Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe

Chicken soup features whole chicken or chicken pieces and noodles in a broth made of vegetables and herbs like thyme, oregano, and bay leaves. Homemade chicken noodle soup starts with clear chicken broth, then home cooks add carrots, celery, onion, and shredded chicken. The meal is a source of protein, vitamin C, and vitamin A.

After you master the classic chicken noodle soup, try these regional variations of chicken soup recipes:

1. 1. Caldo de pollo: Caldo de pollo is Mexican chicken soup. It starts with a flavorful chicken broth (the word “caldo” means broth) that is topped with pieces of chicken and veggies, such as zucchini, chayote, radishes, and avocado. Caldo de pollo is often served with fresh cilantro on top and lime wedges on the side.
2. 2. Matzah ball soup: Matzah ball soup is a traditional European Jewish chicken soup. Homemade chicken broth is served with dumplings made from matzo meal (matzah balls) and flat egg noodles, along with celery, carrots, and dill.
3. 3. Tortellini en brodo: Originally from the Italian region of Emilia, tortellini is a stuffed pasta shaped into rings. Tortellini are traditionally stuffed with meat and Parmesan and served in broth (Italian brodo) topped with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
4. 4. Phở gà: Vietnamese phở is a broth-based soup served with rice noodles, herbs, and meat. The broth is flavored with aromatics like fish sauce, star anise, charred onion, and ginger. Phở is made with a variety of meats, including chicken (phở gà).
5. 5. Canja de galinha: In Portugal and Brazil, this classic chicken soup typically contains rice or small pasta (like alphabet pasta or broken angel hair), cooked further than al dente so the texture is much softer.

Follow these simple tips to make the best chicken noodle soup:

1. 1. Let it simmer. While soup recipes vary depending on the ingredients, there’s one principle that almost always applies: take your time when simmering the ingredients together. Keeping your soup base on a low, steady heat coaxes vegetables, herbs, and aromatics to release their flavors into the dish and create a cohesive, complex flavor.
2. 2. Experiment with different kitchen tools. You can make soup using almost any kitchen tool—whether that’s a heavy pot, a slow cooker or crockpot, a pressure cooker, or even a powerful blender. Experiment with different tools and see which ones work best for your favorite soup recipes.
3. 3. Keep the noodles separate. Cook the noodles separately, undercooking by a few minutes. Add the noodles to each serving bowl as needed, and pour the hot soup over to finish the cooking process. The longer they stay in the broth, the more liquid the noodles will absorb until they eventually become mushy. By storing them separately, you can ensure that the leftover soup will have noodles just as delicious and perfectly cooked as the first time by storing them separately.
4. 4. Make it fast. Use a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken and store-bought chicken bone broth or bouillon to make a quicker batch of chicken noodle soup without sacrificing flavor.