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

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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

  • iDon
    December 27, 2020

    Amazing Chicken Noodle Soup recipe!! I used Chicken Bone Broth, added some Italian seasoning, black pepper, bay leaves, & parsley.
    Yum! Thank You!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      December 27, 2020

      Great to hear that you enjoyed this soup!

      Reply

  • Hilda
    December 21, 2020

    Hi Natasha would it be a bad idea to seared the chicken thighs

    Reply

  • June Moore
    December 21, 2020

    Natasha enjoy your blog and recipes.
    We are not lovers of dill and wanted to know if you could recommend a different herb?
    Thank you…

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      December 21, 2020

      Hi June, you can omit that or add parsley.

      Reply

    • Genesis S.
      January 3, 2021

      I think thyme would also be a good substitute for dill. May have to adjust the amounts though

      Reply

  • Leonor
    December 19, 2020

    That’s exactly how I make my chicken soup. Looking forward to checking out your other recipes.
    I keep my onions in the fridge. Works for me.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      December 19, 2020

      Thank you for sharing that with me. Leonor! I hope you love our recipes!

      Reply

  • Amanda Bloom
    December 14, 2020

    I love soup – but chicken noodle has never been my favorite. However, my attitude changed after making this recipe last week. I had to use orecchiette instead of rotini but, overall, the ingredients marry well. The dill puts everything over the top!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      December 15, 2020

      Wow, that’s so great to hear that you loved chicken noodle soup because of this recipe. Thank you for trying this out, I’m glad you enjoyed it, Amanda.

      Reply

  • K furlong
    December 12, 2020

    I love everything you make. So easy good and Fun

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      December 13, 2020

      Thank you so much, K! I’m glad you’re enjoying my videos and recipes.

      Reply

  • Bar
    December 7, 2020

    Is there an error in the amount of the water/broth stated in the recipe? 14 cups with only 2 carrots looked nothing like the picture. I ended up removing at least 5 cups of liquid before adding the veggies. There is no possibility the picture shown represents 14 cups of water/broth with the chicken and veggies as listed.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      December 8, 2020

      Hi Bar, the instructions are correct. If using less pasta or less chicken, you would definitely want to use less water or the soup will be very thin.

      Reply

  • Michael Ballos
    December 7, 2020

    I just made this today ohh boy this is so so good instead of the dill I used italian seasoning and also I used some extra garlic.it came out to perfection I followed every step to the T. Thank you so much on this great recipe and im looking forward on trying some more…Happy holidays🎄

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      December 7, 2020

      So great to hear that, Michael! Thanks so much for your wonderful review and feedback.

      Reply

  • Tim Harrison
    December 7, 2020

    Natasha: Try chilling the onion before chopping. Give it 20 or 30 minutes in the fridge to calm down the juices so they are not so volatile. Use the freezer for a little shorter time if in a hurry.
    And your videos are great — they really help to understand your outstanding process.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      December 7, 2020

      Thank you for that great tip, Tim! I’m glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

  • Heather C
    December 6, 2020

    My family and I love this recipe. Me because its so easy and my family because it is delicious. I use frozen egg noodles and it turns out great

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      December 6, 2020

      Sounds great! Thanks for sharing that with us, Heather.

      Reply

  • Melanie
    December 6, 2020

    We are making this soup this week. I am planning on storing the noodles separately. Should they be cooked separately and then added per bowl of soup? There is something to say about the noodles taking in the flavor of the soup. This is how my grandmother (baba) always did it?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      December 8, 2020

      Hi Melanie, if you are storing the noodles separately, I would cook them separately in salted water. It’s a great idea to keep the soup for longer without the noodles getting mushy.

      Reply

  • Margaret Tatasure
    December 4, 2020

    Hi Natasha, I am 77 and retired. When my children left our home I decided to make easy and fast meals for my husband and I. However, since I have been watching your videos I have been cooking up a storm. Tonight it was your chicken soup for the second time. My husband can not say enough good things about my cooking now. He loves everything I make. Thank you so much for all the wonderful recipes. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a New Year with many Blessings. Margaret

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      December 4, 2020

      Awww, that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing this fantastic review and your encouraging words. I am smiling big reading your comment! Merry Christmas and a New Year!

      Reply

  • Alice
    December 1, 2020

    I am 82 yrs old and you are like a breath of fresh air to me,beautiful!! I do have a hint about stopping the tears when dicing onions.Since it’s the gases in the onion that irritate the eyes,have a fan going on the counter or a ceiling fan.Try it .❤️

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      December 1, 2020

      Thank you so much for sharing that with me! That’s a great idea!

      Reply

  • Erin R Hansen
    November 21, 2020

    Natasha, have you ever tried this recipe with those frozen Reames noodles? I want to make this soup for my mom and she loves those noodles, but wasn’t sure if they would hold up if the soup was made the day before.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      November 21, 2020

      Hi Erin, I have not tried this with frozen ramen noodles to advise. If you happen to experiment, I would love to know how you like that.

      Reply

  • Renee
    November 16, 2020

    Hello,
    Hoping to try this recipe soon. Quick question. My family doesn’t like chicken thighs, I have some shredded Rotisserie chicken. Can I use that with this recipe as is or do I need to modify it?
    Also I love you page. You videos are great. All the recipes I have tried so far and turned out amazing.
    Thanks

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      November 16, 2020

      Hi Renee, I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe! I haven’t tested this with rotisserie chicken, but I imagine that should work great!

      Reply

  • Rachel
    November 10, 2020

    Cannot wait to try this recipe but what size Dutch oven/pot would be best?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      November 11, 2020

      Hi Rachel, we use a 5 1/2 Qt Dutch oven. I hope you lvoe the chicken noodle soup!

      Reply

  • Jen
    November 10, 2020

    I have made this recipe at least a dozen times now over the past several years. I don’t take the time to memorized it which is why I keep in on a Pinterest board and coming back to this page. I feel the need to finally write a comment. This is by far the BEST chicken noodle soup I have ever had! My mother always added tarragon to chicken noodle soup and for the longest time as an adult that’s what I did too. Of course I liked the family recipe with tarragon, but dill is SO much better, in my opinion. I’m certainly glad I tried this recipe one random day when I couldn’t find the old one. For anyone making this the first time, using chicken thighs definitely does make a difference. I won’t ever go back to using breast meat for chicken noodle soup again. This recipe is hands down my *favorite* chicken noodle soup. Thanks, Natasha!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      November 10, 2020

      I’m so happy to hear that you love our recipes! Thank you so much for the fantastic review and your encouraging words. I am smiling big, reading your comment!

      Reply

  • Tom
    November 5, 2020

    Tips Cutting Onions without Crying:
    1) Try dunking the onions in Ice Water for 5-10 minutes.
    2) Refrigerating them overnight or freezing them for a hour helps.
    3) I using a food chopper I have several if a bunch use a food processor works great for dicing onions and no tears also great for celery and other veggies.
    4)Cut them under a vent or use a small running fan thus dispurses the sulfur fumes away from your eyes.
    5) Wearing goggles is another option.
    6) Using a really sharp knife cut the root off and walk away for a few minutes that’ll release the sulfur gas.

    Reply

  • Bruce McElwain
    October 30, 2020

    Where can I buy your cookbook?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      October 30, 2020

      Hi Bruce, we don’t have a cookbook at this time but stay tuned! We have one in the works!

      Reply

  • Khadija
    October 29, 2020

    Hi Natasha
    My family just love your recipes, they’re always really really yummy. And i always try all of them.
    I don’t have Mrs.Dash, is there any alternative for that? What shall i use? Please reply.

    Thanks,
    KHADIJA

    Thanks,
    Khadija

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      October 29, 2020

      Thank you so much. I use the Original brand of Mrs. Dash. This should also show a list of ingredients. I hope that helps.

      Reply

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