Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup 🍲🐔
This Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup is warm, comforting, and filled with tender chicken, soft vegetables, flavorful broth, and hearty egg noodles. It’s the kind of simple, old-fashioned soup that works for chilly evenings, easy family dinners, or anytime you want something cozy and satisfying.
It comes together with basic ingredients, and you can make it with either freshly cooked chicken or leftover rotisserie chicken.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 6–8
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Classic homemade comfort food
- Easy to make
- Family-friendly
- Uses simple ingredients
- Great for leftovers
- Freezer-friendly without the noodles
- Easy to make with rotisserie chicken
- Perfect for cold-weather meals
Ingredients
For the Soup
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 medium carrots, sliced
- 3 celery stalks, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon poultry seasoning
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt, to taste
- 3 cups cooked shredded chicken
- 8 ounces wide egg noodles
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, optional
How to Make Chicken Noodle Soup
Step 1: Cook the Vegetables
Heat the butter and olive oil in a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat.
Add the onion, carrots, and celery.
Cook for approximately 6–8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften.
Step 2: Add the Garlic
Add the minced garlic.
Cook for about 30 seconds, just until fragrant.
Step 3: Add the Broth and Seasonings
Pour in the chicken broth.
Add:
- Thyme
- Parsley
- Poultry seasoning
- Black pepper
- Bay leaf
Bring everything to a gentle boil.
Step 4: Simmer the Vegetables
Reduce the heat to medium-low.
Cover partially and simmer for approximately 10–15 minutes, or until the carrots and celery are almost tender.
Step 5: Add the Chicken
Stir in the shredded cooked chicken.
Simmer for another 5 minutes so the chicken heats through and flavors the broth.
Step 6: Add the Noodles
Add the egg noodles directly to the soup.
Cook according to package directions, usually about 6–8 minutes, until just tender.
Stir occasionally so the noodles don’t stick together.
Step 7: Finish the Soup
Remove the bay leaf.
Stir in fresh parsley.
Taste and adjust the salt and pepper.
For a slightly brighter flavor, add a tablespoon of lemon juice just before serving.
Step 8: Serve
Ladle into bowls and serve hot.
Add extra parsley, black pepper, or crackers if desired.
The Secret to Flavorful Chicken Noodle Soup
The broth is the heart of this recipe.
Starting with onion, carrots, and celery cooked in butter gives the soup a deeper homemade flavor before the broth is even added.
Using low-sodium chicken broth also gives you better control over the final seasoning.
For even richer flavor, add a little chicken bouillon or use homemade chicken stock.
Best Chicken to Use
You have several good options.
Rotisserie Chicken
Use approximately 3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken for the easiest version.
Leftover Roast Chicken
This is a great way to use leftover cooked chicken.
Poached Chicken Breasts
Cook chicken breasts gently in broth, shred them, then return them to the soup.
Chicken Thighs
Chicken thighs have more fat and can make the soup especially flavorful and juicy.
Chicken Noodle Soup from Scratch with Raw Chicken
If starting with raw chicken, use approximately:
- 1½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
Add them to the broth before the noodles.
Simmer gently until fully cooked.
Remove the chicken, shred it, then return it to the soup.
Chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
Best Noodles for Chicken Soup
Wide egg noodles are classic, but you can also use:
- Medium egg noodles
- Rotini
- Small shells
- Ditalini
- Orzo
- Broken spaghetti
If using a different pasta, adjust the cooking time according to the package.
How to Keep Noodles from Getting Mushy
Noodles continue absorbing broth as the soup sits.
If you expect leftovers, cook the noodles separately and add them to individual bowls.
This keeps the soup from becoming overly thick or soft the next day.
Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup
For a creamy version, add:
- 1 cup half-and-half
or - ¾ cup heavy cream
Stir it in after the noodles are cooked.
Keep the heat low and avoid boiling once the dairy is added.
Chicken Noodle Soup with Potatoes
Add 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced, with the carrots and celery.
The potatoes make the soup heartier and slightly thicken the broth.
Chicken Noodle Soup with Rice
Replace the noodles with cooked rice.
Add the cooked rice near the end so it doesn’t absorb too much broth.
White rice, brown rice, or wild rice all work.
Chicken Noodle Soup with Dumplings
Skip the noodles and top the simmering soup with spoonfuls of biscuit dough or homemade dumpling dough.
Cover and cook until the dumplings are fluffy and cooked through.
Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup
Add to the slow cooker:
- Raw chicken
- Onion
- Carrots
- Celery
- Garlic
- Broth
- Seasonings
Cook on LOW for 6–7 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours.
Remove and shred the chicken.
Return it to the slow cooker.
Cook the noodles separately and stir them in just before serving.
This prevents the noodles from becoming too soft.
Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
Use the sauté setting to cook the onion, carrots, and celery in butter.
Add garlic, broth, seasonings, and raw chicken.
Pressure cook according to your appliance guidance until the chicken is cooked.
Shred the chicken.
Then use sauté mode to cook the noodles directly in the broth until tender.
Garlic Chicken Noodle Soup
For stronger garlic flavor, increase to 5–6 cloves garlic.
You can also finish the soup with a little garlic butter.
Lemon Chicken Noodle Soup 🍋
Add:
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
Stir them in just before serving.
The lemon makes the broth taste lighter and brighter.
What to Serve with Chicken Noodle Soup
This soup pairs well with:
- Crackers
- Garlic bread
- Dinner rolls
- Buttermilk biscuits
- Grilled cheese
- Side salad
- Cornbread
- Toasted sourdough
Make-Ahead Instructions
The soup base can be prepared ahead without the noodles.
Refrigerate the broth, vegetables, and chicken.
When ready to serve, bring the soup back to a simmer and add fresh noodles.
This gives you the best texture.
Storage
Store leftover chicken noodle soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to approximately 3–4 days.
The noodles will continue absorbing broth, so you may need to add extra broth when reheating.
How to Reheat
Stovetop
Place the soup in a saucepan.
Add a splash of chicken broth if needed.
Heat gently until steaming hot.
Microwave
Heat individual portions in a microwave-safe bowl in short intervals, stirring between each interval.
Can You Freeze Chicken Noodle Soup?
Yes, but for the best texture, freeze it without the noodles.
Cool the soup completely.
Transfer to freezer-safe containers.
Freeze for approximately 2–3 months.
Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Reheat and add freshly cooked noodles before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use rotisserie chicken?
Yes. It’s one of the easiest options.
Can I use raw chicken?
Yes. Simmer it in the broth until fully cooked, then shred it.
What noodles work best?
Wide egg noodles are the classic choice.
Can I use pasta instead?
Absolutely.
Why did my noodles get mushy?
They continued absorbing liquid after cooking. Cooking them separately helps.
Can I make this creamy?
Yes. Add half-and-half or heavy cream near the end.
Can I add potatoes?
Yes.
Can I use rice instead of noodles?
Definitely.
Can I make it in a slow cooker?
Yes. Add separately cooked noodles near the end.
Can I freeze it?
Yes, preferably without the noodles.
Why does my soup taste bland?
It may need more salt, herbs, garlic, or a richer broth.
Can I add bouillon?
Yes. A small amount can deepen the chicken flavor.
Can I add lemon?
Yes. A little lemon juice brightens the broth.
How long does it keep?
About 3–4 days refrigerated.
Pro Tips
Cook the onion, carrots, and celery until they begin to soften before adding the broth. This builds more flavor than simply boiling everything together.
For leftovers, keep the noodles separate whenever possible. That way, the broth stays brothy and the noodles stay tender instead of soaking up all the liquid.
For an especially cozy bowl, finish with fresh parsley, plenty of black pepper, and warm buttered bread on the side.
Final Thoughts
This Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup is simple, hearty, and full of classic comfort-food flavor. Tender chicken, vegetables, egg noodles, and savory broth make it an easy recipe worth keeping for busy weeknights and chilly days.
Make it classic, turn it creamy, add potatoes or rice, or prepare it in the slow cooker. However you make it, a warm bowl of chicken noodle soup is always a satisfying family favorite.