Easy 30-Minute Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

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Easy 30-Minute Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup — 🍲🥕🙌🏻 Classic, comforting, and tastes just like grandma made but way easier and faster! This soup is AMAZING and it’ll be your new favorite recipe!

A bowl of chicken noodle soup with vegetables and herbs on a wooden board, accompanied by slices of bread and a small bowl of chopped parsley.

The Easiest Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe

Chicken noodle soup is one of the fondest memories I have of my grandmother’s cooking. Classic, comforting, a cure-all for whatever ailed me, and I could taste my grandma’s love in it.

However, my grandma’s version took hours and hours. I don’t have time to watch a boiling pot for half the day and this version is easy, ready in 30-minutes, and has all the comforting qualities you want in classic chicken noodle soup.

A pot of homemade chicken noodle soup with a wooden spoon, surrounded by carrots, parsley, and slices of bread on a woven mat.

My family loved the homey, classic flavors in the soup, raved about it, and asked when I’m making it again.

It makes enough to stash half in the freezer for a rainy day or for winter cold and flu season. Chicken noodle soup is a miracle worker! Even better when it’s a one-pot wonder to cut down on dishes and work.

What Readers Are Saying

It’s not just my family who’s raving about this soup. With 1000+ 5-star reviews, this soup is an ultimate favorite! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

After finding this great soup recipe, it’s my GO-TO one. Everyone loves it. I use egg noodles or small sized pasta and less than called for.
Will need to try more from your website!

Lois

This is our FAVORITE chicken noodle soup recipe! It’s so easy and makes flavorful soup!

Meredith S.

This soup is full of flavor. I followed the recipe and added a handful of frozen peas for color. Start to finish was 30 mins. Hubby had 3 bowls! I’ll be making more of your recipes.

Kerri

Ingredients for a soup arranged on a countertop include sliced carrots, chopped celery, diced onions, shredded chicken, egg noodles, broth, olive oil, salt, garlic, herbs, and parsley.

Chicken Noodle Soup Ingredients 

To make this easy chicken noodle soup recipe, you’ll need the following basic ingredients: 

  • Olive oil
  • Carrots 
  • Celery stalks
  • Sweet Vidalia onion
  • Garlic
  • Chicken broth 
  • Bay leaves
  • Fresh thyme sprig
  • Dried oregano
  • Wide egg noodles
  • Shredded cooked chicken
  • Fresh parsley 
  • Salt and black pepper

Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.

How to Make Chicken Noodle Soup

Making homemade chicken noodle soup with egg noodles doesn’t get easier than this! Here’s an overview of how this simple recipe comes together: 

  1. To a large Dutch oven or stockpot, add the oil and heat over medium-high heat to warm.
  2. Add the carrots, celery, onion, and sauté until the veggies begin to soften before adding the garlic and sauté for another 1 to 2 minutes.
  3. Add the chicken broth, bay leaves, thyme, oregano, pepper, and bring to a boil. Allow mixture to boil gently for about 5 minutes or until vegetables are fork-tender. 
  4. Add the egg noodles, stir with a wooden spoon, and simmer the mixture until the noodles are cooked through. 
  5. Add the chicken, parsley, optional lemon juice and boil until chicken is warmed through, remove the bay leaves and fresh herbs sprigs, and serve immediately! 

Recipe FAQs

What Are the Best Noodles for Chicken Noodle Soup? 

Wide egg noodles in chicken noodle soup is the only way to go for me because that’s how my grandma made it, but if you like rotini or another type of pasta, use it instead.

What’s the best chicken for chicken noodle soup?

I always use store bought rotisserie shredded chicken, both the white and dark meat, in my homemade chicken noodle soup (if I don’t have leftover boneless skinless chicken breasts on hand). My Sheet Pan Whole Roasted Chicken leftovers or extra chicken from Crockpot Whole Chicken are great to use in this soup because you get the flavor from bone-in chicken or you can use shredded chicken thighs. Or use my quickie Poached Chicken recipe. There are lots of options!

What Herbs are used in chicken noodle soup?

I prefer using a blend of fresh and dried herbs in my soup for a more nuanced flavor. For this recipe, I used bay leaves, fresh thyme, and dried oregano. However, you can easily adapt the recipe using whatever herbs you have on hand!

Why do you add lemon juice to chicken noodle soup?

The squeeze of lemon juice does NOT make the soup taste even remotely lemony. Instead, it brightens up the rich flavors of the soup and makes the recipe pop overall. If you don’t have a fresh lemon on hand, use apple cider vinegar to achieve the same result.

What sides go with chicken noodle soup?

We love serving this easy homemade soup with bread rolls (try Parker House Rolls or No-Knead Dinner Rolls), Skillet Cornbread, or a Classic House Salad.

how long can I store chicken soup?

You can store this soup in an airtight container for up to 5-7 days in the fridge or in the freezer for up to 4 months.

A bowl of chicken noodle soup with carrots, noodles, and parsley is placed on a table. Slices of bread are in the background.

what to serve with chicken noodle soup

You can serve this comforting chicken soup with anything from crackers or dinner rolls to your favorite crusty bread. It’s a meal in itself! Of course, you can serve the soup as a side to another entree, pair it with a simple house salad, or whatever works well for your meal lineup.

Tips for the Best Chicken Noodle Soup

Herbs: There are quite a few herbs used including thyme, oregano, bay leaves, and parsley. If you don’t have them all on hand, don’t want to buy a bunch of thyme for just 1 teaspoon, or aren’t fond of a particular herb, you can probably omit it. Your soup won’t taste exactly like mine, but it’ll be close.

Salt: Make sure to salt your soup to taste. I use low-sodium chicken broth and add a bit of salt to my soup so I can control the overall salt level. The saltiness of low-sodium broth varies among brands, and if you used a rotisserie chicken, salt levels vary. And everyone’s personal preference for salt varies so salt to taste.

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4.56 from 1319 votes

Easy 30-Minute Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

By Averie Sunshine
🍲🥕🙌🏻 Classic, comforting, and tastes just like grandma made but way easier and faster! This soup is AMAZING and it'll be your new favorite recipe! Made in just one pot and ready in 30 minutes!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 6
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Equipment

Ingredients  

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 cup carrots, peeled and sliced thin (about 1 1/2 large carrots)
  • 1 cup celery, sliced thin (about 2 stalks)
  • 1 cup sweet Vidalia or yellow onion, peeled and diced small (about 1 medium onion)
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 64 ounces 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth (plus more if desired)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon pepper, or to taste
  • 12 ounces wide egg noodles, (or your favorite noodles or pasta)
  • 2 cups shredded cooked chicken, (use store bought rotisserie chicken to save time; or use other leftover chicken or cook your own chicken)
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice, optional
  • salt, to taste
  • black pepper, to taste

Instructions 

  • To a large Dutch oven or stockpot, add the oil and heat over medium-high heat to warm.
  • Add the carrots, celery, onion, and sauté for about 7 minutes, or until vegetables begin to soften. Stir intermittently.
    Add the garlic and sauté for another 1 to 2 minutes.
  • Add the chicken broth, bay leaves, thyme, oregano, pepper, and bring to a boil. Allow mixture to boil gently for about 5 minutes or until vegetables are fork-tender. Note – If you like brothier soup, add additional broth, possibly as much as an additional 64 ounces because as time passes the noodles will continue to absorb broth.
  • Add the egg noodles and boil mixture for about 10 minutes, or until noodles are soft and cooked through. Tip – At any time while making the soup, if the overall liquid level is lower than you like and you prefer more broth, adding a cup or two of water is okay. At the end you will adjust the salt level.
  • Add the chicken, parsley, optional lemon juice (brightens up the flavor), and boil 1 to 2 minutes, or until chicken is warmed through. Tips – Taste soup and add salt to taste. I add about 1 tablespoon but this will vary based on how salty the brand of chicken broth used is, how salty the rotisserie chicken is, and personal preference. Make any necessary seasoning adjustments (i.e. more salt, pepper, herbs, etc.), remove the bay leaves, and serve immediately.

Video

Notes

Storage: Soup will keep airtight in the fridge for 5 to 7 days or in the freezer for up to 4 months. Reheat gently in the microwave or in a saucepan, as desired. Note that as leftover soup sits and time passes, the noodles will continue to absorb the broth so don’t be surprised if the overall liquid volume looks less. You can easily add a bit more broth, as desired.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 412kcal, Carbohydrates: 50g, Protein: 27g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Trans Fat: 0.03g, Cholesterol: 83mg, Sodium: 168mg, Potassium: 683mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 3886IU, Vitamin C: 8mg, Calcium: 68mg, Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

More Easy Chicken Soup Recipes: 

Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup — Classic and comforting chicken noodle soup with loads of juicy chicken, tender noodles, carrots, celery, and seasoned to perfection so that it tastes just like grandma used to make it! But this recipe is made with EASE and convenience in mind by using your slow cooker. Just add the ingredients, set it and forget it, and your soup will taste AMAZING!

Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup - Classic and comforting chicken noodle soup with loads of juicy chicken, tender noodles, carrots, celery, and seasoned to perfection so that it tastes just like grandma used to make it! But this recipe is made with EASE and convenience in mind by using your Crock-Pot. Just add the ingredients, set it and forget it, and your soup will taste AMAZING!

Easy 30-Minute CREAMY Chicken Noodle Soup — Why have regular chicken noodle soup when you can have CREAMY instead? Pure comfort food at its finest! Ready in 30 minutes, an instant family favorite, and PERFECT for chilly weather!!

Easy 30-Minute Homemade White Chicken Chili – Hearty, healthy, loaded with tender chicken, and packed with bold flavor! Fast and easy comfort food that everyone loves! It’ll be on rotation all winter!

Easy 30-Minute Homemade Chicken Tortilla Soup –  Chicken, tomatoes, corn, black beans, avocado, cheese, and addictively crunchy tortilla strips! Fast, easy weeknight meal, and better than from a restaurant!

Easy 30-Minute Homemade Chicken Tortellini Soup – An fun spin on classic chicken noodle soup using cheese tortellini! Fast, easy, comfort food that just hits the spot! You’ll make it over and over again!

Chicken Pot Pie Soup — All the comfort food feels of pot pie, but in soup form! Rich, hearty, creamy and ready in just 30 minutes! Use canned biscuit dough to save time on busy weeknights when you’re craving a hot homemade meal!

Loaded Cheesy Chicken Chowder — Potatoes, chicken, carrots, corn and more!! Thick, creamy, rich, and wonderfully cheesy!! Fast and easy comfort food that everyone loves!!

4.56 from 1319 votes (990 ratings without comment)

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Please note: I have only made the recipe as written, and cannot give advice or predict what will happen if you change something. If you have a question regarding changing, altering, or making substitutions to the recipe, please check out the FAQ page for more info.

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Comments

  1. This is the best soup recipe ever, I have made it twice everyone was just amazed at how good it was. It is definately a keeper!!!!

    1. Thanks for trying the recipe and I’m glad you’re loving it, made it twice, and that it’s a keeper!

    1. I would say more like 1 cup. I am so glad you love this and that it comes to the rescue when someone is sick!

  2. I just made this and it is sooooo good!! The broth by itself is excellent.. I seasoned up chicken breasts and cooked them in the pressure cooker before adding them to the soup. The juice in the pressure cooker I also added to the soup. I make up a batch of it and freeze it or jar it to have on hand. Thank you for sharing.

    1. I love that you made your own chicken breasts in the pressure cooker and then were able to add the juice from it to the soup and also made a batch to freeze! Awesome ideas!

  3. I not only used rotisserie chicken, I boiled the carcass for the broth! I always add a lot more veggies than the basic. I also add a little red pepper flakes and serve it with cheesy cornbread with sliced jalapeรฑos!

    1. I love the spicy twist you put on it with the red pepper flakes and sliced jalapeรฑos! Great idea to boil the carcass for extra flavor!

  4. I have never made homemade chicken noodle soup before, but when I stumbled across this recipe I just HAD to try it. I’m so glad I did because it was delicious! I will be making this all winter. Thanks for the recipe! :)

    1. Thanks for trying the recipe and I’m glad it came out great for you! Glad you tried your hand at homemade chicken noodle soup, too!

  5. Amazing! Have made this several times, and with fall and cooler temps moving in, I plan to make it about twice a month or more. Yummy!!!

  6. I have made this recipe several times now and I love it! Most of all my kids (8 and 5) and my husband love it too. It smells amazing while it’s cooking. Great for when my little ones aren’t feeling the best. Definitely my go to chicken noodle recipe!

    1. Thanks for trying the recipe and I’m glad it came out great for you! Glad it’s your go-to soup!

    1. I haven’t personally tried but if you’re used to using them and know how/if they behave like regular noodles, then okay.

    2. I made the recipe tonight with gluten free noodles and was really disappointed. The base of the soup was fantastic, but I found the noodles became too gummy. Gluten free noodles donโ€™t hold well in all settings, and this is definitely not a favorable setting. Egg noodle consistency canโ€™t be beat!

      1. Since I have never tried to make this with GF noodles, I cannot say from experience what the results would be. I just want to make sure everyone reading this realizes that the soup base is fantastic but that you used GF noodles rather than egg noodles and that’s where the problem came in. I agree – egg noodle for chicken noodle soup are the best!

      2. I make it with Earthly Choice Quinoa Pasta Blend Gluten Free Fusilli noodles and it turns out great, even the non-gluten free friends love it. You do have to add more broth to the leftovers if it sits in the ridge overnight as they will soak up a lot of broth.

      3. Thanks for letting me know that the Earthly Choice noodles worked great as a GF swap for egg noodles! And yes noodles tend to be sponges the longer they sit in broth :) glad this was loved by all!

  7. Hi there, your chicken noodle is good but missing one star anise ….just put it in with the broth, then throw it away before you serve it…

    1. I’ve never put star anise in broth but I can see where it could add an interesting note to some broths.

  8. My family loved this especially my 2 year old. I did end up adding an extra 2 cups of water and about 1 tbs salt to this to stretch the broth since I used extra wide noodles. This will definitely be my go to chicken noodle soup from now on! Thank you!

    1. Thanks for trying the recipe and I’m glad it came out great for you! Glad you were able to stretch the broth with extra water/salt, perfect. This is a forgiving recipe and glad it’ll be your go-to!

  9. This is just wonderful…..Definitely add the lemon juice as it really enhanced the flavor….This is a definite keeper!….Thank you Averie for this wonderful recipe….

    1. Thanks for trying the recipe and I’m glad it came out great for you! Glad you liked the lemon juice touch! Subtle but nice I think!

  10. This soup is so delicious!! ย I just made it today for a sick friend and kept some for my family. ย I roasted a whole chicken earlier in the day and then found your recipe. ย I am happy I did. ย It is easy to make but tastes like I spent hours in the kitchen. ย Thank you for sharing. ย 

    1. Thanks for trying the recipe and Iโ€™m glad it came out great for you!

      It is easy to make but tastes like I spent hours in the kitchen. <---- YES I totally agree!