This classic chicken noodle soup recipe is the best comfort food when you’re feeling sick! Loaded with tender chicken, egg noodles, onions, carrots, and celery. But it’s fresh lemon juice and dill that me this soup is stand out from the rest! See my tips for freezing the soup below.
Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup: The Ultimate Comfort Food
When it comes to making homemade chicken noodle soup, I’m an old pro. I have my mom to thank for that, who had me helping her make pots of soup from the tender age of 3.
Here’s why this is the best chicken noodle soup recipe:
- A million times more delicious than any store bought chicken noodle soup. Period!
- Hearty and satisfying… this soul-warming soup can easily be a full meal. Especially when served with bread, garlic knots, or a simple salad.
- Skip cooking a whole chicken and roast chicken breasts instead! This is much easier and adds so much flavor to the chicken and broth. Chicken thighs would also work.
- To make it even easier, you could use a store bought rotisserie chicken. In that case, add the “chicken spices” directly into the soup.
- A great meal when you’re cold… or have a cold! Loaded with healthy ingredients that are sure to make you feel great.
- You can easily turn this into creamy chicken noodle soup by adding a cup of heavy cream after you remove the soup from heat. Slowly pour the cream in, stirring constantly!
Best Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe: The Ingredients
- Chicken: Boneless skinless chicken breast work best for this recipe. In a pinch, you can use chicken thighs although you’ll need to cook them longer. Or use a store bought rotisserie chicken.
- Olive Oil: I prefer a mild olive oil for this chicken noodle soup, but any variety will work.
- Spices: Garlic powder, ground cumin, chili powder, cayenne pepper, oregano, salt, pepper, and a bay leaf! If you enjoy bay flavor, use two bay leaves. Fresh thyme is also a nice addition. Sometimes I use 1 teaspoon finely chopped.
- Carrots: Peeled and diced carrots add color, texture, and a great dose of vitamin c!
- Celery: I am a celery lover and use 3 large stalks. You can use less or add an extra stalk depending on how chunky you like your chicken noodle soup recipe to be.
- Onion: I use a yellow onion, but a white onion or even red onion could work here.
- Garlic: 8 whole cloves add plenty of flavor to this chicken noodle soup recipe! While you could reduce it to 6 cloves, I don’t suggest using less than that.
- Broth: Chicken bone broth, regular chicken broth or stock all work here.
- Water: I prefer filtered water but use whatever you typically cook with.
- Egg Noodles: I prefer egg noodles, but almost any noodle will work! I suggest cooking the noodles separately and al dente. Then add the noodles to the soup as needed. Otherwise they’ll soak up all the chicken broth or stock and leave you with little broth.
- Lemon: Adding fresh lemon juice brightens the flavor of the broth. It also adds a pop of vitamin c! If you love lemon in soup, try my chicken and rice soup next!
- Fresh Dill: This fresh herb adds a delicious flavor and makes this chicken noodle soup extra special. I don’t suggest using dried dill as a sub.
How to Make Chicken Noodle Soup
- Bake the Chicken: Coat the chicken with oil and spices. Bake for 25 minutes, then remove from the oven and cool. Once cool, shred into small chunks.
- Make the Soup: In a soup pot, cook the onion, carrots, and celery until tender. Then add the garlic and bay leaves, along with the water and chicken broth or stock. Cook for 15 minutes.
- Add the Noodles: You can technically add the noodles directly to the chicken broth, but I don’t suggest it. They will soak up a lot of the broth, so if you plan on eating some of the soup later, cook them first then add the noodles to the broth.
- Finishing Touches: Stir in the cooked chicken, lemon juice, and dill. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed
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How to Freeze Chicken Noodle Soup
- Cook soup as directed, but don’t add the noodles, dill, or lemon juice.
- Cool completely then transfer to a freezer safe bag. Lay on a flat surface and freeze until solid.
- Continue freezing for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge before use. Reheat and add noodles, dill, and lemon.
This soup recipe is so healthy, bold, and flavorful! I would truly be content eating a heaping bowl for lunch every single day. To be honest, most winter afternoons, I do.
If you’re serving more than 4 people, don’t expect leftovers. And don’t be shocked if your family polishes off this entire pot of chicken noodle soup in 15 minutes!
More Noodle Soup Recipes
- Italian Chicken Tortellini Soup
- Pasta Fagioli
- Blackened Chicken Ramen Noodle Soup
- 20-Minute Spicy Sriracha Ramen Noodle Soup
- Italian Wedding Soup
The Best Chicken Noodle Soup
Ingredients
For the chicken:
- 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast tenders
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
For the soup:
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 large carrots, peeled and diced
- 3 stalks celery, diced
- 1 very large onion, finely diced
- 8 cloves garlic, minced
- Big pinch of salt
- 32 ounces of chicken stock (or chicken bone broth)
- 4 cups water
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 cups noodles of your choice (I suggest using a smaller noodle like elbows or egg noodles)
- Juice of 1 lemon, plus more for serving
- 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup fresh dill, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees (F). Place chicken tenders in a large baking dish lined with parchment paper. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of oil and sprinkle with spices. Place in the oven and bake for 25 minutes, flipping the chicken at the half way point. Once cooked, pull into small chunks using two forks.
- While the chicken is roasting, prepare the soup.
- Heat olive oil in a large, heavy bottomed soup pan over a medium flame. Add carrots, celery, and onion, and cook – stirring occasionally – for 8-9 minutes.
- Add garlic and salt and cook for another minute before adding the bay leaf, water and chicken stock.
- Increase heat to high, bring soup to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, stir in noodles, and simmer for 10 – 15 minutes, or until the vegetables are soft and the pasta al dente. Note: If you're not eating the whole pot of soup in one sitting, cook your noodles separately, then add them as needed.
- Stir in cooked chicken, dill, and lemon juice. Taste soup to adjust seasonings, then serve at once.
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Katherine says
I’ve made this so many times I’ve lost count! Amazing flavor and comes out perfect every time.
Gabrielle Davis says
I just need to share that I have been making this recipe for over 5 years, anytime I feel the slightest bit sick or anyone I know needs a meal when they are under the weather. It has SO much rich flavor and so many wonderful ingredients for a body that needs a boost. I shared this recipe with my sisters and now they make it too! Absolutely scrumptious!
Ali J says
Do you know if this can be canned to be shelf stable?
Mel says
Best Chicken noodle soup I’ve ever made and had! The lemon is perfect. It makes it.
I added a small big of ginger as well.
But I don’t have fresh dill. I didn’t use 1/2 dried just a bew tablespoons and it was so yummy!