Description
Few dishes bring the same comfort and warmth as a bowl of chicken noodle soup. This quick and easy version delivers tender chicken, hearty vegetables, and flavorful broth in under 40 minutes—perfect for weeknights, meal prep, or cozy dinners.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, finely diced
2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced into thin rounds
2 celery stalks, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
8 cups (2 liters) low-sodium chicken broth
2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced (rotisserie chicken works well)
2 cups (about 150 g) wide egg noodles
1 teaspoon dried thyme (or 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves)
1 teaspoon dried parsley (or 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped)
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon kosher salt (adjust to taste)
½ teaspoon black pepper
Juice of ½ lemon (optional, for brightness)
Extra parsley, for garnish
Instructions
Step 1: Sauté the Aromatics
Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Cook for 5–6 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
Step 2: Add the Broth and Seasonings
Pour in chicken broth. Add thyme, parsley, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Stir and bring to a gentle boil.
Step 3: Cook the Noodles
Add egg noodles to boiling broth. Cook 6–8 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally.
Step 4: Add the Chicken
Reduce heat to medium-low. Stir in cooked chicken. Simmer for 3–4 minutes to warm through.
Step 5: Finish the Soup
Remove bay leaf. Taste and adjust seasonings. Add lemon juice for brightness, if desired.
Step 6: Serve and Enjoy
Ladle into bowls, garnish with parsley, and serve warm with bread or crackers.
Notes
For extra richness, stir in ½ cup heavy cream at the end.
To freeze, omit noodles and add fresh ones when reheating.
Fresh herbs (parsley, thyme) add the best flavor if available.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup, Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (about 1.5 cups)
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg
Keywords: quick chicken noodle soup, easy chicken soup, comforting chicken soup, homemade chicken noodle soup