How to Make the Best Chicken Noodle Soup
I start by sweating my veggies in some butter. I’m not looking to brown them. Before adding the broth, I just want to give them a little head start. Next, I add my broth and taste for seasoning. This is a great time to check the saltiness of your broth. Seasoning early on is always a great idea.
Once my broth is to my liking, it’s time to add the chicken thighs. We poach them gently in the broth, which keeps our chicken juicy and tender and adds flavor to the soup. The chicken will be cooked after 20 minutes, at which point we can remove and shred it. I add my noodles, the chicken shreds, and some freshly chopped parsley. This soup is so simple to make and tastes amazing!.
How to Make Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup:
Use a rotisserie chicken to make homemade chicken stock in advance, or select a high-quality brand from the store.
Sauté veggies. Put butter, chopped carrots, and celery in a big stock pot and heat it to medium-high. Sauté for 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
Add chicken stock or broth. Add pepper, salt (make sure to taste the broth before adding extra salt), and a small pinch of crushed red pepper, sage, and rosemary to the broth. If necessary, I might also add a tiny spoonful of “better than bullion” chicken or chicken bouillon powder, depending on how it tastes.
Add noodles and boil. When boiling, add the noodles (dried store-bought pasta or the raw homemade egg noodles) and cook until just al dente. When using store-bought noodles, take care not to overcook them; they will continue to cook off of the heat, so take the soup pot off of the heat as soon as the noodles are just barely tender.
Add chicken. Add chicken meat from the rotisserie chicken. Taste the broth again and add more seasonings, if needed.
Serve. If you enjoy this recipe, you should try my new Chicken and Dumpling Soup! I love to serve this nutritious soup with homemade rolls or this simple No Knead Bread!
About the Chicken Stock:
For this recipe, homemade chicken stock is the best option if you’re wondering whether to use store-bought or homemade. The key is to use a rotisserie chicken so that you can use the meat from the bird and use the leftover carcass and bones to make chicken broth. You won’t believe how simple it is, and the depth of flavor it adds really elevates the soup to a whole new level.
