The Proper Sunday Lunch Chicken Noodle Soup Deep Flavor Tender Chicken and Silky Homemade Broth

Proper Homestyle Chicken Soup

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Preparation time:30 Mins

Cooking time:02 Hrs 30 Mins

Servings:6 generous servings

Ingredients:

• 3 lbs Chicken Pieces (Bone-in, skin-on thighs/drumsticks or a whole small bird)
• 10 cups Cold Water
• 1 large Yellow Onion, quartered (skin on)
• 3 medium Carrots, roughly chopped
• 3 Celery Stalks, roughly chopped
• 2 large Bay Leaves
• 1 tsp Whole Black Peppercorns
• Small handful Fresh Parsley Stems
• 2 Tbsp Unsalted Butter (or Olive Oil)
• 1 medium Yellow Onion, finely diced
• 2 medium Carrots, finely diced
• 2 Celery Stalks, finely diced
• 3 cloves Garlic, minced
• 1/2 tsp Dried Thyme
• 8 oz Egg Noodles (medium width)
• 1/4 cup Fresh Parsley, chopped (for garnish)
• Kosher Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper, to taste

Instructions:

• Simmer the Stock & Cook Chicken: Place chicken pieces, rough-cut mirepoix (onion, carrot, celery), bay leaves, peppercorns, and parsley stems into the large pot. Cover with cold water. Bring slowly to a gentle simmer over medium heat, skimming any scum that rises to the surface for the first 15 minutes.
• Slow Cook: Reduce heat to low, cover loosely, and simmer gently for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until the chicken is falling off the bone tender.
• Strain and Shred: Carefully remove the chicken pieces and set aside to cool. Strain the entire broth through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean pot or large bowl, discarding all the solids. Skim excess fat from the top of the resulting broth if desired.
• Shred Chicken: Once cool enough to handle, discard skin and bones. Shred the meat into bite-sized pieces.
• Sauté Aromatics (The Flavour Base): In the cleaned stockpot, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add the finely diced onion, carrot, and celery. Sauté gently for 8–10 minutes until softened and translucent (sweating, not frying).
• Bloom Spices: Stir in the minced garlic and dried thyme. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
• Combine and Simmer: Pour the strained broth back into the pot with the vegetables. Bring the liquid back to a steady, rolling simmer. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
• Cook Noodles: Add the egg noodles to the simmering broth. Cook according to package directions, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
• Final Assembly: Taste the broth and adjust seasoning aggressively with salt and pepper until it tastes rich and well-seasoned. Stir in the reserved shredded chicken and heat through for 2 minutes.
• Serve: Ladle into warm bowls. Garnish generously with fresh chopped parsley.

Nutrition Facts

Calories	1197 kcal
Protein	10.9 g
Fat	35.7 g
Carbs	77.1 g
Fiber	26.8 g
Sodium	205 mg

Recipe Info

Category	Soup
Cuisine	American

Why This Homestyle Chicken Noodle Soup is Culinary TLC in a Bowl

There are few dishes that carry the immediate, soothing power of a perfectly executed bowl of Homestyle Chicken Noodle Soup . It’s more than just chicken, noodles, and broth; it’s a culinary hug, a nostalgic whisper, and often the first thing we crave when the world feels a little shaky.

Forget the sad, watery, canned versions that offer fleeting warmth but zero substance. Our mission here is to create a Comfort Food Soup Recipe so rich, so flavourful, that it rivals anything your grandmother might have lovingly ladled out.

This Best Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe isn't just easy; it’s designed to teach you how to extract maximum flavour from humble ingredients, ensuring that every spoonful delivers that deep, soulful taste we all associate with true comfort.

Demystifying Deep Broth: Our Secret to Sunday Lunch Flavour

The difference between an adequate chicken soup and an unforgettable Classic Chicken Noodle Soup lies entirely in the quality of the liquid base. We are not relying on store-bought cartons; we are building depth from the ground up.

The foundation of this Chicken Noodle Soup Homemade triumph involves a slow, intentional simmer that coaxes gelatin, fat, and marrow from the bones, resulting in a broth that coats the palate beautifully.

This focus on the stock is what transforms simple ingredients into something truly memorable.

Setting the Stage: What Makes This Version Unforgettable?

To achieve this exceptional depth, we start by committing to using bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces—thighs and drumsticks are perfect—or even a whole small bird if you prefer.

These cuts release rich fats and collagen during the slow cook, which emufies slightly into the water, giving our liquid body and richness. We also insist on starting the chicken and vegetables in cold water.

This crucial step allows the proteins to release slowly and impurities to rise to the surface as foam, which we meticulously skim away, leading to a beautifully clear, golden final product.

The 'Under the Weather' Guarantee: Comfort Food Reimagined

When you need that ultimate TLC Soup Recipe , you need resilience in the flavour profile. This is where the slow cooking shines. By simmering everything together—the chicken, the rough-cut initial vegetables (mirepoix), peppercorns, and herbs—for at least 90 minutes, we are melding flavours harmoniously.

This lengthy, low-temperature process ensures the final sip tastes fully developed, banishing any hint of blandness often associated with quick fixes. It’s the kind of deeply savoury liquid that inherently makes you feel better.

From Novice Cook to Noodle Virtuoso: Confidence Building Prep

Don't let the multi-step process intimidate you; this recipe is deceptively Easy Chicken Noodle Soup to execute. The initial 90 minutes is entirely hands-off simmering time.

Your active work involves chopping the foundational vegetables and then, later, sautéing the aromatic flavour base. By breaking the process into two main stages—Stock Creation and Soup Assembly—we manage the complexity, building confidence as we move from a pot of simmering water to a magnificent, aromatic stew.

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Assembling Your Comfort Arsenal: Essential Components for Richness

Creating the Homestyle Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe requires respecting the roles of the individual components. Each ingredient is chosen not just for its flavour contribution, but for how it interacts with the heat and the liquid over time.

Selecting the Ideal Protein and Produce for Maximum Impact

For the protein, stick to the bone-in chicken recommended; it is non-negotiable for true depth. When selecting your produce, aim for fresh, sturdy vegetables. For the initial stock, vegetables can be roughly chopped, as they will be discarded, but for the final soup assembly, precision matters.

Fine, uniform dice ensures that the vegetables cook evenly and distribute their sweetness gently throughout the broth.

The Foundation: Building Blocks for a Superlative Stock

The foundational aromatics for the stock are simple but potent: a quartered onion (even leaving the skin on adds colour), robust chunks of carrot and celery, bay leaves, whole peppercorns, and parsley stems. These create the classic aromatic profile that underpins so much traditional cooking.

These elements infuse the water with savory background notes that you simply cannot replicate with powders or cubes.

Noodle Nuances: Choosing the Right Shape for Soaking Up Broth

The noodle choice directly impacts the texture and enjoyment of your soup. While many opt for thin angel hair, we advocate for a medium-width egg noodle. These offer the perfect structural integrity to withstand a gentle simmer without dissolving completely, while still providing a wonderfully satisfying chew that soaks up the flavourful broth beautifully.

Aromatic All-Stars: Herb Bundles and Mirepoix Mastery

Beyond the stock herbs, the final flavour comes from the second application of mirepoix—finely diced onion, carrot, and celery, sautéed gently in butter. This crucial step is where we master the 'sweating' technique.

By cooking these vegetables slowly over medium-low heat until translucent (not browned), we release their natural sugars and soften their texture, ensuring they blend seamlessly into the finished soup rather than providing a sharp, raw crunch.

Following this, a brief bloom of dried thyme and minced garlic releases their essential oils just before the broth is reintroduced.

The Step-by-Step Journey to Perfect Homestyle Chicken Noodle Soup

Executing this Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup is best approached sequentially. Remember, the goal is to build flavour in layers, patiently waiting for each stage to reach its potential before moving to the next.

Phase One: Simmering the Soul of the Soup—Developing the Base

Begin by placing your chicken pieces, the rough-cut mirepoix, bay leaves, peppercorns, and parsley stems into your largest stockpot. Cover everything completely with cold water—about 10 cups should suffice for a robust recipe yield. Bring this mixture slowly up to a simmer over medium heat.

As it warms, you must diligently skim the grey foam (impurities) that rises to the surface using a slotted spoon for the first 15 minutes. Once skimmed, reduce the heat to low, maintain a barely perceptible simmer, cover loosely, and let it cook undisturbed for 1 to 1.

5 hours, or until the chicken is supremely tender.

Shredding Secrets: Handling the Cooked Chicken Like a Pro

Carefully remove the cooked chicken pieces from the broth using the slotted spoon and set them aside to cool slightly. Once cool enough to handle, efficiently remove the skin and all bones, then shred the meat into perfect, bite-sized pieces.

Strain the entire contents of the pot through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean vessel, discarding all the simmered vegetables and herbs. This clear, flavourful liquid is the soul of our soup.

The Grand Finale: Combining Ingredients for the Final Simmer

Return your now-strained, beautiful broth to the cleaned stockpot. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter (or use schmaltz if you rendered some!) over medium-low heat. Add your finely diced carrots, celery, and onion.

Sweat these vegetables gently for about 8 to 10 minutes until they are soft and translucent. Stir in the minced garlic and dried thyme, cooking for just one minute until intensely fragrant.

Now, pour the strained broth back in, bring the liquid to a rolling simmer, and add your 8 ounces of egg noodles. Cook according to the noodle package directions, stirring occasionally.

Seasoning Strategy: The Art of Tasting and Adjusting Flavour Profiles

This is perhaps the most vital step for making your soup shine. Once the noodles are nearly done, taste the broth. It will likely need a significant amount of seasoning now, as the water has diluted the initial salt, and the noodles have absorbed liquid.

Add kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper liberally until the broth tastes deeply savoury and complex. Stir in the reserved shredded chicken and heat through for a final two minutes. Ladle into bowls, garnishing heavily with fresh chopped parsley for a burst of freshness.

Making Ahead and Maintaining Freshness: Storage & Reheating Wisdom

This Homestyle Chicken Noodle Soup only tastes better the next day as the flavours continue to marry. Storing leftovers is simple: cool the soup completely before transferring it to airtight containers. You can refrigerate this for up to four days.

For longer storage, utilize freezing techniques.

Freezing Fundamentals: Protecting Your Hard Work for Later Enjoyment

Freezing this soup requires one critical preparatory step to prevent disappointing results upon thawing. Because noodles absorb liquid over time, they can turn mushy or cause the soup to become overly thick when frozen and reheated.

Therefore, freeze the rich broth and the shredded chicken separately from the noodles. Once thawed, reheat the broth and chicken mixture, bring it to a simmer, and only then cook a fresh batch of egg noodles and add them immediately before serving.

Boosting Nutrition: Making Your Chicken Soup Healthier Without Sacrificing Taste

To enhance the nutritional value of this comfort classic, focus on the vegetables you incorporate. You can easily double the quantity of the diced carrots and celery in the final assembly stage.

Adding other slow-cooking vegetables like parsnips or sweet potatoes (diced small) during the final 15 minutes of simmering adds fibre and vitamins without detracting from the traditional profile.

Alternative Add-Ins: Introducing Unexpected Vegetable Twists

While deeply traditional, this recipe welcomes creativity. If you want to elevate the experience beyond the classic mirepoix, consider adding finely chopped leeks along with the final diced vegetables for a more complex allium flavour, or stir in a cup of frozen green peas right at the very end for a quick pop of colour and sweetness.

Troubleshooting Common Kitchen Calamities in Soup Making

If your broth tastes flat, it almost certainly needs salt—don’t be shy in this final seasoning stage! If your broth is cloudy, you either didn't skim the scum adequately at the beginning or you allowed the initial simmer to boil too vigorously.

If your noodles stick together, next time use a wider noodle, ensure you are stirring frequently during cooking, or adopt the freezer-friendly method mentioned above. This Homestyle Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe rewards patience, but these small tweaks ensure success every time.