Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
A comforting homemade chicken noodle soup made from scratch, perfect for cozy nights.
Ingredients
For the broth
- 1.8 kg whole chicken rinsed and cleaned, the best quality you can afford
- 1 head garlic cut in half horizontally
- 2 carrots carrots cut into chunks
- 2 ribs celery cut into chunks
- 2 onions onions peeled and cut into quarters
- 1 tbsp black peppercorns
- 2 leaves bay leaves fresh or dried
- 4 sprigs thyme or 1 1/2 tsp dried thyme leaves
- 9-10 cups water enough to just cover chicken
For the soup
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 medium carrots cut into quarters lengthwise then chopped
- 2 ribs celery cut into 1 cm/ 1/2" thick pieces
- 2 cups shredded chicken from homemade broth
- 2 litres homemade chicken broth from above
- 200 g egg noodles or pasta of choice
- 2-3 tsp Vegeta or other stock powder
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 4 sprigs thyme optional
- 1 leaf bay leaf optional
- to taste finely chopped parsley for garnish, optional
Instructions
Broth
- In a large pot, put the whole chicken, garlic, carrots, celery, onions, black peppercorns, bay leaves, thyme sprigs, and enough water to cover the chicken.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and let it simmer for about 90 to 120 minutes.
- Once the chicken is cooked through, take it out and let it cool.
- Strain the broth and save the liquid. Discard the solids or use them for another dish.
Soup
- In the same pot, heat olive oil over medium heat.
- Add diced onion, minced garlic, chopped carrots, and celery. Sauté until they are tender.
- Add shredded chicken and the chicken broth back into the pot.
- Stir in the egg noodles or pasta, stock powder, and black pepper.
- Let it simmer until the noodles are cooked (usually around 10 minutes).
- Taste and adjust seasoning as necessary. If desired, add additional bay leaves and thyme sprigs.
Serving
- Serve the soup hot in bowls, garnished with finely chopped parsley if you like.
Notes
For extra richness, you can roast the chicken before adding it to the broth. Customize the vegetables according to your preference; mushrooms and peas work well! For added flavor, consider adding a splash of lemon juice when serving. You can make a creamy version of chicken noodle soup by stirring in some heavy cream or milk towards the end of cooking.