There is nothing better than Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup made with a whole chicken that is slowly simmered with celery, carrots and onions. It's the whole chicken that makes the broth extra rich, full of flavor and loaded with nutrition.
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The healing power
At the first sign of a sniffle, I remember my mamma would pull out the old battered soup pot, throw in a whole chicken, plus celery, onion, carrots, peppercorns and she'd go about making homemade chicken noodle soup.
Sometimes she would make it like a drop egg soup called Stracciatella or add a of citrus in it for her Lemon Orzo Soup. Mamma thought any soup with chicken stock as the main feature the best medicine in the world. And the simplicity of her homemade Chicken Noodle Soup was at the top of the list.
I have to agree. One sip of the hot steamy broth and it seemed like I felt better immediately.
Many other cultures believe in the healing powers of chicken soup. In fact the chicken soup is without a doubt a symbol of Jewish Cuisine.
"Magical" ingredients
- Chicken broth -- The chemicals in chicken broth reduce the symptoms of a sore throat and blocked nose. Also it provides hydration and nutrition both important in fighting colds and flu.
- Onion -- Onion contains quercetin, which is natural anti-histamine, anti- inflammatory and a powerful anti-oxidant.
- Carrots -- Carrots are source of beta-caroten, which our body converts into vitamin A. This vitamin helps white cells to fight off infections.
- Chicken Meat -- The Meat contains an amino acid called cysteine, which may thin the mucus in the lungs, hence making it easier to cough out.
Spicing it up
We eat chicken -- a lot.
We stick it in our soups, put in on the grill, bake it with lots of lemon and garlic. We've even been know to fry it a time or twenty 🙂 You'll always find some form of chicken in our freezer. So, whenever we make a dish we've made countless times before, we look for ways to make it just a little bit different.
I'm certainly not saying that our Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup is boring and needs a little flavor boost. Far from that! We just like the challenge of giving a long time favorite a little different take.
Now I know I've mentioned a few times before how much my Honey loves spicy and his Ro-tel tomatoes. (No we are not compensated by them, although we should with as many cans we go through.)
If you don't like spicy, just omit the Ro-tel tomatoes or add drained diced tomatoes to the soup. But before you start with the soup itself you make the stock.
The stock ingredients
- Whole chicken -- to get the benefit of the collagen, vitamins and minerals in the bones.
- Black Peppercorns -- instead of black pepper keeps the broth clearer.
- Celery
- Carrots
- Onion
- Parsley
- Kosher salt
How to prepare soup
It all begins with the chicken bone broth. This will take about 2 hours. You can make the stock the day ahead.
The soup
- We make the stock and once that's done we remove the chicken and place on platter. Once it is cool enough to handle we shred the chicken.
- We strain the broth through a sieve and remove and discard the stock vegetables and seasoning.
- In a Dutch oven we briefly sauté diced carrots, celery and onion.
- The strained broth goes into the Dutch oven as well as the shredded chicken. This is when inspiration struck!
- Honey dumped a can of Ro-tel tomatoes into the broth. Now, if you don't like spicy you can eliminate this and the Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup will still taste wonderful. But between you and me, it was pure genius to put that added kick to the soup. After all, don't they say that spicy food is good for you??
- Homemade noodles to go into the soup but if you don't have the time or the inclination you can always add the store-bought variety of your choice. The egg noodles are really good.
- We served the soup with our homemade pretzels. The soup is great for lunch, as a first course, or because you're feeling puny.
I love this recipe of Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup. It's the next best thing to having a great big comforting hug from my mamma.
Quick version
I know, sometimes you really want something but you just don't have the time. I get it!! You can still get some great taste out of this quicker version of Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup. Here is the easiest way to do it:
- Use the meat from a rotisserie chicken and shred it into bite size pieces.
- Buy a good quality Chicken bone broth and use that for the stock.
- Add your favorite purchased noodles for the homemade.
- Follow the directions for the vegetables as written.
Your family will love this recipe. It has so much flavor and the aroma is amazing. Besides being so good, just think of all that nutrition that is fighting the pesky germs floating around.
Tutti a tavola è pronto.
Un caro saluto e alla prossima.
Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe
Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup loaded with vegetables with a delicious bone broth made from scratch! One pot...one soup! Perfect for any day of the week with a quicker version if you don't have time for the traditional version.
Next time try our Grandma's Chicken and Dumplings recipe with homemade drop biscuits. It is pure comfort food!
If you like this recipe please give it a 5-star rating.
📖 Recipe
Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
Equipment Needed
Ingredients
For Broth
- Whole chicken about 3 ½ pounds
- 3 quarts cold water
- 3 sprigs Italian parsley
- 3 bay leaves
- 3 carrots
- 2 stalks celery
- 2 small onion
- 1 Tablespoon salt
- 6-8 peppercorns
For Soup
- Cooked Chicken
- 2 medium carrots sliced
- 2 stalks celery sliced
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 1 Tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon oregano minced
- 1 teaspoon sage minced
- 1 teaspoon thyme minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian parsley minced
- Salt to taste
- 1 can Ro-Tel Tomatoes 10 oz can or if you don't like it spicy use plain diced tomatoes
- 2 cups 2oz. homemade noodles or store bought.
Instructions
- Place chicken in a large soup pot with the cold water and the rest of the broth ingredients. Slowly bring the liquid to a boil then turn down to a simmer. Cover and simmer gently for about 1 ½ hours. Remove foam if some forms on top. It is important to let the broth cook slowly -- it will make for a clearer broth.
- Remove chicken and place on a platter until you can remove chicken from the bones. Tear into bite size pieces. Strain the broth through a fine sieve -- you'll have about 2 ½ quarts.
- In a Dutch oven heat the oil and sauté the carrots, celery and onion for about 3 minutes. Don't brown. Add the broth, chicken and herbs and simmer for about 30 minutes. Add the can of tomatoes and continue to simmer for an additional 10 minutes.
- Whenever we add pasta or noodles to our soups we first cook the pasta or noodles in salted water and then add it to the soup. Don't overcook the pasta or the noodles. Once they go in the soup they'll continue to cook a bit more. You don't want mushy pasta/noodles.
- Put the noodles into the soup and heat for an additional 2 -3 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
- Use the meat from a rotisserie chicken and shred it into bite size pieces.
- Buy a good quality Chicken bone broth and use that for the stock.
- Add your favorite purchased noodles for the homemade.
- Follow the directions for the vegetables as written.
Nutrition
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Susie
Hi Marisa....YEAH! It’s that time of year when soups come more into play with meal planning. As a matter of fact, I’m making a huge pot of chili/tortilla soup today. We love our soups and I like the idea of rotel tomatoes for spice.....Great idea, Honey😊.
Like you, we enjoy candles, especially, this time of year......It’s always something in pumpkin spice or apple crisp family we like the most. Also, like some of the candles with hint of tobacco,
Temperatures in Arizona are starting to feel more like fall......The days are still warm but nights cooler. We’ve started to open doors and windows....Love airing house after hot summer. We desperately are long overdue for a good soaker. Very dry and still fires in the distance.
We pray you have a relaxing vacation and fill the cooler with lots of fish.....❤️🙏😘
Carl Pirro
Great recipe Marisa, thank you.
giancarlo cenciarini
great pic. Great job.Thanks.Now the cicken is tasteless.I add turkey necks, chicken bouillon ,semolina flour, and serve with little Maggi
Denise
Nothing beats homemade chicken noodle soup! Yours looks incredible, and oh so satisfying!
Lois Christensen
Love a bowl of soup for dinner!
Jolina
There really is something special about chicken noodle soup eh? As soon as the weather turns a tad cooler, we start craving for it 🙂 This looks perfect, and always a yes for spicy!
Denise
Nothing beats homemade chicken noodle soup, especially in Winter! I can't wait to start cooking soup season!
Gloria
Homemade chicken soup is the BEST. My mom made a pot EVERY WEEK when I was a kid. My baba even made homemade noodles to go in it. The best meal when you are under the weather....and in the dead of winter when it is freezing outside.
Veena Azmanov
Awesome flavors, amazing presentation and healthy eating. Yum
Michelle
I am thanking the Lord for the few mneitus I had this morning, between laundry, lunch, and lessons for my five babies, to sit and soak in this post. Thank you for taking the time to share it. I don't know what the Lord has ahead of us in specifics, but I am trusting that He has us in His hands. Thank you for the encouragement to continue to TRUST!!!! That doesn't always come naturally for me. Thank you <3~Angela
Marisa Franca
You're welcome. It's always good to have the help and support of Someone greater than us.
Molly Kumar
There's nothing like a homemade chicken and noodle soup. This looks perfect!
Marisa Franca
Thank you Molly! This time of year I want soup all the time.
Richa
Pure comfort food, and the perfect cure for a sore throat!
Marisa Franca
I hope you don't have a sore throat, Richa and if you do I hope you're better soon. I think soup is a perfect cure for anything.
Razena | Tantalisemytastebuds.com
I've been thinking of noodle soup for a while now and this looks like the perfectly fragrant meal for cold evenings... I would not have time for home made noodles though and ready made will have to do. Thanks for sharing this 🙂
Marisa Franca
Whatever noodles you put in there will be just fine. The broth and soup are the stars. Hope you make it and enjoy it.
Jessica {Swanky Recipes}
It's just starting to get cold here in the south and I'm all about soup right now! Where was this when I needed it last week, yum!
Marisa Franca
Better late than never 🙂 Hopefully the weather will start to warm up -- we'll be coming in your direction to escape the cold.
Ciao Chow Linda
That's the perfect remedy for the winter blahs. Unfortunately, I've made two pots of chicken soup this week while I've been sick with a nasty cold, and it hasn't helped this time!! I should have added those Ro-Tel tomatoes!!!
Marisa Franca
Oh I am so sorry to hear that you've had a cold. Sometimes those viruses are just terrible to get rid of!! Well, I haven't had a cold yet and hubby puts Ro-Tel in practically everything he can ( have to watch him like a hawk). But it did taste great in the soup -- added just enough zip. Perhaps Ro-tel could be your cure-all. I hope you're feeling better soon. Sending you a big comforting HUG!!
angela@spinachtiger
I do think that a can of tomatoes is a great addition to any chicken soup. Adds that bit of acid. We would love the pretzel too!
Marisa Franca
We thought the diced tomatoes were good in there. My mamma always put tomatoes in the water when she made brodo. And today we are finishing up on our twelfth dozen pretzels. All bounty for our lovely kids and grandkids. I do have to make the spicy cheese sauce 🙂
Marcia
Hi Marisa,
I was going to pass on this recipe, as I have a favorite recipe I've revised over the years - but after reading your comments and your honey's inspiration of tossing in a can of Ro-tel, I decided to print it and try that next time. Sounds like a terrific alternative and, who knows? - it just might replace my tried & true!
Marcia
Jovina Coughlin
My husband's favorite soup. Your recipe looks fantastic. I never thought about using Ro-Tel tomatoes in chicken soup. I am definitely going to try this - adds some zip
Marisa Franca
If you like spicy this will do it but not overly so. My hubby, I swear, has a can in his hand as I'm cooking wanting to stick it in the dish