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!!
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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.
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.
Chicken Noodle Soup Ingredients
To make this easy chicken noodle soup recipe, you’ll need the following basic ingredients:
- Olive oil
- Carrots
- Celery
- Sweet Vidalia onion
- Garlic
- Chicken broth
- Bay leaves
- Fresh thyme
- Dried oregano
- Wide egg noodles
- Shredded cooked chicken
- Fresh parsley
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:
- 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 until the vegetables begin to soften.
- 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.
- Add the egg noodles and boil the mixture until the noodles are cooked through.
- Add the chicken, parsley, optional lemon juice and boil until chicken is warmed through.
- Remove the bay leaves and serve immediately!
Recipe FAQs
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.
I always use pre-cooked, shredded chicken in my homemade chicken noodle soup. You have a few options when it comes to pre-cooked chicken:
1. You can buy a rotisserie chicken at the store, shred it up, then throw it in the soup (some stores even sell pre-shredded rotisserie chicken which is a huge time saver!).
2. You can meal prep your own stovetop or baked chicken breasts. Either shred or cube the chicken whenever you’re ready to make the soup.
3. Make a batch of poached chicken a day or two in advance to use in the 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!
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.
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.
Tips for the Best Chicken Noodle Soup
Chicken: To save time, make this chicken noodle soup with rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken that you have on hand. Of course you can roast or pan sauté chicken if you’re so inclined.
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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Easy 30-Minute Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
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 storebought rotisserie chicken to save time; or roast or cook your own chicken in a skillet
- 3 to 4 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, optional
- salt, 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. 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. Taste soup and add salt to taste. I added 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.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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This was a freaking hit in our house! It was so good we didn’t have any leftovers. I should mention no one in the house “likes soup”. Thank you for the fantastic recipe! It has been added to my menu ;)
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad this was a big hit at your house, despite no one ‘liking soup’ :)
AVERIE, thanks! Very tasty soup turned out. Very cool photos!
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad it turned out great!
I made this for my Family and it is now for sure all of our FAVORITE HOMEMADE CHICKEN SOUP recipies! So yummy & comforting! Will definately be my go to Chicken Soup recipe from now on!
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad this is your favorite homemade chicken soup and it’s your go-to!
This soup is deeelicious! I used chicken bone broth and added a splash of vinegar at the end because I forgot to buy a lemon. I’ve always thought I was making great soup, but this is even better than whatever I’ve made in the past.
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad that it’s even better than what you’ve been making in the past!
My first time making chicken noodle soup…. it was very simple although took longer than 30 minutes but worth it in the end…. was totally delicious with a few edits on the seasoning…. bookmarking for future use :) thanks!!
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad that it was totally delicious on your first time making chicken noodle soup!
This is delicious. I shared it with my parents as well and they love it because it is easy to make and delicious. It really has wonderful flavor and spice.
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad your parents love it as well!
Best homey Chicken Noodle Soup Ever!
Fast..easy…delicious!
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad it’s the best homey chicken noodle soup ever for you!
Good recipe, however I would double the amount of carrots and I added extra chicken and broth as the liquid was quite low.
Glad you enjoyed the soup overall.
Regarding the broth, that’s why I very clearly say in step 4 what I state: 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.
Made this for my sick husband! definitely added probably 4 more cups of chicken stock..delicious!!!!!
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad to hear it was delicious! Hope your husband is feeling better!
Where are you getting the “creamy” from? I don’t see cream/half and half or anything that would make it creamy?
You’re probably commenting on the wrong post.
I have a creamy chicken noodle soup recipe here https://www.averiecooks.com/easy-30-minute-creamy-chicken-noodle-soup/
Excellent recipe I added my own twist to it thanks
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad it was excellent with your own twist.
Easy to make and I had all the ingredients after Thanksgiving dinner (replaced chicken with turkey). I got lots of compliments on this soup from kids and adults alike.
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad it was enjoyed by all!
I have another recipe nearly identical to this one with turkey https://www.averiecooks.com/easy-30-minute-turkey-noodle-soup/
Delicious! My family loved it. The soup was a perfect meal and comforted my boys sore throat. Thank you, for sharing.
Thanks for the 5 star review and I’m glad your family loved it and that it comforted the little ones!
Very flavorful.
Thank you for the recipe.
I added fresh mint at the time I added the chicken.
Will be making over and over again.
Thanks for the 5 star review and I’m glad you will make it over and over again!
Best soup I’ve ever made! No matter who I make this for it easily becomes one of their favourites! I’m a college student so to save money I normally substitute the fresh herbs with dried(you only measure 1/3 of the given fresh herb measurement when converting to dried). Theres so much flavour that even when I’m out of a few ingredients it’s still better then any other soup!
Thanks for the five star review and I’m glad this is the best soup you’ve ever made!
I have made this soup many times. Simple and delicious. I do add some “Better than Boullion” for additional flavor. My husband also likes frozen Reames Homestyle Egg Noodles. I keep them separate from the soup so the noodles don’t get soggy.
Thanks for the five star review!
My only complaint is having to buy more broth since the noodles soak it all up after a day in the fridge!
But WOW, the flavor in those noodles the day after is AWESOME!
Definitely my go-to chicken noodle soup recipe. I use a traditional rotisserie chicken. Seriously so easy. YUM!
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad to hear you love the soup and it’s your go-to recipe! I agree, those broth-laden noodles are scrumptious!