Flu Fighter Chicken Noodle Soup is the ultimate comfort food when you’re feeling sick! Loaded with tender chicken, carrots, celery, onion, egg noodles, lemon juice, and dill, this soup is so flavorful. Even kids love this healthy recipe!
Chicken Noodle Soup
Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe
When it comes to soup, I’m kind of an old pro. I was avid a soup lover by the time I was in Kindergarden. And I have my mother to thank for that. The instant I displayed even the slightest symptom of a cold, she was there, with tea and toast; or gatorade and pizza (she swore by this for upset stomachs!); or my favorite, ginger ale and flu fighting chicken noodle soup. I grew to love this soup and soda ritual so much that I brilliantly (ha) began to fake random illness just to get the royal treatment.
It worked about twice before she caught onto my little theater charade and, after a firm talking to, busted out the dutch oven and taught me how to make the soup my damn self. Best gift ever.
I still appreciate a good chicken noodle soup loaded with all of the classic ingredients, but as I’ve grown, so has my creativity in making it. I stopped poaching my chicken in the broth a few years ago, and that opened a whole new door of flavor I never could have imagined possible for a humble pot of soup. The chicken is roasted in olive oil, spices, and herbs, then shredded right before diving into the pot of garlicky broth. The roasting… It makes all the difference. I swear. ↓
Spicy Chicken Noodle Soup
Ingredients:
- Chicken breast: Skinless and boneless. And I suggest using organic chicken if you can find it.
- Olive oil: I prefer a mild olive for this soup.
- Spices: Garlic powder, ground cumin, chili powder, cayenne pepper, oregano, salt, pepper, and a bay leaf!
- Carrots: Peeled and diced
- Celery: Diced
- Yellow onion: Finely diced
- Garlic: 8 whole cloves! Finely minced.
- Chicken stock: Use chicken bone broth, if you can!
- 4 cups water
- Noodles: I prefer egg noodles, but almost any variety of noodle will work! If you don’t plan on eating the entire pot of soup in one sitting, I suggest cooking the noodles separately and al dente, so you can add them to the soup all week long without them being soggy.
- A few lemons: adding lemon brightens the flavor of the broth.
- And fresh dill: Adds a deliciously fresh flavor!
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. It’s a great way to get my daily dose of meat and veggies and comfort in one convenient, cozy bowl.
I like my soups to be nice and chunky, with a bold, flavorful broth. Sounds easy… right? But alas, achieving the perfect broth is an art that can take many a’ pots of soup to perfect. I finally found mine in this soup. I use a combination of (store-bought) chicken stock and water, and it really turns out lovely.
Now, you may be thinking how in the world does stock and water make a dreamy broth… right? Well, that’s where our veggies, citrus, and herbs enter the story. Garlic, onion, fresh dill, and the juice of a whole lemon. They make this soup sing. I know the dill may seem a bit oddball for chicken noodle soup, but trust me, chicken+lemon+dill —> they are meant to be together!!!
I used egg noodles, farmers market fresh carrots, and a handful of celery we’ve had hidden in the back of the fridge for who knows how long. The results? A soup that knocked the last bit of flu out of my life for good. This Flu Fighter Chicken Noodle Soup is powerfully delicious.
If you’re serving more than 4 people, don’t be shocked if the entire pot is gone in 15 minutes!
Soup for Colds
- Italian Chicken Tortellini Soup
- Blackened Chicken Ramen Noodle Soup
- Spring Chicken Vegetable Soup
- 20-Minute Spicy Sriracha Ramen Noodle Soup
- Lemony Chicken and Rice Soup
Flu Fighter 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. Stir in cooked chicken, dill, and lemon juice. Taste soup to adjust seasonings, then serve at once.
Erin says
I love this recipe! I make it every time I get a sniffle. I’m a teacher, so that happens a lot! This recipe is so much better than all the other bland chicken noodle soups I’ve tried! Thank you so much for this amazing , healing, yummy soup!
Jessica says
I’m pretty sure I’ve commented on this recipe before… but I have to repeat myself! This has been my go-to soup for snow days, blustery fall days, everyone has a cold days, first trimester days, and even summer days! Like today for example, we’re supposed to reach a high of around 100 degrees today, but my husband and I both have the dreaded summer cold. It has been passed on to the toddler too (only the 9 year old and 4 month old are still well!) I knew this soup is exactly what we needed for dinner tonight!
I love this recipe and plan on using it for years to come!
Celina Ortega says
Ok I NEVER EVER comment on anything but this deserves it! This is hands down the BEST chicken noodle soup I have ever made. I used chickpea noodles and they were perfect and light. I followed the instructions to the tee and it was perfect. Thank you
Sara says
Just made a double batch of this!!!! Cannot wait to eat a bowl. My entire family is sick, except me. Which is odd…I’m usually the FIRST to get sick. But I’m hoping to nip it in the butt!!!
Celeste Wood says
this soup is bomb diggety down rite awesome, I am now making it for the 4 time! Thanks so much for this recipe! love love love it!!!!
Mary Combs says
My husband has been under the weather the last few days, so I Googled “Chicken Noodle Soup for my Sick Husband”, and this recipe popped up. I was concerned about the lemon and the dill, but we normally do not cook with those ingredients. However, my husband really liked it!. I didn’t have fresh dill, so I substituted one tablespoon of dried dill, and it was enough. The recipe didn’t mention putting the drippings from the chicken bake in the soup, so I didn’t include them. It was a shame to discard those good spices and juices. I thought about separating out the oil and adding the spices and left over juices into the soup. What is the correct answer, drippings in or no drippings?
Elise says
Hey, I thought the same thing about the drippings, and actually substituted them for the olive oil used to soften the vegetables in the beginning of making the soup! Turned out great, I did at just a dash of olive oil because it didn’t look like enough.
Kalyn says
Best soup ever! Everyone loved it, even our super picky eaters!!
Susan says
I made this soup today for my daughter who has the flu. It’s delicious. Thank you
Brenda Caltabiano says
I have made this soup several times. I always double the recipe as I am feeding 5. Love the lemon and the dill flavor. Thanks for sharing.
Alycia says
I was a little hesitant on this recipe just based off of the seasonings. I am SO glad I tried it!! The first time I tried it I had a sinus infection, the cayenne and chili powder opened me right up. I did add extra celery and carrots. Otherwise, I left the recipe as is (using gluten free noodles) and it’s amazing! Have made again, even when not sick.