This Chicken Noodle Soup recipe is exactly what you need on a cool day to warm you from the inside out. Filled with juicy chicken and tender noodles, this easy chicken noodle only takes about 30 minutes to make.

P.S. Our secret to seasoning the soup at the end is worth discovering.

Chicken Noodle Soup in a stock pot ready to serve in just 30 minutes

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

Sometimes the best recipes are the simplest. You’ll love the easy prep with this classic chicken noodle soup. There’s no need to trim the chicken ahead of time since the fat comes off easily after it’s boiled.

Chicken Noodle Soup Video Tutorial

This simple Chicken Noodle Soup is nutritious, hearty, and makes the perfect dish for busy families. My sister Anna came up with this recipe and first introduced me to it when she sent me a pot of soup after our first child was born over 10 years ago. We’ve been making it ever since and even made a Creamy Chicken Soup version!

Chicken Noodle Soup Ingredients

This Chicken Noodle Soup calls for traditional ingredients and a slight twist on the seasonings.

  • Chicken: The secret to super tender chicken without crazy long cooking times is using chicken thighs! You can use boneless or bone-in chicken. Thighs also provide extra flavor and don’t dry out like chicken breast does.
  • Broth: Our Homemade Chicken Broth is a delicious addition to this soup and provides a rich flavor. However, if you are in a pinch a low-sodium store-bought broth can work.
  • Vegetables: Onions and celery sauteed together provide the traditional base for chicken noodle soup flavor. Diced carrots are another traditional vegetable. You can also add any other fresh or frozen veggies you would like.
  • Seasonings: Dill and freshly-pressed garlic brighten the flavor palette and I love adding Mrs. Dash (no-salt seasoning).

Close-up of plump noodles, flavorful carrots, and moist shredded chicken in Chicken Noodle Soup

Pro Tip: When sauteing ingredients for soups, use oil in the pan instead of butter. Butter will solidify when you refrigerate the soup.

The Best Noodles for Soup

I love using nice spiral noodles or egg noodles in my chicken noodle soup. These noodles plump up nicely and make the soup feel really hearty compared to other noodle varieties. Make sure you don’t overcook your noodles, especially if storing the soup or they will get mushy.

For Gluten-Free Chicken Noodle Soup

This soup is so simple and easy to modify for different food intolerances. To make it gluten-free, just sub your favorite gluten-free noodles.

Easy Chicken Noodle Soup ready to serve with dill and freshly pressed garlic

The Benefits of Homemade Broth

Homemade Chicken Broth adds rich flavor to any soup or recipe that calls for chicken stock or broth. According to Medical News Today (2023), bone broth is highly nutritious and may help reduce inflammation and improve gut health.

When you cook the homemade broth in an instant pot – you can have it ready in about 2 hours. It also makes all the difference in how good your soup tastes.

Easy Chicken Noodle Soup with plump tender noodles and juicy shredded chicken thighs

How to Make Easy Chicken Noodle Soup

This easy chicken soup takes about 30 minutes to make. The SECRET to amping up the flavor happens in the last 2 minutes of cooking. Adding dill and a pressed clove of garlic is what my Mother does for nearly all of her soups and I have adopted this in my own kitchen. It is a brilliant and easy way to make your chicken soup taste fantastic!

  1. Cook the Chicken: In a large soup pot, combine water, Chicken Broth, and salt. Bring to a boil then add chicken thighs and cook uncovered 20 minutes.
  2. Saute Veggies: In a large skillet saute onion and celery in oil until golden then add to the soup pot
  3. Add Noodles and Veggies: Add 1/2 lb pasta and sliced carrots to the pot and cook 15 min at a low boil.
  4. Shred Chicken: As the pasta cooks, remove thighs from the pot and shred with forks (discarding bones and fat), then add the chicken back to the pot.
  5. Season: In the last 2 minutes of cooking, add Mrs. Dash, dill, and press in 1 garlic clove, and add salt to taste. Simmer another minute then turn off the heat.

Picture collage of making Chicken Noodle Soup: creating the broth, adding the juicy chicken thighs, sauteing celery and onions, adding sliced carrots and noodles

Storing Leftover Chicken Noodle Soup

We love making a big pot of chicken soup and enjoying it throughout the week. Keep in mind, if the soup is stored too long, the noodles will turn mushy. If storing longer than 1-2 days, it’s best to store the soup and the noodles separately and recombine right before serving.

  • Refrigerated: Cool the soup completely and store covered in the refrigerator. Once noodles are in, the soup should be enjoyed within 2 days. The soup will keep up to a week if you store the noodles separately and combine when reheated.
  • To Freeze: If you plan to freeze the soup, wait to add the noodles when you reheat the soup. Chicken soup can be frozen up to 3 months.
  • Reheating: Recombine noodles and soup in a pot or microwave-safe bowl and heat to the desired temperature on the stovetop or in the microwave. If using uncooked noodles, reheat on the stove until the mixture boils and noodles are tender.

Delicious chicken noodle soup with homemade broth and crackers

More Delicious Soup Recipes:

We love soups, for the ease in preparation and their fun variety. Be sure to give some of our other popular soups a try. P.S. If you love chicken soup, our Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup is a must-try!

Easy Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe

4.97 from 400 votes
Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com
Chicken Noodle Soup in a blue pot
This easy Chicken Noodle Soup recipe is exactly what you imagine when you think of homemade chicken noodle soup - soothing, warming, comforting and rich in flavor. It is loaded with juicy chicken and tender noodles.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 10 people
  • 4 chicken thighs, skins removed (bone-in or boneless)
  • 8 cups chicken broth, we used low sodium
  • 6 cups water
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil, to saute vegetables
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 2 medium celery sticks, finely chopped
  • 2 carrots, sliced into rings
  • 6 oz rotini pasta
  • 3 Tbsp fresh or frozen dill
  • 1 tsp Mrs. Dash, or your favorite salt-free seasoning
  • 1 Tbsp sea salt, or to taste
  • 1 garlic clove, pressed

Instructions

  • In a large soup pot, combine 6 cups water with 8 cups chicken broth and 1 Tbsp sea salt. Bring to a boil then add chicken thighs and boil partially covered 20 min while you prep the vegetables, skimming off any foam that rises to the top. 
  • In a large skillet over medium/high heat, add 2 Tbsp olive oil and sauté onion and celery until softened then transfer to the pot.
  • Add pasta and sliced carrots to the soup pot and continue cooking for 15 min at a low boil or until pasta is at the desired softness.
  • While pasta is cooking, remove chicken thighs from the pot and use either forks or your hands to shred the chicken, discarding any bones and fat which should come off easily. Return shredded chicken to the pot.
  • Season soup with 1 tsp Mrs. Dash (or your favorite seasoning) and more salt to taste if needed. Press in 1 garlic clove. Finally, add 3 Tbsp dill and remove from heat. Enjoy!

Nutrition Per Serving

249kcal Calories22g Carbs14g Protein12g Fat3g Saturated Fat44mg Cholesterol807mg Sodium367mg Potassium1g Fiber2g Sugar2091IU Vitamin A2mg Vitamin C35mg Calcium1mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Easy Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe
Amount per Serving
Calories
249
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
12
g
18
%
Saturated Fat
 
3
g
19
%
Cholesterol
 
44
mg
15
%
Sodium
 
807
mg
35
%
Potassium
 
367
mg
10
%
Carbohydrates
 
22
g
7
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
2
g
2
%
Protein
 
14
g
28
%
Vitamin A
 
2091
IU
42
%
Vitamin C
 
2
mg
2
%
Calcium
 
35
mg
4
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Soup
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chicken noodle soup, chicken soup
Skill Level: Easy/Medium
Cost to Make: $$
Calories: 249
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen

4.97 from 400 votes (199 ratings without comment)

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Karina Romarniuc
    April 30, 2015

    I loveee this soup thank you for the recepie I will try this one

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      April 30, 2015

      You’re so welcome Karina 🙂

      Reply

  • VitaliyaC
    April 27, 2015

    Natasha , I love this soup it’s the perfect easy recipe. I just have one question. Every time I make the soup after bout 2-3 hours the noodles get so big and my soup turns into pretty much a pasta dish lol. Is that normal ? Or am I doing something wrong .

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      April 27, 2015

      It depends on the kind of noodles you’re using, some get larger than others. My sister uses a gluten-free noodle that really expands. I like my noodles plump in my soup, but if it is too much for you, you can reduce the amount of pasta in the recipe.

      Reply

  • Irene
    April 23, 2015

    I made this for dinner tonight and everyone loved it! I love the swollen noodles in them! (one thing I forgot to add was the sliced carrots, even though I had them ready and all) haha but was still amazing!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      April 23, 2015

      The carrots are nice in there and make the soup prettier but I’m glad you still enjoyed it :). I love the swollen noodles too!

      Reply

  • ST
    April 18, 2015

    Made this today and its just simply the best. Dill- just makes it fresh and yum!

    Thank you!

    My 5 and 2 year old slurpped every wee bit!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      April 19, 2015

      That is the best thing when kids love what you make. 🙂

      Reply

  • ST
    April 18, 2015

    Made this today and its just simply the best. Dill- just makes it fresh and yum!

    Thank you!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      April 19, 2015

      I am so happy you love the recipe. Thank you so much for sharing that with me. Eugene

      Reply

  • alena h.
    April 14, 2015

    I made his soup twice already, except I omitted celery and added some ppotatoes because that’s how we like it. Very delicious. I was wondering which Mrs.Dash seasoning do you use for your soup? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      April 14, 2015

      I use either the original Mrs. Dash or the garlic flavored one :). I’m so glad you are enjoying the recipe 🙂

      Reply

  • Katie Kelley
    April 3, 2015

    I was wondering, if I could use chicken drumstick instead of the chicken things?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      April 3, 2015

      Yes, that should work fine, just remove the skins prior to adding them 🙂

      Reply

  • Liudmila
    April 1, 2015

    I made for dinner today this soup and my family loved it. Thank you, Natasha.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      April 1, 2015

      I’m so happy to hear that! Thanks so much for sharing that with me 🙂

      Reply

  • Natalia
    March 31, 2015

    Delicious! Both me and my husband love it! Thank you!!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      March 31, 2015

      I’m so happy to hear that! Thanks Natalia 🙂

      Reply

  • Anna
    March 27, 2015

    Thanks Natasha,My sister made it it was delicious!!!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      March 27, 2015

      I’m so happy you liked it! 🙂

      Reply

  • Alla
    March 27, 2015

    Thank you for this recipe, this is exactly what I was looking for and it was on the main page. Saved my day! :]

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      March 27, 2015

      That’s awesome!! Thanks Alla :). I’m glad it saved your day 😉

      Reply

  • Lauren
    March 27, 2015

    Looks like some wonderful chicken noodle soup! Thanks for sharing the recipe.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      March 27, 2015

      Thank you Lauren :).

      Reply

  • Vika
    March 26, 2015

    Just made this for dinner. Yum! Super easy and very very good! 🙂
    Thank you so much for sharing your sister’s recipe.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      March 27, 2015

      You are welcome Vika and thank you for writing great review 🙂

      Reply

  • Aly Y
    March 26, 2015

    Made this today;) its super easy to make and very yummy. My sister was over at my house today and she asked for seconds:) thanks for the recipe

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      March 27, 2015

      You are welcome Aly and thank you for the great review:)

      Reply

  • Coco in the Kitchen
    March 26, 2015

    I am not a soup connoisseur, but
    chicken soup is both easy and very comforting,
    when you’re miserable with a cold or it just happens to be a chilly night.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      March 26, 2015

      I absolutely agree. There’s nothing like homemade chicken soup to warm you up 🙂

      Reply

  • Katy | Her Cup of Joy
    March 26, 2015

    This soup looks delicious, the chicken thighs add a lot of flavor to the soup. Love how simple it is 🙂

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      March 26, 2015

      It really does add great flavor! Thanks Katy 🙂

      Reply

  • Dana
    March 25, 2015

    I love Chicken Noodle Soup! Your recipe it’s a must try! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      March 25, 2015

      You’re so welcome and I hope you love it!

      Reply

  • Oksana
    March 24, 2015

    Thank you for the recipe. Couldn’t come at a better time. I just made a quick dinner soup. Loved it. Normally I don’t use big noodles in the soups, but the rotini was perfect.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      March 24, 2015

      Thank you for the great review! 🙂 I love that the rotini are easy for kids to eat. They fit just right in the spoon 🙂

      Reply

  • Valeriya
    March 24, 2015

    This soup looks delicious!!! I will make it tonight 🙂

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      March 24, 2015

      I hope you absolutely love it. It’s so simple and tasty. I love having this as leftovers in the fridge too.

      Reply

      • Valeriya
        March 25, 2015

        As I promised I made this soup tonight! It turned out to be very tasty!!! This soup is very light and easy to make! Great for spring time! My family loved it 🙂

        Reply

        • Natasha
          natashaskitchen
          March 25, 2015

          I’m so happy you and your family enjoyed it! 🙂

          Reply

        • Tom @ Raise Your Garden
          March 26, 2015

          I’ll have to give this soup a try then. I like when I hear people make a recipe and it worked for them. Wifes not feeling the best, should make it for her. Thanks.

          Reply

          • Natasha
            natashaskitchen
            March 26, 2015

            I hope you and your wife love the soup and I hope she feels better soon!!

  • Anna Radchenko
    March 24, 2015

    SO funny that you posted this today! This is pretty much the EXACT same chicken soup recipe I use, and it is on the weekly menu plan for TONIGHT! 🙂 Love it.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      March 24, 2015

      Ha ha! That’s awesome. 🙂 Great minds think a like 😉

      Reply

As Featured On

Never Go "Hangry" Again!

Get weekly updates on new recipes, exclusive giveaways plus behind the scenes photos.