ULTIMATE Chicken Noodle Soup

ULTIMATE Chicken Noodle Soup– a hearty, flavor packed, and comfort food at its finest! Tender noodles, chicken, veggies, and bacon combine in a savory broth!

Photo byThe Cookin' Chicks

Easy Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe

Every food blog has a favorite chicken noodle soup recipe, but I must admit….this one may just be the BEST! Of course, I may be bias in saying that, but after you try this, you may just agree. Yes, I take a few shortcuts in this recipe, however, the flavor just cannot be beat. If you don’t like canned products, I do offer an entirely homemade version below, but hopefully you will give this one a try too!

Classic Chicken Noodle Soup is pure comfort food. This recipe is so easy you can even make it tonight, no matter what time you’re reading this! In fact, Chicken Noodle Soup is one of the easiest soups to make. From simple and inexpensive ingredients, to little to no prep, this soup is a winner.

Photo byThe Cookin' Chicks

Why this recipe is the BEST Chicken Noodle Soup

I could go on and on about why this soup is the best, but I will leave it at just a few. Try it for yourself and you’ll see why it earned its name!

• Comfort food at its finest– yep, something about a warm bowl of soup filled with tender noodles, shredded chicken, veggies, and bacon to warm you up on a cold night
• Flavor packed- did someone mention bacon?! Oh yes I did! That may just go down as the secret ingredient in this recipe as most chicken noodle soups don’t include it.
• A One Pot Meal– since it has your veggies, protein, and starch in it, you are able to serve this entirely on its own if desired
• Versatile– if you want to change this up to fit your tastes, go for it. Prefer a brothier soup, add more liquid! More veggies? Go for it! So many options!

Ingredients needed for Ultimate Chicken Noodle Soup

• Chicken– cooked/shredded, Rotisserie works great too
• Condensed Cheese Soup– found near the creamed soups
• Chicken Broth
• Milk
• Celery– chopped
• Carrots– chopped
• Dry Ranch Dressing Mix
• Bacon– cooked/crumbled
• Cheddar Cheese– shredded
• Egg Noodles

Photo byThe Cookin' Chicks

How to Make the Best Chicken Noodle Soup

With a few simple steps, this soup comes together quickly every time! Scroll below for full recipe card!

1. In a large Dutch oven, combine the chicken, cheese soup, broth, milk, celery, carrots, Ranch mix, and bacon bits.
2. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and allow to simmer for about 25 minutes.
3. Stir in the uncooked egg noodles and cheddar cheese.
4. Allow to cook an additional 8 minutes, or until pasta is tender.
5. Serve soup warm!!

Photo byThe Cookin' Chicks

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Chicken Thighs?

Absolutely! Chicken soup is better when made with darker meat if I am being honest. Chicken thighs become tender and soft, just be sure to cook and de-bone for this soup.

What other meat can I use in this soup?

A GREAT option is to use leftover turkey from Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner in this soup!

Do I have to use egg noodles?

Nope, I tend to go that route because it is a light noodle that cooks quickly. If you choose to use another pasta, add a bit more broth to offset the amount the pasta will absorb.

Can I add in some herbs to this soup?

Great idea! Thyme and Bay Leaves are great options. For a pop freshness, stir in a handful of chopped fresh parsley at the end. You can also add fresh chives at the end.

Storage

The soup can be made and refrigerated for 3 to 4 days and frozen for up to 3 months. If you are not planning on enjoying the soup straight away or plan to freeze it, you may want to hold off on adding the noodles. As the soup sits, the noodles soak up the broth, making it rather thick. You can add more broth when reheating though, so either way works great.

Exact Ingredients

CLICK LINK UNDER ANY PICTURE TO SEE PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD

• 3 cups chicken, cooked and shredded
• 1 can condensed cheese soup (10.75 oz)
• 6-8 cups chicken broth (I use 6)
• 1 cup milk
• 3 stalks celery, chopped
• 2 cups carrots, chopped
• 1 package dry Ranch dressing mix
• 2.25 oz bacon bits (or 1 cup choppedcooked bacon)
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
• 8 oz egg noodles