bowl of hearty chicken noodle soup … just like grandma used to make. Let’s take a look at how to make homemade chicken noodle soup from scratch and the best spices in chicken noodle soup.
I consider soups and stews to be my specialty. One of our favorite chicken soup recipes is this one for Lemon Ginger Chicken Soup. Bright with flavor, and seasonings, a Julia Child recipe that’s a “must try”.
Table of contents
Is there anything better than a steaming hot bowl of chicken and noodle soup on a cold evening, especially on a cold evening when you’ve got a cold? Simple, delicious and rumored to heal the ailing, this soup is comfort food at its best.
It’s not rocket science to throw this soup together. No matter what you put in it, it’s going to be good, but I wanted to share with you my version that has evolved over the years. A trick I learned for chicken noodle soup seasoning.
What Noodles Are Best For Chicken Noodle Soup?
If you truly want a hearty chicken noodle soup, it’s a must to use those fat plump homemade old fashioned noodles. My mom always made her own. Sadly to say, I’ve never tried making them, so I purchase homestyle noodles from the freezer section at the grocery store.
They’re thick, they’re chewy, they are already cooked and very reminiscent of homemade.
As far as dried noodles, if you can find Kluski noodles, that’s also a very good choice. And specialty markets, and Amazon will have dried Amish noodles that also work very well.
Please try not to use dried thin egg noodles from the packaged pasta aisle at the market, they just don’t have that same homemade comfort food feel. They’re thin and the end result will have you feeling more like you’re eating canned soup. With that said, they will work for this soup.
Ingredients And Seasoning for Chicken Noodle Soup
- Chicken: Purchase about 2 – 2 ½ pounds of chicken. Bone in. Skin-on optional. A combination of a split boneless skinless chicken breast (about 1 pound) and a package of (4) bone-in skin-on chicken thighs, or chicken leg quarters is a good combination. Using both white meat and dark meat, with a portion of that meat bone in, skin on, brings pure chicken flavor to this soup. Searing them in the soup pot before cooking the soup is another secret to adding an additional depth or pure chicken flavor.
- Onion: Sweet or yellow onion
- Carrots
- Celery
- Homestyle Noodles; Thick and chewy from the freezer section at the grocery store.
- Chicken Soup Spices: Keep the chicken noodle soup seasoning traditional using sage, thyme, fennel seeds, garlic powder, bay leaf are good simple seasonings.
- Parsley
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Lemon Juice to finish
Ingredient Swaps and Substitutes
Spices: Try using a scoop of my homemade Soup Seasoning Mix. It’s fabulous for any soup. The bold flavors are good for chicken soup seasoning.
How To Make Chicken Noodle Soup From Scratch
- Step 1: Sear the chicken. Using a large Dutch oven, heat the pan over medium high heat. Once the pan is hot, add canola oil. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken pieces, skin side down and sear until golden brown. About 5 minutes per side. This all important step is referred to as creating Maillard Reaction, which brings flavor to the soup. If you’d like to read a bit more about the process, you can check out my Pork Posole Recipe where I explain how to get the most out of browning meat.
- Step 2: After all the chicken meat is browned, remove from the Dutch oven and place on a plate. Set aside.
- Step 3: Add the sliced vegetables to the same hot pan. Using a wooden spoon, be sure to scrape up all of that meat flavor that’s on the bottom of that pan = yummy flavor.
- Step 4: Saute the vegetables until just starting to become tender. Don’t overcook because the vegetables will cook for a period of time with the chicken.
- Step 5: Once the vegetables are browned, add the seared chicken pieces on top. At this point you can make the decision to remove or not remove the skin. The skin will add fat to the soup, which means adding flavor. But you’ll have to skim the fat once the soup is cooked to avoid it becoming too greasy.
- Step 6: Add enough chicken broth or water to cover the chicken. Add the soup seasonings. Simmer about 30-45 minutes. Remove the chicken from the soup and once cool enough to handle, discard the skin and bones and shred the chicken with forks. Return the shredded chicken meat to the soup.
- Step 7: Add The Noodles: Once the chicken has been returned to the pot, add the noodles. Following package direction simmer until noodles are tender. Don’t cook them to death! Please. Remember, egg noodles from the freezer section are already cooked. They just need to heat through. Cover and let them simmer until nice and hot.
Those thick homestyle noodles will take about 10 – 15 minutes. If you’re using those thin egg noodles from the pasta aisle, only a few minutes will do.
Seasoning And Spices In Chicken Noodle Soup
Chicken noodle soup is a great canvas to add your favorite combination of spices. The seasonings I’ve listed above, sage, thyme, fennel seeds, garlic powder and bay leaves are good simple combination for chicken soup seasoning.
More options to make it your own: Chives, onion powder, thyme, marjoram, rosemary are a few good choices. And even some poultry season is a good choice.
You’ll find measurements in the recipe card below.
Or take a look at my unique mix of Bean Soup Spices and give it a try. Even though the name indicates it’s for bean soup, it’s a great all purpose spice mix for soup and will give this soup an awesome kick of flavor.
I use it for most every soup I make. The spice mix makes a big batch and you’ll have it in your pantry all Winter long to keep you comfort food cozy.
Tips
- Make it Creamier: For a creamy chicken noodle soup, swirl in 4 tablespoons of heavy cream once the soup is cooked and removed from the heat. Sour cream will also work.
- Use Quality Ingredients: Use a good quality chicken broth. Homemade is best.
- Chicken Noodle Soup Spices: Season Early: Whenever using dried herbs, add them at the beginning of the cooking process. The long simmer will release the flavor from the dehydrated leaves.
- Use Dark Meat: Whatever chicken pieces you choose for this soup, I highly recommend including a couple of chicken thighs. Simply stated, they make a better soup. And always remember there’s flavor in those chicken bones. You can most certainly use boneless skinless chicken breasts, but be aware they may dry out if over-cooked and you’ll be sacrificing flavor.
FAQ’s
To make this hearty chicken noodle soup even easier, use rotisserie chicken. Instead of adding uncooked chicken to the soup, shred meat from a rotisserie chicken. Since the rotisserie chicken is already cooked, decrease the cook time for the chicken from 30 minutes to 10 minutes. This also works very well if you have leftover homemade roasted whole chicken.
Bay leaves are completely safe to cook with. However, don’t forget to fish them out of any cooked dish before serving. First of all, they’re impossible to chew. And if you accidentally swallow one, it could damage your throat or even cause problems in your digestive system.
Yes. Simply follow the stovetop instructions for searing the chicken and vegetables. Transfer all ingredients, minus the noodles, to a crock pot. Cook on low for 6 hours. Remove chicken and shred. Return chicken to crockpot, add noodles and cook on high for another 30 minutes.
To make this soup nice and chunky, slice carrots and celery rather than chop. Slice them about ¼ inch thick. For the onions, chopping is a better option for texture and flavor.
Recipe for Hearty Chicken Noodle Soup
At one point it seemed every one in our office had a cold, so I made a big crock pot of my Chicken Noodle Soup and delivered to my sniffling aching co-workers. They commented that it sure is “handy” having me around. 🙂
More Comfort Food Chicken Soup Recipes:
And if you’re looking for a ton of soup recipes, check out my category on Soup.
You’ll find the most popular soup recipe on my site; Anthony Bourdain’s New Mexico Style Beef Chili
If you liked this recipe, please leave a star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below and leave a comment. I always appreciate your feedback and hearing how everything went.
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This recipe was first published November 2010 and republished with new step by step photos.
Hearty Chicken Noodle Soup with The Best Chicken Soup Seasoning
Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs skin on, bone in
- 1 pound split chicken breast boneless, skinless or skin on, bone in, or 2 – 2 ½ pounds of chicken pieces of your choice.
- ¼ cup Canola oil
- 3 stalks celery sliced, about two cups
- 3 carrots peeled and sliced, about 2 cups
- 1 medium onion medium dice, about 1 cup
- 2 quarts chicken broth or water
- Seasoning for Chicken Noodle Soup
- 1 teaspoon dried sage leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon fennel seeds
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 3 tablespoons minced flat-leaf parsley
- 1 bay leaf
- ½ pound Frozen homestyle Egg Noodles Thick noodles
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- ½ lemon juiced
Instructions
- Heat a Dutch Oven over medium high heat. Once hot, add oil. When oil is hot and shimmering add chicken pieces skin side down. Cook until nicely browned, about 5 minutes per side. When they easily release from bottom of pan using tongs, remove chicken to a plate.
- Using the same hot pan, add carrots, celery and onions. Cook until just starting to become tender and starting to brown around the edges. Use a wooden spoon to scrape up all of the bits left from the chicken. That means flavor.
- Once the vegetables are browned, add the seared chicken pieces on top. At this point you can make the decision to remove or not remove the skin. The skin will add fat to the soup, which mean adding flavor. But you'll have to skim the fat once the soup is cooked to avoid it becoming too greasy.
- Add enough chicken broth or water to cover the chicken. Add the seasonings. Simmer about 30-45 minutes. Remove the chicken from the soup and once cool enough to handle, discard the skin and bones and shred the chicken with forks. Return the shredded chicken meat to the chicken noodle soup.
- Once the chicken has been returned to the pot, add the noodles. Following package direction simmer until noodles are tender. Don't cook them to death! Please. Remember, egg noodles from the freezer section are already cooked. They just need to heat through. Cover and let them simmer until nice and hot.
- Remove bay leaf, add a squeeze of lemon juice and serve in wide rimmed white bowls. Or your favorite comfort food soup bowls. Garnish with parsley leaves.
Notes
Nutrition
Hearty Chicken Noodle Soup And The Best Chicken Soup Seasoning … It’s Whats For Dinner
Why Trust These Recipes? Lea Ann Brown has lived, worked and played in Colorado for 45 years. She has immersed herself in the Colorado Culinary space, is a Culinary School Graduate and publishes her Colorado food Blog, Cooking On The Ranch.
Nothing like chicken soup when your sick! Great recipe! Thanks!
Divine! Chicken soup is an all time favorite. I don’t make it nearly enough and now you have inspired me with your delicious recipe and beautiful photograph. I can semll it from here. YUM
You have very lucky office mates! The soup looks comforting and good and the perfect cure-all. Thanks for sending it to Souper Sundays–so nice to have you back this week! 😉
Chicken noodle soup is one of those foods that make me feel good no matter what. This looks fabulous.
Thanks Karen and Joanne! Always appreciate the comments.
I made some a few weeks ago – can’t beat it and you’re right, it always turns out great whatever you add to it!
I can see how you would be handy to have around 😉 Yeah, chicken noodle soup is definitely the cure for all that is wrong in the world…a perennial favorite of mine since I was a wee lass! I agree about using the big, thick noodles, too…we have a plethora of gorgeous Amish noodles in all of our markets since there’s a big Amish town just a half an hour or so away (lucky me)!! This looks delicious 😀
I grew up with an Amish town nearby also. I always drag home a few bags of Amish noodles when I go back. Love them.
No, there’s nothing better than homemade chicken noodle soup. It tastes so good and makes you feel great, too!
I agree Beth. As always thanks for stopping by.
Chicken soup seems to be the best thing to offer to someone who is not feeling well. It is truly a comfort food.
Thanks for stopping by my blog and the comment.
It definitely has it’s healing properties (but don’t tell your pharmacy that or they’ll start selling the ingredients through there and charging a $20 copay!)
Too funny Chris. And true.
YUM! I love chicken noodle soup.
Lovely photo, Lea Ann…soups are so difficult to photograph.
Nothing more comforting, either. Especially with homemade stock!
Thank you so much Barbara. I do prefer homemade stock, but lately I’ve been lazy and using Better Than Boullion.
Oh how I would love a bowl of this soup! Maybe this weekend… Looks delicious!
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment. Enjoy the soup.
I think chicken noodle is my favorite comfort soup….I have never put sweet potato in mine-can’t wait to try that next time I make it.
Lynda, I didn’t used to, just threw one in a couple of years ago and now it’s a staple in our Chicken Noodle Soup
I’m a big fan of homemade chicken noodle soup but Bev is not, so I don’t make it real often or in big batches. Yours looks very good. My mom and grandmother made their own noodles and I can still remember them hanging all around the house, I think on coat hangers. Bev and I have yet to make any kind of pasta, but we talk about it a lot – I guess it’s just too easy to open a package.
My mom made her own noodles almost daily. I never remember the drying process, I wonder if she just always cooked them right away? I’ll have to ask her.
Chicken noodle soup is my daughter’s most requested dish when we get together in the winter. I have never used fennel, but you can be sure I’m going to try it next time because your seasonings are terrific. Your co-workers are lucky to have you on their team!
I work with a great bunch of people, I’m lucky to have them on my team too. I like fennel in this soup. If you’re a fan of fennel seed, you shoule like it.
I love a bowl of chicken noodle soup! It cures everything!
Thanks for stopping by and the comment.
There’s nothing quite as comforting and filling to the soul as chicken soup. This looks like a great recipe. I’ve never added fennel seeds to chicken soup, but will try next time.
I love fennel, so add it to alot of unsuspecting things.
I always come back to chicken noodle soup as my all time favorite. Nothing makes me feel better than a nice hot bowl full of all that flavor.
Ditto Cathy. 🙂
I thought about making a chicken noodle soup the other day. I have a real nice chicken in the freezer. The upcoming cold weather won’t be bothering us at all!! Luckily we are still healthy. Your soup looks delicious!
Kirsten, I’ve been somewhat complaining about the unseasonably warm weather, but now with the forecast for tomorrow, I’m actually sorry to see it go. Even though I do love cold nights and soup weather. Thanks for the comment and get prepared to cuddle up. 🙂
Warming me up just looking at it. Looks wonderful!
Thanks for the comment Nancy, I think you’re sending some cold weather our way.