Here’s a comforting homemade chicken noodle soup recipe that’s easy to make and works well with pantry ingredients.
Classic Chicken Noodle Soup
Ingredients
2 tbsp olive oil or butter
1 medium onion, diced
2 carrots, sliced
2 celery stalks, sliced
3 garlic cloves, minced
8 cups chicken broth
2 cups cooked shredded chicken
1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
½ tsp black pepper
1 tsp dried thyme
1 bay leaf
2 cups egg noodles or any noodles
2 tbsp chopped parsley
Optional: squeeze of lemon juice
Instructions
Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat.
Add onion, carrots, and celery. Cook for about 5–7 minutes until softened.
Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
Pour in chicken broth. Add thyme, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil.
Add noodles and cook according to package instructions (usually 6–8 minutes).
Stir in cooked chicken and simmer for 2–3 minutes until heated through.
Remove bay leaf. Add parsley and optional lemon juice.
Serve hot.
Tips
Rotisserie chicken works great for quick prep.
For a creamier version, stir in a splash of cream or milk at the end.
If storing leftovers, keep noodles separate so they don’t get soggy.
Good Add-Ins
Corn
Mushrooms
Spinach
Ginger and soy sauce for an Asian-style variation
Green chilies or black pepper for extra heat
For noodles, you can use:
Egg noodles
Spaghetti broken into pieces
Rice noodles
Instant noodles (discard seasoning packet if preferred)