This satisfying, hearty version of chicken noodle soup is an honest-to-goodness staple here at my house and my kids ask it often. In my opinion, this is an easy, healthful meal and I don’t mind making it, even on the fly, because they eat it so well. Shockingly, they even eat the vegetables in this soup without protest and that is a distinction that this dish has all to itself! Carrots and celery don’t go over nearly so well with my crew outside of a bowl of this soup.
The first time I made this soup as meal for my family was way back when my sassy, tween son was just a wee toddler…he was also a card-carrying member of the pickiest-eater-on-the-planet club. I made this soup for a sick family member and truthfully, I didn’t expect him to even try it when he saw those colorful, healthful veggies scattered amongst the cooked pasta.
Back then, it was an epic battle to get him to eat a decent meal, and I was that typical, desperate mom who relied heavily on corn dogs and chicken nuggets to get us through dinnertime peacefully. However, I convinced him to try a tender noodle from the bowl, and the rest is history! He loved it.
Believe me, he was still actively trying to dodge those vegetables with each bite and he only wanted the noodles, but he couldn’t help but eat some bits of them because they were clinging to the cooked pasta. Eventually he just accepted that carrots and celery were part of the deal.
I love this soup for being the game-changer it became for how my son eats, and I will always remember that moment.
Ever since that fateful evening, I make this soup several times in a month (and sometimes several times in a week!) just to get a decent home-cooked meal in that boy! Eventually, I began making it with a bit more body by throwing in extra veggies and noodles. I just love watching him eat gobble those veggies up!
His enthusiasm over this soup has not waned one bit, and his big love for “mamas noodles” (what he called this soup when he was four and five!) has now influenced his sister and she loves it too. For my family, this dish is comfort food at it finest. I hope you and your family will enjoy it too.
As this recipe card reflects, I tend to make this soup in large batches, so if you need less be sure to reduce recipe for your needs. However, if you wanted to make a large batch, it’s worth noting that this soup freezes perfectly and all that’s required is to heat it up the next time you need to get a quick dinner on the table.
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Hearty Chicken Noodle Soup
Course: family favorites, poultry, soups, stews and chili, Winter FavoritesCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy6 – 8
servings20
minutes30
minutesA flavorful bowl of Hearty Chicken Noodle Soup is always good for the body and soul, it’s comfort food at it’s finest. Here’s my favorite recipe, it’s easy to make and always comforting and delicious. We love to serve it with corn bread or crackers on the side.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil or butter
3 medium carrots, scrubbed and sliced
3 medium stalks of celery, trimmed, rinsed and sliced) (save the leafy ends!)
1/2 cup onion, coarsely chopped
1/4 -1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1-1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
8 cups chicken broth or 8 cups water and 3 chicken bouillion cubes (Knorr brand)
2-1/2 cups cooked chicken, cubed or shredded
2 cups extra-wide egg noodles or other short pasta such as rotini
Directions
- In a large Dutch oven, warm the oil over medium heat and then add vegetables to the pot. Saute veggies in oil form about 5 minutes, stirring often.
- Add in the spices and cook for about 2 minutes more. Add in broth (or water with bouillion cubes) and bring pot to a boil.
- Add in the cooked chicken. Bring the pot back to a boil and then reduce heat. Cover and simmer for for 20 minutes. Bring the pot back to a boil and add in the uncooked pasta and boil for an additional 10 -15 minutes or until pasta is tender and done.
- Serve soup hot with some butter toast or buttery crackers. Enjoy!
Notes
- Recipe as published on A Little Fish in the Kitchen at www.alittlefishinthekitchen.com. All content is owned by Marcelle G. Bolton. Please contact the author for permission to republish.
I remember my mom cook something like this when I was sick. 🙂
Hello there, thank you so much for the visit! It’s the best comfort food for when you’ve got a cold! 😊
Chicken soup is the best! I've made many batches over the years too.
Looks and sounds like a winner Marcelle. I love soup when the weather cools.
Such a nice soup! Love chicken noodle soup — so hearty and warming. Fun story about your son! And great recipe — thanks.
Soup as vegetable conversion therapy! Delicious. GREG
Thank you very much, Cheri! I sure hope your grandboys like it too! 🙂
What a great story Marcelle, love that this soup converted your son, I need to try this with my grandboys. Looks delicious!
Me too, Laura. It's very rare for us to have a can of soup in the pantry these days! Thank you 🙂
Me too, it was such an exciting thing back then 🙂 Thank you, Susan!
Thank you!!
I love soup and only make my own anymore – no more canned soup. This looks so pretty and comforting.
What a beautiful bowl of comfort, Marcelle. There is truly nothing better than chicken noodle soup. So nourishing and delicious. Glad you found something your son loves that is so good for him too 🙂
This sounds delicious – perfect for a cool evening.
Me too!! I ready to use my sweaters and scarves. Thank you, David!!
What perfect fall weather fare! Now, if only it would cool down here a bit!
I think that sounds like perfect soup weather too 🙂 Thank you, Angie!
So warming and delicious…definitely a right treat for the rainy and cold weather we have right over here.
Thank you, Liz! I wish we were having cooler evenings, it's still very warm here. We all really love this soup! 🙂
This sounds just perfect! I'm loving the cooler evenings—ideal for a soup dinner!