Sometimes the day just calls for creamy chicken noodle soup.
This wholesome, family-favorite soup is filled with fresh carrots, chunks of juicy chicken breast, tender egg noodles, dried herbs and a touch of cream.
It's hearty, filling and satisfying!
How to make creamy chicken noodle soup
Featured Ingredients
- Onion and carrot: Aromatics are crucial in a good soup.
- Butter and flour: A roux to thicken the soup (plus the butter adds flavor).
- Chicken breasts: A couple of boneless skinless breasts to simmer in the soup.
- Egg noodles: A few cups of the best egg noodles you can get your hands on.
- Spices and herbs: Salt, black pepper, thyme, sage and a bay leaf.
- Half and half or cream: Whichever you have on hand to make the soup *creamy*.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or stock pot to medium-high heat. Add the onion and carrots and saute 4-5 minutes, until tender.
- Add the butter and stir until melted. Slowly stir in flour until it's coated in fat and cook for 2-3 minutes, until lightly browned. Increase the heat to high and slowly whisk in the chicken stock, creating a smooth mixture.
- Bring to a simmer and cook 5-6 minutes, whisking constantly, until thickened.
- Add the chicken and egg noodles, season with salt and pepper, then stir in the thyme and sage, until combined.
- Place the bay leaf on top and allow to gently simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
- Remove the chicken from the soup and place on a cutting board. Use two forks to shred the chicken or use a knife to cut it into pieces. Add the chicken back to the soup.
- Stir in the half and half or cream. Taste and adjust the seasoning, if necessary. Remove the bay leaf and discard.
- Serve soup in bowls.
Recipe Substitutions and Alterations
- For the vegetables: For a quick substitute, use pre-chopped fresh or frozen onion and carrots.
- You can also add chopped celery.
- For the chicken: You can also use pre-cooked chicken (such as rotisserie).
- Simply add it to the soup once it's simmered for a few minutes.
- For the noodles: Use whatever thick, wide or egg noodles you can find.
- I like to use whole grain noodles for a higher fiber soup.
- For the seasonings: You can sub the thyme, sage and bay leave for a bit of poultry seasoning.
- For the stock: Use any chicken stock or broth you have on hand.
- If you want to make your own, here is my recipe for homemade chicken stock.
Nutrition Considerations
- To make this gluten free: Use gluten free egg noodles and gluten free all-purpose flour. Be sure all ingredients you choose are gluten free.
- To make this dairy free: Use dairy free half and half, cream or milk.
- To make this nut free: There are no nuts in this recipe. Be sure all ingredients you choose are nut free.
- To make this egg free: This recipe does not contain egg.
- To make this lower sodium: Reduce the amount of salt you add or omit altogether.
Wholesome soup recipes to try:
- Old-Fashioned Ham and Cabbage Soup with Potatoes
- Instant Pot Split Pea & Ham Soup
- Italian Sausage & Tortellini Soup
- Old-Fashioned Chicken Noodle Soup
- Zuppa Toscana
- Loaded Cheesy Potato Soup
- Instant Pot Beef & Barley Soup
Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup
Creamy classic chicken noodle soup with carrots, chunks of chicken breast, egg noodles, herbs and a touch of cream.
- Prep Time: 10-15 mins
- Cook Time: 20-25 mins
- Total Time: 30-40 mins
- Yield: Serves 6
- Category: Soups
- Method: Stove-Top
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, peeled and diced
- 3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced in rounds
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 6 tablespoons flour
- 2 32-ounce containers unsalted chicken stock
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 cups egg noodles
- 1 ½ teaspoons coarse salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- ½ teaspoon dried sage leaves
- 1 bay leaf
- ¼ cup half and half or heavy cream
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or stock pot to medium-high heat. Add the onion and carrots and saute 4-5 minutes, until tender.
- Add the butter and stir until melted. Slowly stir in flour until it's coated in fat and cook for 2-3 minutes, until lightly browned. Increase the heat to high and slowly whisk in the chicken stock, creating a smooth mixture.
- Bring to a simmer and cook 5-6 minutes, whisking constantly, until thickened.
- Add the chicken and egg noodles, season with salt and pepper, then stir in the thyme and sage, until combined.
- Place the bay leaf on top and allow to gently simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
- Remove the chicken from the soup and place on a cutting board. Use two forks to shred the chicken or use a knife to cut it into pieces. Add the chicken back to the soup.
- Stir in the half and half or cream. Taste and adjust the seasoning, if necessary. Remove the bay leaf and discard.
- Serve soup in bowls.
Notes
Cooking Tip: If the broth or stock you're using doesn't have a ton of flavor, I'd recommend adding an all-natural chicken bouillon cube or a dollop of chicken-flavored Better Than Bouillon.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ⅙ of recipe
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 479mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 23g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 29g
- Cholesterol: 91mg
Sarah Zeola says
Girl, this looks amazing! We are always looking for new soup recipes. I am putting this one on our list of "must make" recipes for Fall. I finally got around to making boiled dinner after you mentioned it in a blog post ages ago. The crowd went wild. 🙂
Julie Andrews says
Hey Sarah! Y.E.S. to soups. This one is a must! I hope your fam loves it as much as they did the boiled dinner 🙂