This is, by far, my favorite homemade chicken noodle soup recipe because it’s simply the perfect mix of easy, wholesome, and satisfying. It’s creamy yet light, and benefits from the addition of potato, thyme, oregano, and convenient pre-cooked rotisserie chicken. If you’re looking for an easy yet incredibly delicious homemade creamy chicken noodle soup recipe, just read some of the reviews below, then try it for yourself!.
This recipe was first posted in 2015. Since then, I’ve added some new pictures, a video tutorial, and a few more tips for making it work.
This is one of those recipes I like to make a big double batch of on a cold, slow weekend in January, and freeze half for future busy weeknights. It’s also a great one to take to a friend or neighbor who’s in need of a comforting homemade meal. And it’s a perfect back to school recipe when schedules get very busy.
This creamy chicken noodle soup has only about 200 calories per 1 cup. The potato adds heartiness to the soup and, as it cooks, makes the soup even creamier. I’ve made this soup probably close to 100 times since I originally published the recipe. Trust me, don’t leave that potato out!.
With this soup, a fresh salad, and a warm slice of homemade artisan bread, you can enjoy a meal that will fill you up without making you feel heavy. If lightened-up comfort food is what you crave, be sure to try my creamy cauliflower potato soup and butternut squash mac and cheese, too!.
Chicken noodle soup is a classic comfort food that never goes out of style. The soothing broth, tender chicken, and soft noodles combine for a dish that warms you up and fills your belly. When a craving for this staple strikes, you’ll want to know the best places to pick up a bowl or can of chicken noodle soup. With options at grocery stores, restaurants, and delivery services, chicken noodle soup is always within reach.
Grocery Store Chicken Noodle Soups
Stores that sell groceries have easy-to-find and inexpensive chicken noodle soups in cans, boxes, and fresh in the fridge. Keep canned and dried foods in your pantry so you can make them quickly when you’re hungry. Or, get a new tub or box of chicken noodles for a quick meal that you can just heat up and eat.
Canned
Canned chicken noodle soups are shelf-stable for long-term storage. Campbell’s, Store Brands, and other well-known brands make classic recipes that are full of chicken, vegetables, noodles, and chicken broth. You can control the amount of salt and thickness of the soup by choosing low-sodium or condensed versions. Get some cans on your next trip for a quick dinner or lunch during the week.
Boxed
Boxed chicken noodle soups provide portion-controlled servings Look for individual cups or family-size packs from brands like Lipton and Knorr, Pop a cup in the microwave for a fast solo serving Or simmer a packet in water for 4 portions of scratch-made taste without the work,
Refrigerated
Fresh chicken noodle soup in plastic tubs and cartons is sold in the deli section. Soup Simplicity’s Roasted Red Pepper and Herb Chicken Noodle and other chilled soups taste like they were made from scratch. And names like Kettle Soups that are kept in the fridge don’t last long, so only buy what you’ll eat in a week.
Tips for Buying the Best Grocery Store Chicken Noodle Soup
-
Check the ingredients list for chunks of chicken vs. mechanically separated chicken. Opt for chunks of breast or thigh meat.
-
Look for soups with 10g protein or more per serving for satiety.
-
Low-sodium options have 140mg sodium or less per serving.
-
Organic chicken noodle soups don’t contain preservatives or artificial flavors.
-
Gluten-free and vegan chicken noodle soups are available for dietary needs.
-
Cartons and tetra packs don’t require draining a can, saving you dishes.
Restaurant Chicken Noodle Soups
From fast food to fine dining, restaurants nationwide offer chicken noodle soup. Enjoy a steaming bowl with a sandwich for lunch or as an appetizer at dinner.
Fast Casual Restaurants
Places like Panera and Noodles that serve fast food There are chunks of chicken breast in Panera’s Homestyle Chicken Noodle Soup, along with noodles, carrots, and celery. Get a bowl or cup and put a baked good or sandwich in it. McAlister’s chicken noodle soup has wide egg noodles and pulled roasted chicken. Pair your bowl with a baked potato or spud max.
Fast Food Chains
Major chains like Chick-fil-A, KFC, and Boston Market dish up filling chicken noodle soups. KFC’s version contains its signature fried chicken bites and thick noodles. Boston Market’s shredded rotisserie chicken soup comes loaded with carrots and celery. Most fast food soups are lower in sodium than canned.
Full-Service Restaurants
At full-service restaurants like Olive Garden, Texas Roadhouse, and Cracker Barrel, start your meal with hot chicken noodle soup. Cracker Barrel’s homestyle recipe loaded with carrots, celery, and chicken comes gratis with each entrée. Texas Roadhouse’s chicken noodle soup offers hand-rolled noodles and veggies. Olive Garden puts an Italian twist on it with chicken, spinach, and gnocchi.
Tips for Ordering the Best Restaurant Chicken Noodle Soup
-
Choose restaurants using fresh chicken rather than canned soup.
-
Ask about sodium content if limiting intake.
-
Request a side of crackers for topping or dunking.
-
For a lighter option, order broth-based soup instead of creamy.
-
Pair with salad and bread for a soup and sandwich meal.
-
Get it to go and reheat later for a quick dinner.
Chicken Noodle Soup Delivery
When you don’t feel like leaving home, order chicken noodle soup delivery from your favorite restaurants or a meal delivery service. With contactless drop-off, you can stay comfortable while enjoying a hot, fresh bowl of chicken noodle goodness.
Food Delivery Services
Services like DoorDash and Uber Eats let you order soup for delivery from local restaurants. Browse restaurant menus to find ones serving chicken noodle soup. Or search the term “chicken noodle soup” to find spots near you. Delivery usually takes 30-60 minutes depending on distance. Expect to pay a delivery fee and tip.
Meal Kit Delivery
Meal kit companies like HelloFresh and Green Chef ship the ingredients for homemade chicken noodle soup straight to your door. All you have to do is chop, mix, and cook. Meal kits take the grocery shopping and meal planning out of homemade soup. Meal kit soup servings cost $8-$12 on average.
Prepared Meal Delivery
Order fully prepared, refrigerated chicken noodle soup from fresh meal delivery companies like Freshly and Splendid Spoon. Heat and eat for a fuss-free homemade-tasting soup minus lengthy prep. Individual servings of prepared chicken noodle soups average $8-$10.
Tips for Ordering Chicken Noodle Soup Delivery
-
Browse restaurant menus on delivery apps to find chicken noodle soup options.
-
Filter by prep time on meal kits to find quick-fix chicken noodle soup recipes.
-
Reheat prepared chicken noodle soups gently to avoid boiling.
-
Time delivery so soup arrives when ready to eat.
-
For less waste, choose meal kits or reusable containers from prepared meal companies.
Whip Up Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
When you have time, making chicken noodle soup from scratch rewards you with total control over the ingredients. Adjust seasonings to your taste and use higher quality chicken and veggies. Simmer up a batch on a weekend to reheat all week long.
Select the Best Ingredients
Homemade chicken noodle soup is only as good as the sum of its parts. Use freshly diced carrots, celery, and onions – pre-cut veggie mixes lack flavor. Skinless chicken thighs or breasts provide flavorful meat without excess fat. And don’t overlook the broth – use chicken or vegetable broth, not water, for the base.
Nail the Cooking Method
Low and slow simmering elicits maximum flavor. Start by cooking aromatics like onion, garlic, celery, and carrots in the broth. Then add the chicken and noodles, cooking just until the noodles are tender. Shred or cube the chicken right before serving to keep it from drying out.
Season to Taste
Beyond salt and pepper, spices like sage, thyme, parsley, rosemary, and bay leaves add dimension. A splash of lemon juice or vinegar brightens at the end. Don’t over-season the broth, as you can always add table salt and pepper when eating.
Storage and Reheating
Refrigerate leftover homemade chicken noodle soup up to 4 days. The noodles will continue soaking up broth, so add extra broth or water when reheating to return to the right consistency. Avoid boiling when reheating to prevent the chicken from toughening.
Enjoy the Simple Pleasures of Chicken Noodle Soup
As one of the world’s most comforting foods, chicken noodle soup has remained beloved for generations, and for good reason. It’s a nostalgic taste of childhood or the perfect pick-me-up when you’re under the weather. With so many quick, convenient options for buying chicken noodle soup at grocery stores, restaurants, and delivery services, there’s no reason to deny a craving. When time allows, connecting with traditions by simmering chicken noodle soup at home offers unmatched satisfaction. However you get your hands on it, let the soothing warmth of chicken noodle soup nourish your body and soul.
How Does the Soup Thicken Up?
Cooking down the onion, carrots, and celery is a key step in the recipe. After you cook them down, add flour and your herbs. The flour will soak up the liquid from the vegetables as they soften, making a nice, thick base for the soup. This is exactly how we start biscuit vegetable pot pie, too.
Whole milk or half-and-half also thicken up the soup. I’ve even made it with half the amount (1/2 cup or 120ml) heavy cream in a pinch. (Add more chicken broth if you use heavy cream; see recipe Note. ).
Nice and thick, without being too heavy.
After the vegetable mixture cooks and you add the flour and seasonings (above), you’ll add the broth and potato. Boil, and then simmer on the stove before adding the milk/half-and-half, chicken, and noodles. Finish cooking. It’s all very simple.
*Slow cooker instructions in the recipe Notes below!*
Best Ingredients to Use:
You need 1 big pot and a few staple ingredients. This is a forgiving recipe, so let’s review what can change if needed.
- Butter: Just a Tablespoon, to soften the vegetables.
- Foods: The mirepoix base for this soup is made of onion, carrots, and celery.
- Herbs and spices: Mix garlic, oregano, thyme (fresh or dried), fresh ground pepper, and salt. You can use any other herbs you like instead if you’d like.
- If you add flour or cornstarch, the soup will thicken and go from brothy to creamy. See recipe Note for that substitution.
- Chicken Broth: Or stock.
- Potato: The first magical thing in this recipe is one medium potato. When it cooks down, it makes the soup SO creamy, hearty, and filling.
- Chicken: You can use already-cooked chicken in this recipe, which saves time. You could also use cooked turkey that you already have, like we do in this turkey pot pie! I usually buy a small rotisserie chicken, shred it, and add it to the soup right away. (I do the same thing with this BBQ chicken pizza—so easy!) You can also boil or poach chicken breasts with garlic and thyme, let them cool a bit (or put them in the fridge for a day or two), and then shred or chop them. You can also make my chicken quinoa salad or peanut chicken zucchini noodles with chicken that you have left over.
- Another magical thing that will make your homemade chicken noodle soup the creamiest soup ever is milk or half-and-half. One cup of whole milk or half-and-half should be used. If you don’t want your chicken noodle soup to be creamy, add more chicken broth instead of milk.
- No noodles: I like wide egg noodles in chicken soup, but you can use any dry pasta you like or not use any at all.
If you can find wide egg noodles, go ahead and use those in today’s soup. If you don’t have egg noodles, any dry pasta you like would work. Keep the noodles small enough to fit on a spoon, so break any large dry pasta before using if needed. A few readers have even used tortellini instead!.
How To Make Easy Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe – Natasha’s Kitchen
FAQ
Who makes really good chicken noodle soup?
The Best Canned Chicken Noodle Soup Taste TestThe Zestiest Broth: Rao’s Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup. Sara Haas. When You Want Organic: Pacific Chicken Noodle Soup. Sara Haas. The Best for When You’re Sick: Campbell’s Homestyle Chicken Noodle. Sara Haas. The Heartiest Version: Campbell’s Chunky Classic Chicken Noodle.
Is store-bought chicken noodle soup healthy?
No. It has a lot of sodium per serving,many not much protein, the noodles are highly glycemic, and there are absolutely no vegetables. It’s probably the least nutritious soup they make.
Do Chick-fil-A still sell chicken noodle soup?
Yes, Chick-fil-A does have Chicken Noodle Soup. It’s an item on the menu that comes with Saltine crackers and has chopped carrots and celery, egg noodles, and a hearty broth.
Why do doctors recommend chicken noodle soup?
When you’re sick, a steamy, hot bowl of chicken noodle soup is just what you need to feel better. Although the ingredients in chicken noodle soup are there for flavor, they also provide important health benefits. The broth provides hydrating fluid and electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and magnesium.
Where can I buy chicken noodle soup?
Zoup! Chicken Noodle Soup, Shelf-Stable, 16oz Shop for Chicken Noodle Soup in Soup. Buy products such as Progresso Traditional, Chicken Noodle Soup, 19 oz. at Walmart and save.
What is chicken noodle soup?
However, the popular fast-food joint also offers excellent Chicken Noodle Soup. This fragrant broth is served in the restaurant’s signature blue and white containers. It’s cooked with tender white meat chicken, thick plank-like noodles, and a variety of vegetables like carrots and celery.
Where can I buy Rao’s chicken noodle soup?
Did you? Get top deals, latest trends, and more. Shop Rao’s Italian Style Chicken Noodle Soup – 16oz at Target. Choose from Same Day Delivery, Drive Up or Order Pickup. Free standard shipping with $35 orders.
Is chicken noodle soup a classic comfort?
You can sink your spoon into a wide range of hearty soups at popular restaurant chains across the country—from broccoli cheddar and Zuppa Toscana to baked potato and tomato bisque and beyond—but nothing quite hits the spot like a steamy bowl of chicken noodle soup. That rich, cozy broth is the very definition of classic comfort.
What ingredients are used in Raos noodle soup?
INGREDIENT FOCUSED: Our chicken soups use chicken raised without antibiotics. Packaging May Vary. Bring home the famous taste of Raos Made for Home Soup! Our chicken noodle soup is made with rich chicken broth, chicken, tender fusilli pasta, carrots, celery and onions.
Does Costco sell chicken noodle & potato soup?
What I will never understand is why COSTCO seems to adopt the belief that Chicken Noodle or their Potato Soups are only cold weather soups, and thus, you can never purchase these wonderful soups during the summer months. Soup is soup. All soups are good year around IMHO including Old El Pasco Corn Chowder.