How Many Calories are in a Cup of Chicken Noodle Soup? A Complete Nutritional Breakdown

Chicken noodle soup is a classic comfort food that people have loved for a long time. You can enjoy this soup on a cold winter day or when you’re sick because it is warm, filling, and soothing. But a lot of people are curious about how healthy chicken noodle soup is in terms of calories and nutrients. If you want to know how many calories and nutrients are in one cup of chicken noodle soup, read this article.

Calorie Count for 1 Cup of Chicken Noodle Soup

When looking at canned, condensed chicken noodle soup prepared with equal parts water, a one cup serving contains approximately:

• 65 calories

There are between 60 and 70 calories in a cup of chicken noodle soup, depending on things like the brand, the ingredients, and other things. Homemade chicken noodle soup has the same number of calories per cup as canned soup.

A cup of chicken noodle soup doesn’t have many calories, so it’s a good choice for a light meal.

Nutritional Breakdown of Chicken Noodle Soup

Here is the nutritional breakdown for a typical one cup serving of chicken noodle soup:

• Total Fat: 2.4g

  • Saturated Fat: 0.7g

• Cholesterol: 14mg

• Sodium: 870mg

• Total Carbohydrate: 7g

  • Dietary Fiber: 0g
  • Sugars: 1g

• Protein: 3g

• Vitamin A: 51mcg (6% DV)

• Vitamin C: 0mg (0% DV)

• Calcium: 14mg (1% DV)

• Iron: 1.7mg (9% DV)

• Potassium: 53mg (1% DV)

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

As you can see, one cup of chicken noodle soup is low in calories but provides a decent amount of protein. It also contains some important vitamins and minerals like Vitamin A, calcium, iron, and potassium.

Let’s analyze each nutrient in more detail:

Fat

The total fat content per cup is 2. 4g, with 0. 7g being saturated fat. This is considered a low fat food. The American Heart Association says that people should not eat more than 5 to 6 percent of their daily calories from saturated fat. So the saturated fat in a cup of chicken noodle soup makes up about 3% to 4% of that amount if you eat a 2,000-calorie diet.

Carbohydrates

With 7g of carbs per cup, chicken noodle soup is relatively low in this macronutrient as well. The carbs come mostly from the noodles and any veggies present in the soup. For comparison, one slice of bread has about 15g of carbs. The soup contains no fiber and only 1g of natural sugars. So the carb content is quite low overall.

Protein

There are 3g of protein in each cup of chicken noodle soup. While not extremely high in protein, this represents about 6% of the recommended daily intake for protein on a 2000 calorie diet. So the soup provides a moderate protein boost.

Sodium

Like many canned soups and prepared foods, chicken noodle soup tends to be high in sodium with 870mg per cup. The American Heart Association recommends limiting sodium to 1500mg per day maximum. So a cup of this soup contains well over half of the daily recommended limit. Those restricting their sodium intake may want to look for reduced sodium versions.

Vitamins and Minerals

Chicken noodle soup contains 6% of the recommended daily Vitamin A, which is helpful for immune function and vision. It also provides small amounts of calcium, iron, and potassium. While not rich in vitamins and minerals, the soup provides a light boost to meet some of your daily needs.

Chicken Noodle Soup Ingredients

Standard chicken noodle soup contains the following main ingredients:

• Chicken broth/stock
• Cooked chicken meat
• Noodles (egg noodles, pasta, rice noodles, etc.)
• Celery
• Carrots
• Onion

Some other vegetables like peas or corn may be added as well. And the soup is seasoned with salt, pepper, bay leaves and other herbs.

The ingredients impact the nutrition facts. For example, using a homemade chicken stock instead of canned broth will reduce the sodium content. Using spinach or tomato noodles adds more vitamins. Adding more protein-rich chicken meat increases the protein value. So you can tweak the nutrition profile by modifying ingredients.

Is Chicken Noodle Soup Healthy?

Now that we’ve looked closely at the calories and nutrition numbers, is chicken noodle soup actually good for you? Here are some key benefits and drawbacks:

Benefits

• Low in calories and fat
• Provides protein
• Contains immunity-boosting broth
• Provides some vitamins and minerals
• Easy to digest comfort food

Drawbacks

• High in sodium
• Low in fiber
• Not enough protein for a main meal

Overall, chicken noodle soup can be a healthy option when not consuming it too frequently. The lower calorie, fat, carb, and protein content makes it a lighter meal. The broth and veggies provide key vitamins and minerals. Just be mindful of sodium intake. Enjoying a cup 1-2 times per week can be part of a healthy, balanced diet.

Tips for Enjoying Chicken Noodle Soup

Here are some tips to get the most nutrition and flavor when eating chicken noodle soup:

• Opt for reduced sodium versions or use homemade chicken stock
• Add extra vegetables like spinach, kale, tomatoes
• Include whole grain noodles or rice for more fiber
• Shred in additional cooked chicken breast for more protein
• Garnish with fresh herbs, lemon juice, crushed red pepper
• Enjoy with a side salad or whole grain roll for a balanced meal

Chicken noodle soup can be an excellent light meal when you follow healthy preparation methods. Feel confident eating this classic soup in moderation as part of your regular diet.