This classic chicken noodle soup is positively perfect on a cold winter night. It really is comfort in a bowl. And you can’t beat homemade.

Chicken Noodle Soup. Seriously…so basic, right?

Yeah, unless you are me. I’m plenty particular when it comes to my chicken noodle soup which is why I finally decided to perfect the stuff. Here’s what I require: Lots of chicken. Lots of it.

A white bowl full of chicken noodle soup with rolls in the background.

The same goes for the noodles. And not just any noodles. Good-quality, thick noodles (my brand recommendation is down in the Notes of the recipe). The noodles make the soup, baby. Oh, and lots of flavor doesn’t hurt either.

My preference is to cook my whole chicken up in the slow cooker all day with some pumped up broth (thanks to the veggies and seasonings added in with the chicken and broth) and then throw the rest of the soup together with the slow cooker broth in a flash about 30 minutes before eating.

We love a slightly creamy chicken noodle soup, but I’ve left that part optional in case you fall among the more classic lines of chicken-noodle-soup-lovers.

Looks like I still have plenty of time to enjoy a good pot of this chicken noodle soup since we just got slammed with another six inches of snow. (Hey, Winter, it’s March already!!)

Top down view of a white bowl full of chicken noodle soup with sliced carrots and celery.

What to Serve With This

One Year Ago: Honey Roast Chicken
Two Years Ago: Toasted Orzo with Peas and Parmesan
Three Years Ago: Asian Chicken Salad

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Classic Chicken Noodle Soup

4.67 stars (24 ratings)

Ingredients

For Chicken and Broth:

  • 3-4 pound whole chicken, neck and giblets removed
  • 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 3 stalks celery, chopped in large chunks
  • 3-4 carrots, cut in large chunks
  • 1 onion, chopped in large pieces

Soup:

  • 12 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 4 stalks celery, chopped
  • 1 pound carrots, chopped
  • 1-2 teaspoons salt, to taste, depending on the broth
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • 16-20 ounces egg noodles
  • 1 cup cream or half-and-half combined with 1 tablespoon cornstarch, optional for creamy-style

Instructions 

  • Rinse the chicken, removing the neck and giblets. Place the chicken in a slow cooker and add the other ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours.
  • Carefully remove the chicken and set aside in a large bowl until the chicken is cool enough to handle without burning your fingertips off. Meanwhile, remove and discard the large solids from the chicken broth and strain the chicken broth into a large pot.
  • To the same pot, add another 12 cups chicken broth, the chopped vegetables and the salt and pepper. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook, covered, for 12-15 minutes, until the vegetables are slightly tender (they’ll cook more when the noodles cook). Taste the broth and add salt and pepper to taste, if needed.
  • Add the noodles and cook according to package directions at a rolling boil. While the noodles are cooking, take the chicken off the bones and shred into bite-size pieces.
  • For a creamy version, combine the cream (or half-and-half) and cornstarch in a liquid measuring, whisking to dissolve the cornstarch. Add the slurry to the soup and simmer rapidly for 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the shredded chicken. Serve.

Notes

Quantity: not in the market for a huge ol’ pot of soup? Well, then, keep the Chicken and Broth ingredients the same but save half of the chicken for later (freezer for another use or another batch of soup) and halve the Soup ingredients.
Noodles: quality of noodles counts big time! I love the Mrs. Weiss brand of wide Kluski noodles.
Chicken Broth: and while we are talking brands, my favorite brand of chicken broth is Swanson’s Natural Goodness Chicken Broth (33% Less Sodium, all-natural).
Serving: 1 Serving, Calories: 449kcal, Carbohydrates: 47g, Protein: 29g, Fat: 17g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 96mg, Sodium: 705mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 5g

Recipe Source: Mel’s Kitchen Cafe