Description
Hearty crockpot chicken noodle soup brings comfort and warmth to your dinner table. Rich broth, tender chicken, and perfectly cooked noodles make this classic recipe a wholesome meal you’ll crave on chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) chicken, boneless, skinless (breasts or thighs)
- 8 cups (2 L) chicken broth
- 2 cups (120 g) egg noodles
- 3 medium carrots, sliced
- 3 celery stalks, sliced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tsps dried parsley
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tbsp lemon juice (optional, for added brightness)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preparation: Arrange chicken pieces in a single layer at the bottom of the crockpot, creating a foundation for the soup.
- Aromatics Layering: Distribute chopped carrots, celery, onion, and minced garlic around the chicken, ensuring even flavor infusion.
- Herbal Seasoning: Sprinkle dried parsley, thyme, and a bay leaf over the vegetables to build a complex aromatic profile.
- Initial Seasoning: Lightly season with salt and pepper to enhance the natural taste of the ingredients.
- Liquid Foundation: Pour chicken broth over the entire mixture, completely covering all components.
- Slow Cooking: Cover and let the soup simmer on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours until chicken becomes incredibly tender.
- Meat Preparation: Remove chicken, shred into bite-sized pieces using two forks, and discard the bay leaf.
- Final Assembly: Return shredded chicken to the crockpot and add egg noodles, cooking on HIGH for 15-20 minutes until noodles reach perfect tenderness.
- Flavor Refinement: Introduce a splash of lemon juice to brighten the soup’s flavor profile, then adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper to taste.
- Serving: Transfer the steaming soup into serving bowls and garnish with fresh parsley for a vibrant finishing touch.
Notes
- Select Fresh Ingredients: Choose high-quality, fresh chicken and crisp vegetables to elevate the soup’s overall flavor and nutritional value.
- Control Liquid Levels: Ensure chicken and vegetables are fully submerged in broth to prevent drying out and maintain optimal moisture during slow cooking.
- Shred Chicken Carefully: Use two forks to break chicken into uniform, tender pieces for even distribution and better texture throughout the soup.
- Adjust Cooking Time: Modify slow cooker duration based on chicken type – bone-in takes longer than boneless, and size impacts cooking speed.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours (low) or 3-4 hours (high)
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg