Description
Comforting chicken noodle soup delivers classic flavor with tender meat and hearty vegetables. Generous portions and rich broth make this traditional recipe a perfect meal for chilly evenings you’ll savor with family.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) butter or olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups (480 ml) cooked shredded chicken (rotisserie or boiled)
- 4 cups (960 ml) chicken broth
- 2 cups (480 ml) egg noodles or any pasta
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) flour or cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream or half-and-half
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 g) salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ teaspoon (1 g) black pepper
- ½ teaspoon (1 g) dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon (1 g) dried parsley
- ¼ teaspoon (0.5 g) paprika (optional)
- ½ cup (50 g) grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for extra creaminess)
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) lemon juice (for a fresh touch)
- Fresh parsley
- Extra Parmesan cheese
- Cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Sauté Foundation: Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat, gently cooking onions, carrots, and celery until they become soft and translucent, releasing their natural sweetness.
- Aromatics Infusion: Add minced garlic, thyme, and rosemary, stirring quickly to awaken their intense flavors and create a robust base for the soup.
- Liquid Integration: Pour chicken broth into the vegetable mixture, allowing the liquid to blend with the caramelized ingredients and develop a rich, complex flavor profile.
- Protein and Noodle Incorporation: Introduce diced chicken and egg noodles simultaneously, letting them simmer together and absorb the soup’s savory essence, ensuring even cooking and deep flavor penetration.
- Simmering Harmony: Reduce heat and let the mixture gently bubble, allowing ingredients to meld and create a cohesive, comforting texture while chicken cooks thoroughly and noodles reach perfect tenderness.
- Creamy Transformation: Stir in heavy cream during the final cooking moments, elevating the soup’s consistency to a luxuriously smooth and velvety state that embraces the palate.
- Final Seasoning and Presentation: Adjust salt, pepper, and herbs to taste, then ladle the steaming soup into bowls, garnishing with fresh parsley for a vibrant, aromatic finish.
Notes
- Optimize Butter Sautéing: Select unsalted butter for precise seasoning control and prevent potential over-salting during vegetable caramelization.
- Chicken Selection Matters: Choose boneless, skinless chicken breasts for consistent texture and quicker cooking, ensuring tender meat that absorbs flavors effectively.
- Noodle Timing is Critical: Add egg noodles toward the end of cooking to prevent mushiness, allowing them to cook precisely 6-8 minutes for perfect al dente consistency.
- Cream Incorporation Technique: Remove pot from direct heat before adding heavy cream, preventing potential curdling and maintaining a smooth, silky soup texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg