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

  • Melissa R.
    March 10, 2021

    It was chicken soup kind of day for our family and I made this. Although, I didn’t have rotini or egg noodle handy, only bow tie pasta. It was still delicious and hit the spot on a rainy day. Thanks Natasha!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      March 10, 2021

      Hi Melissa, glad it was a success! Thank you for your awesome review and feedback, I appreciate it.

      Reply

  • Samantha
    March 7, 2021

    If you put your onions that you’re going to use for a recipe in the fridge for a half hour or just 10 minutes in the freezer they won’t make you cry

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      March 7, 2021

      Thanks for the tip, Samantha!

      Reply

  • Anna M
    March 4, 2021

    Very easy to make and super delicious soup! The whole family enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing this great recipe Natasha.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 4, 2021

      That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!

      Reply

  • Patsy Johnson
    March 3, 2021

    This is truly wonderful! Like you, I like my celery chopped fine but I do love more garlic & I like to add sliced mushrooms. NOW that is chicken noodle soup. 🙂

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 3, 2021

      Thank you so much for sharing that with me! I’m glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

  • Elvira Alamillo
    March 3, 2021

    Hi I was wondering because I’m not a big fan of onions at all. Will it still be the same without the onion? 🙂

    Reply

    • Natasha
      March 3, 2021

      Hi Elvira, it will be missing some flavor, but you might try some onion powder instead or just season a little more to taste.

      Reply

  • Cheryl Hite
    February 25, 2021

    Love your videos and recipes. Delicious and simple to make 😊

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 25, 2021

      You’re so nice! Thank you for that wonderful compliment!

      Reply

  • Miriam Bauman
    February 23, 2021

    Natasha,
    One quick question here…
    Could you possibly tell me what the spices are in the Mrs. Dash seasoning??
    I am making the soup, and thought we had that seasoning for sure until I looked, and now I cannot find it!
    Thank you!
    Miriam Bauman

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      February 23, 2021

      Hi Miriam, I also quickly searched and found this info on their website.

      Reply

      • Miriam Bauman
        February 24, 2021

        Well, actually, I already made the soup without the Mrs. Dash seasoning in it, and everyone loved it!!
        Thank you so much for that information, though. That will be nice to have in the future!

        Reply

        • Natasha's Kitchen
          February 24, 2021

          You’re welcome and great to hear that everyone loved it. Thanks, Miriam!

          Reply

  • Hadia
    February 21, 2021

    Hi Natasha!
    Can you please tell me the weight of chicken thigh you used in the given recipe. Thanks!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      February 21, 2021

      Hello Hadia, sorry but I didn’t measure the chicken that way in this recipe but I used the regular sized chicken.

      Reply

  • Stephanie
    February 21, 2021

    This soup is so amazing in taste and simplicity. Thank you for sharing this!!!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      February 21, 2021

      You’re welcome! Thank you too for your great feedback.

      Reply

  • CK
    February 19, 2021

    Can I substitute chicken breast for chicken thighs? This looks like a great recipe

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 20, 2021

      Hi, chicken breast isn’t quite as tender as chicken thighs. If you can get your hands on chicken tenders, that would work better, but you can make chicken breast work. With chicken breast, it would be better to cook longer (30 minutes or more).

      Reply

  • john rusnak
    February 19, 2021

    Nice and easy. I like to take a whole chicken and roast in oven until done. I take it and put it in the water with bay leaf salt and whole peppercorn and simmer for 30 minutes. Let in cool till next day. drain some fat and shred whole thing. Use celery, onion and carrot all thick cut put in soup add parsley and simmer till done add chicken. serve over wide egg noodle. the best

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 19, 2021

      Thank you so much for sharing that with me.

      Reply

  • Karyn
    February 18, 2021

    Made this recipe for the first time tonight on this snowy day. So so good! Only tweet was I added more chicken! Was a hit will definitely make again!!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      February 19, 2021

      So good to know that. Thank you so much for sharing your good feedback with us!

      Reply

  • Hailea lynn
    February 17, 2021

    This was the BEST chicken noodle soup I’ve ever had😍 second time making. Added cayenne. So amazing

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 17, 2021

      That’s just awesome Hailea! It sounds like you have a new favorite!

      Reply

  • Hannah
    February 9, 2021

    Hello! Well this is more of a question but I love the recipes and am excited to try them! I have a very picky eater (my fiancé) does not like onion or celery, but I really want to try making this soup. What other veggies would you recommend?

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      February 9, 2021

      Hi Hannah, onion powder or dried onion flakes are excellent substitutes too

      Reply

    • Cheryll
      February 22, 2021

      I trick would be to blend up the onion and celery and make a paste, or shred it so it won’t be noticable. 😉

      Reply

    • kimberly bradley
      March 13, 2021

      I am not a fan of celery I added Bok choy and some onion powder. I also added some better than bouillon roasted chicken. It was delicious♡

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        March 13, 2021

        I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.

        Reply

  • Patricia Gaffney
    February 9, 2021

    awesome one of my fav recipes love all your recipes been watching for a while

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      February 9, 2021

      Thanks for sharing, Patricia. I’m glad you’ve been enjoying my recipes!

      Reply

  • Angie
    February 8, 2021

    Hi I love all you’re recipes and I Heard that outing an onion into the fridge an hour before cutting would prevent tears have not had a chance to try it yet hope it works

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      February 9, 2021

      Thanks for sharing, Angie. I think that works!

      Reply

  • Donna Mettler
    February 8, 2021

    Love homemade chicken noodle soup. My favorite herb to add is tarragon. Give it a try! You’ll love it! I use a Costco rotisserie chicken, boiled off after indulging it for a couple meals (just my husband and I), however, our 17 yr. old grandson loves it! I have to figure out how to get it to him when he goes to college! To say I get my money’s worth from one chicken is an understatement!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      February 9, 2021

      Thanks for your comments and suggestions, Donna. We appreciate it!

      Reply

  • Colleen
    February 8, 2021

    Really good tasting Chicken noodle soup.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 8, 2021

      I’m so happy you enjoyed that, Colleen! Thank you for that wonderful review.

      Reply

  • Carrie
    February 6, 2021

    Hi Natasha,
    I have a hard time with onions also, so I just keep a small fan in the kitchen and set it on low and a couple of feet away from the cutting board and it doesn’t seem to bother my eyes any more. Made your Chicken Lasagna two days ago and did your soup tonight both easy and yummy!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      February 6, 2021

      Nice, thanks for sharing that tip with me. I’m glad you enjoyed the lasagna, thanks for your good feedback, Carrie!

      Reply

  • Tanya
    February 5, 2021

    Hello! I am going to make this tonight but I don’t have dill OR celery. Should I replace it with something else or will it still be as tasty? Thanks!!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 5, 2021

      Hi Tanya, you can omit both if you don’t have them. We prefer it with both. The fresh dill does add more flavor, but you can omit it or replace it with parsley.

      Reply

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