Best Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe (Homemade) – Our Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup is so delicious! Plus, you can make it on the stovetop, in the slow cooker, or in the Instant Pot.

Homemade chicken soup recipe on the stove in a pot.

Why We Love This Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe

There is nothing quite like a classic homemade chicken noodle soup! And my best chicken soup recipe seriously raises the bar on how delicious chicken soup can be.

I have a few criteria on what classic chicken noodle soup should be: It should look and smell comforting. It should be full of flavor, yet gentle on the belly. It should have a good balance of noodles, vegetables, and chicken floating in a lightly zesty broth. But above all, chicken noodle soup should be easy to make.

That’s because, so often when we make it, we are cooking our Best Chicken Noodle Soup recipe for someone we love who is sick in bed. Or maybe we are sick and should be in bed.

This is what really sets my chicken noodle soup recipe made from scratch apart from the rest:

  • It’s chunky and well-balanced, with plenty of protein, and veggies tucked between the noodles.
  • We used bone-in chicken with skins and chicken broth, to intensify the chicken flavor. (Some recipes call for either bone-in chicken and water, or chicken breasts and broth.) Using both makes a big difference. 
  • We also enhanced the broth by adding a little bit of turmeric for color, and cornstarch at the end to thicken the broth just a tad. It’s not thick, mind you, and it’s not watery. It’s just right! (PS, turmeric also offers additional healing properties.)
  • We focused on freshness with vegetables, herby essence, and a pop of lemon juice to brighten things up.
  • We used dried noodles that feel homemade once they cook.
  • And best of all, we did all this while taking out unnecessary steps, so the recipe isn’t daunting. 
Noodles served in a bowl with vegetables and broth.

Ingredients You Need

  • Oil or Butter – To brown the chicken.
  • Bone-In Chicken Thighs – Thighs offer the best flavor, but you can also use a mix of bone-in thighs and breasts.
  • Onion and Garlic – For zesty undertones.
  • Celery – Sliced thin.
  • Carrots – Sliced into rounds.
  • Chicken Broth – The base of the soup.
  • Fresh Thyme Leaves – You could also use dried thyme, if you can’t find it fresh. 
  • Bay Leaves – For deep herby notes.
  • Turmeric – For color.
  • Kluski Egg Noodles – Because they taste and feel homemade.
  • Chopped Fresh Parsley – To add freshness at the end.
  • Fresh Lemon Juice – Also for freshness.
  • Cornstarch – Just a little, for thickening. 
  • Salt and Pepper – Always.
Ingredients needed for chicken noodle soup.

How To Make The Best Chicken Noodle Soup

Brown the Chicken. Set a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the olive oil. Place the chicken skin-side down in the pot. Brown the chicken skin.

Browned chicken thighs in a dutch oven.

Sauté the Vegetables. Place the onions and minced garlic in the chicken fat. Stir and saute for several minutes. Then stir in the celery, carrots, and thyme and saute another minute or two.

Onions, garlic and thyme cooking in a pot.
Carrots and celery being sautéed in a large pot.

Simmer the Soup. Add the chicken pieces, chicken broth, bay leaves, and turmeric to the pot. Cover, bring to a boil, and simmer.

Now the Noodles. Stir the egg noodles into the soup and simmer another minute or so, until the pasta is cooked.

Chicken thighs being placed into a pot of soup.
Dried noodles being placed in a pot of soup.

Shred the Chicken. Pull out the chicken and place it on a cutting board. Shred the tender chicken with a fork, and stir the chicken back into the soup.

Freshen Up. Add the lemon juice and parsley! Taste the soup and add a pinch of salt if needed.

Ladle full of homemade chicken noodle soup above the pot of the rest of soup.

How to Make Chicken Noodle Soup in the Crockpot

With this recipe, you can also make Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup.

Simply sauté the chicken and veggies, then transport the recipe ingredients over to a crockpot. 

Cover and cook for 6-8 hours on low, or 3-4 hours on high heat. 

How to Make Chicken Noodle Soup in an Instant Pot

You can also make this easy chicken soup recipe in your Instant Pot! See the recipe below for details.

Get the Full (Printable) Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe Below

Bowl of chicken noodle soup with a spoon scooping up a bite.

Tips & Tricks

  • Make sure to get a good sear on the chicken first! This starts to build flavor in the pot and offers more flavor than just boiling the chicken.
  • Use a flavorful broth! The broth makes all the difference here in this chicken soup recipe when making chicken noodle soup. Make sure to use a high-quality broth, and if you can, make it homemade!
  • For ease, you can use shredded rotisserie chicken instead. However, the broth will not have as much flavor as when you cook raw chicken in it! Add the shredded leftover chicken in at the end so that it does not get overcooked!
  • Serve with a squeeze of lemon juice for added flavor at the end!

Serving Suggestions

You can eat this homemade chicken noodle soup on its own, or serve it with some delicious sides to create a more hearty meal! Whenever I am feeding a crowd, I like to have some additional side dishes to make sure everyone gets nice and full. Here are some of my favorites to pair with chicken soup:

A couple servings of soup in a few bowls next to the large pot of soup.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Can I use boneless chicken thighs? 

Yes, but unlike the bone-in chicken, you shouldn’t brown them. Instead, just simmer them for 15 to 20 minutes in the broth and then shred the chicken. 

Can I use bone broth in this recipe?

Absolutely! Use it in the same proportion as with chicken broth or chicken stock.

How long does this recipe last? 

If stored properly in an airtight container, this recipe can last in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months. 

Showing off a spoonful of homemade soup with the bowl of soup underneath it.

More Chicken Soup Recipes You Will Love:

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Best Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe: Our Best Chicken Noodle Soup is so delicious! Make it on the stovetop, in the slow cooker, or in the Instant Pot.
Servings: 10

Ingredients

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • Set a large 6-8 quart soup pot over medium heat. Add the oil. Generously salt and pepper the chicken thighs on both sides. Place them skin-side down in the pot. Brown the chicken skin, then flip and cook the chicken another 3 minutes. Remove the chicken from the pot and set aside.
  • Place the onions and garlic in the chicken fat. Stir and saute for 3-4 minutes. Then stir in the celery, carrots, and thyme and saute another 2 minutes.
  • Add the chicken broth, bay leaves, and turmeric to the pot. Then place the chicken thighs in the broth. Season with 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Stir well. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes. (Turn the heat down a little, if needed.)
  • Use tongs to pull out the bay leaves, and chicken thighs. Place the chicken on a cutting board. Then stir the egg noodles into the soup and simmer another 6-9 minutes, until the pasta is cooked.
  • Meanwhile, remove the chicken skins and bones. Shred the chicken with a fork. Then stir the chicken back into the soup.
  • When the noodles are almost cooked, measure the cornstarch and lemon juice into a small bowl. Whisk well. Then stir the mixture into the soup to thicken the base a little. Finally, stir in the chopped parsley. Taste, then salt and pepper as needed.

Video

Notes

Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup: 
  1. Brown the chicken and vegetables on the stovetop as directed.
  2. Then place all the ingredients, except the noodles and parsley, in the slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on low for 3-4 hours.
  3. Then stir in the noodles, cover, and cook another 30 minutes.
  4. Meanwhile, take out the chicken. Discard the bones and skin. Shred the chicken and place back into the slow cooker. Stir in the parsley and serve.
 
Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup:
  1. Follow steps 1 and 2 from the original recipe above in a 6+ quart Instant Pot, using the Saute setting.
  2. Add the chicken thighs, chicken broth, bay leaves, and turmeric to the pot. Season with 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Stir well. Cover and set on the Soup setting for 10 minutes.
  3. Perform a natural release. It will take 8-10 minutes for the steam valve to drop.
  4. Then set on manual to simmer and follow the recipe instructions 4, 5, and 6. (above)
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1.5cups, Calories: 279kcal, Carbohydrates: 23g, Protein: 16g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 87mg, Sodium: 1122mg, Potassium: 573mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 3520IU, Vitamin C: 27mg, Calcium: 55mg, Iron: 2mg
Course: Soup
Cuisine: American
Author: Sommer Collier
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