Classic Chicken Noodle Soup

One classic way to stay warm that makes any dreary winter day seem a little brighter is a nice, hot, bowl of hearty chicken noodle soup.

In searching for a good soup recipe, we wanted something that fully utilized the chicken flavor. Canned chicken stock is okay, but making your own is even better. Today’s recipe uses the whole chicken to fill the broth with the great flavors from the skin and the bones that comes out from boiling, while also using the lean meat of the breast in the soup. For added flavor, we also saute the ingredients before adding the water to create a rich fond that infuses itself into the dish. Add in some spices, and noodles, and you have a perfect pot of chicken noodle soup for the family that takes less than 90 minutes to cook from start to finish. Keep reading below for our recipe…

Chicken Noodle Soup Free Recipe

(makes about 10 servings)

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 whole chicken, breast removed and split, and the rest of the chicken cut into 2-inch pieces
• 2 medium onions, diced
• 2 quarts boiling water
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 large carrot, peeled and sliced
• 1 medium rib celery, sliced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon thyme
• 2 cups egg noodles
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves, minced
• salt and black pepper to taste

Directions

1. Heat the oil in a large soup kettle. Once the oil starts to smoke, add the chicken breasts and saute until brown on both sides. Remove and set aside.
2. Add half the chopped onions, and saute until slightly softened (about 2 to 3 minutes). Transfer to a medium bowl and set aside.
3. Add half of the pieces of chicken and saute until no longer pink (4 to 5 minutes). Transfer to the bowl with onions.
4. Saute remaining chicken pieces. Return the onions and cooked chicken (excluding the breasts) to the kettle, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer until the chicken releases its juices (about 20 minutes).
5. Increase the heat to high, add boiling water along with breast halves, 2 teaspoons salt, and bay leaves. Return to a simmer, then cover and simmer for about 20 minutes (or until chicken breasts are cooked and broth is flavorful).
6. Remove chicken breasts from the kettle, set aside. Once cooled, remove the skin from the breasts, then remove the meat from the bones.
7. Shread the meat to bite-sized pieces.
8. Discard the skin and bone.
9. Strain the broth and set aside for now, discarding the bones and skimming the fat from the broth (while reserving 2 tablespoons).
10. Return the soup kettle to medium-high heat. Add reserved chicken fat, remaining onions, carrot, and celery. Saute until softened (about 5 minutes).
11. Add garlic and saute until fragrant (about 1 minutes)
12. Add thyme, broth, and chicken, then simmer until the vegetables are tender (about 10 to 15 minutes).
13. Add noodles and cook until tender (about 5 minutes).
14. Adjust seasonings, then stir in parsley. Serve hot with crackers or bread.
15. Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from All Recipes.