Parsley: Adds fresh, bright green color and light herbal finish.
Lemon Juice: Brightens flavors with a subtle tangy zip.
Salt and Pepper: Essential seasonings to balance and enhance overall taste profile.
Tools for Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup Comfort
Large Pot: Essential for sautéing vegetables and simmering the soup, providing ample space for all ingredients.
Cutting Board: Perfect for chopping onions, carrots, and celery into uniform pieces.
Chef’s Knife: Sharp and reliable tool for precise vegetable and herb preparation.
Wooden Spoon: Ideal for stirring ingredients and mixing the soup without scratching the pot.
Measuring Spoons: Helps accurately add herbs and seasonings for balanced flavor.
Ladle: Convenient for serving the soup into warm bowls with ease.
Making Homestyle Chicken Noodle Soup, Step-by-Step
Warm Up the Flavor Base: Drizzle olive oil in a big pot and toss in chopped onions, carrots, and celery. Let them dance around for about 5 minutes until they become soft and start to release their delicious aromas.
Boost Aromatic Dimensions: Sprinkle minced garlic, thyme, oregano, and drop in a bay leaf. Stir everything together and let the spices wake up and become super fragrant for a quick minute.
Build the Liquid Gold: Pour in rich chicken broth, bring the mixture to a rolling boil, then dial down the heat and let it gently bubble for 10 minutes, allowing all the flavors to mingle and get to know each other.
Create Comfort in a Pot: Fold in tender shredded chicken and soft egg noodles. Let everything simmer together for 8-10 minutes until the noodles become perfectly tender and welcoming.
Perfect the Finale: Fish out the bay leaf, season with a sprinkle of salt and pepper, and add a bright splash of lemon juice if you’re feeling zesty. Ladle into cozy bowls, crown with fresh parsley, and serve piping hot.
Cozy Up with These Chicken Noodle Soup Tips
Comfort Boosting Tips: Add a splash of white wine while sautéing vegetables for deeper flavor complexity.
Meal Prep Magic: Cook extra chicken and noodles separately to store in refrigerator, allowing quick soup assembly later in the week.
Gluten-Free Swap: Replace traditional egg noodles with zucchini noodles or gluten-free rice noodles for celiac-friendly version.
Protein Power-Up: Substitute rotisserie chicken with shredded turkey or swap chicken entirely with white beans for vegetarian alternative.
Freezer-Friendly Hack: Let soup cool completely before transferring to freezer-safe containers, ensuring soup remains fresh up to 3 months when stored properly.
Serving Suggestions for Chicken Noodle Soup
Cozy Comfort Companion: Pair this homestyle chicken noodle soup with a slice of warm, crusty bread to soak up the delicious broth and add a satisfying crunch.
Herbal Freshness Boost: Sprinkle extra fresh parsley or chives on top just before serving to enhance the soup’s aroma and add a bright, green color contrast.
Sidekick Perfection: Serve alongside a light mixed green salad with a tangy vinaigrette to balance the soup’s rich and hearty flavors, creating a complete and nutritious meal.
Warming Winter Wellness: Enjoy this soup as a soothing remedy during cold seasons or when feeling under the weather, providing both comfort and nourishment in every spoonful.
Storing Chicken Noodle Soup for Another Day
Smart Storage Solutions: Transfer cooled soup to airtight containers, ensuring a tight seal to maintain freshness and prevent leaks.
Refrigerator Magic: Store soup in the fridge for 3-4 days, keeping flavors intact and ready for quick reheating.
Freezer-Friendly Approach: Freeze soup in portion-sized containers for up to 3 months, removing chicken noodles before freezing to prevent soggy texture.
Reheating Wisdom: Thaw frozen soup in the refrigerator overnight, then warm gently in a pot over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally to restore original consistency and prevent scorching.
Classic homestyle chicken noodle soup brings comfort and warmth to hungry tables. Hearty ingredients blend perfectly with rich broth, creating a soul-satisfying meal you’ll crave all season long.
Ingredients
Scale
8 cups (1.9 liters) chicken broth (low sodium)
2 cups (473 milliliters) egg noodles
2 cups cooked, shredded chicken (rotisserie or boiled)
1 tbsp (15 milliliters) lemon juice (optional, for brightness)
Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
Sauté Foundation: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat, sautéing onions, carrots, and celery until vegetables become translucent and aromatic.
Herb Infusion: Add garlic, thyme, oregano, and bay leaf, stirring briefly to release their fragrant oils and enhance the soup’s depth of flavor.
Liquid Development: Pour chicken broth into the vegetable base, bringing the mixture to a vigorous boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes to develop rich, complex flavors.
Protein and Pasta Integration: Introduce shredded chicken and egg noodles into the simmering broth, cooking for 8-10 minutes until noodles become perfectly tender and chicken is heated through.
Final Refinement: Remove bay leaf, season with salt and pepper, and optional lemon juice to brighten the soup’s overall taste profile, creating a harmonious and comforting culinary experience.
Presentation: Ladle the steaming soup into serving bowls, garnishing with freshly chopped parsley to add a vibrant, fresh finishing touch.
Notes
Choose High-Quality Broth: Select a rich, flavorful chicken broth or make homemade stock for deeper, more authentic taste that elevates the entire soup’s profile.
Vegetable Cutting Technique: Dice vegetables uniformly to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the soup, preventing some pieces from becoming mushy while others remain undercooked.
Chicken Preparation Tip: Use rotisserie chicken or poach chicken breasts beforehand for tender, easily shredded meat that absorbs the soup’s herbal essence perfectly.
Gluten-Free Adaptation: Swap traditional egg noodles with gluten-free alternatives like rice noodles or spiralized zucchini to accommodate dietary restrictions without compromising the soup’s comforting character.
Focus: Focused on mastering culinary methods and food science, immersive externships, hands‑on training in industry‑standard kitchen labs, and equipping graduates for roles in restaurant operations.
William Hawkins isn’t just a chef, he’s a storyteller through food. From his hometown of Louisville, KY, he’s spent years refining his craft, turning local ingredients into something extraordinary.
With classical training from Sullivan University and a career marked by innovation, mentorship, and Southern soul, William approaches every recipe with purpose. His kitchen is where old techniques meet fresh ideas, and where comfort food gets a thoughtful, modern twist.
When he’s not building dishes from the ground up, he’s out gathering inspiration from nature, markets, and the stories people share around the table.
William Hawkins
Founder & Culinary Director
Expertise
Education
Sullivan University, Louisville, KY
William Hawkins isn’t just a chef, he’s a storyteller through food. From his hometown of Louisville, KY, he’s spent years refining his craft, turning local ingredients into something extraordinary.
With classical training from Sullivan University and a career marked by innovation, mentorship, and Southern soul, William approaches every recipe with purpose. His kitchen is where old techniques meet fresh ideas, and where comfort food gets a thoughtful, modern twist.
When he’s not building dishes from the ground up, he’s out gathering inspiration from nature, markets, and the stories people share around the table.