Savory, homemade chicken noodle soup is the best way to warm up on a chilly night! You can’t go wrong with simple seasonings, fresh mirepoix veggies, shredded chicken and big egg noodles. It’s a cozy, flavorful combo that can’t be beat.
First, season the chicken thighs well with salt and pepper. In a Dutch oven, add olive oil and heat over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the chicken thighs to the pot, skin-side down, and cook for about 5 minutes on each side or until browned.
Add diced onion, carrots and celery to the same pot. Mix vegetables together with the chicken and sauté 3-5 minutes.
Add broth and increase heat to high. Stir in chopped chives and bay leaf, then cover the pot and bring ingredients to a boil. Once the mixture boils, reduce the heat to low and simmer it for 15-20 minutes until the chicken cooks fully.
Discard the bay leaf and remove chicken from the pot using tongs. Place it on a cutting board. Then, shred the chicken into bite-size pieces using 2 forks. Discard the skin and bones or save them to make chicken broth at a later time.
Bring the soup back to a boil over medium-high heat and add the egg noodles. Cook, uncovered, until noodles are al dente or according to your taste. Note that the noodles will continue to cook for a few minutes while you warm the chicken.
Add shredded chicken back to the soup and cook over medium heat for 2 or 3 minutes.
Season the soup with salt and pepper to taste, add some chopped chives and serve warm.
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Notes
Make this homemade chicken noodle soup recipe even quickly by buying pre-shredded or rotisserie chicken at the grocery store. It also works with leftover chicken.
You do not need to cook the noodles separately before adding them to the soup. They’ll cook quickly in the simmering broth.
Dice onion, carrot, and celery into small and even pieces, so that you get a little of each in every bite.
Overcooking chicken can make it tough and more difficult to shred. Once you add all the ingredients and the soup boils, lower the heat to a gentle simmer. Remove the chicken as soon as it is cooked through.
Be careful not to overcook your egg noodles. They won’t take long to soften and can become mushy when boiled for too long.
Be careful with the salt. Chicken broth already has sodium. Add salt a pinch at a time, and taste test along the way until you reach the desired flavor.
Also remember to season gradually: Taste as you go! Start with a little salt and pepper and adjust to your liking. Adding seasoning gradually ensures the perfect balance without overpowering the flavors.