By Becky Hardin
Published Jan 17, 2022
For those cold, winter days, nothing is better than a large, steaming bowl of soup. Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup is a hearty meal that warm the kitchen and your belly. Make this homemade chicken noodle the soup for your family today.
Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
It’s cold outside! There’s always things to be done outdoors. But what better way to warm those frozen fingers and noses than a big bowl of Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup. This recipe is easy and, with all of the fresh ingredients, it is a meal in and of itself.
This soup is similar to classic chicken noodle soup, except the base is creamier thanks to the addition of the heavy cream. It’s full of flavor and a great way to warm your body and belly.
Why You’ll Love this Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe:
- SIMPLE INGREDIENTS: The ingredient list may be a bit longer than normal, but they are all easy to find and make one delicious soup.
- HEARTY MEAL: You can add a side dish to this soup, but it’s a full meal all on it’s own!
- EASY TO MAKE: Like classic chicken noodle soup, this creamy version is easy to make.
How to Make Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup
You can jump to the recipe card for full ingredients & instructions!
- Thaw your chicken ahead of time and pat the meat dry with a paper towel.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Pour a small amount of olive oil in the bottom of a stock pot and sear the chicken skin side down until golden brown. Remove the chicken, but leave the drippings.
- Add more olive oil.
- Add onion and garlic and saute until tender.
- Pour one cup of broth into the pot and deglaze the bottom with a wooden spoon.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the milk and the flour until smooth. Pour into the pot, add the remainder of the broth, and stir.
- Bring it to a low boil.
- Return the chicken to the pot and add in your carrots, celery, bay leaves, and thyme.
- Cover the pot and reduce the heat.
- Simmer for about 30 minutes to let the chicken cook the rest of the way.
- Once the chicken is thoroughly cooked and tender, transfer the thighs to the cutting board.
- Stir in the noodles and let them cook for 4 minutes or so, until they’re soft.
- Remove the chicken meat from the bone and shred the meat. Return the chicken to the pot.
- When noodles are tender, stir in the cream, parsley, and lemon juice.
- Adjust seasonings. Serve and enjoy.
Recipe Notes
- Be sure to pat dry the chicken thighs before searing
- Allow the thighs to cook thoroughly in the soup before deboning. It will be much easier to remove the meat and you won’t be dealing with potentially raw chicken a second time.
- Fresh parsley will have a pleasant, but subtle herbal flavor in this meal, as opposed to dried parsley which can be hit or miss on flavor quality.
- Fresh squeezed lemon juice is always better than the store bought bottle of lemon juice. You want the lemon to enhance the overall flavor profile, not over power it.
It is not recommended. However, if you do not thaw your chicken ahead of time, be sure to allow for a longer cook time in the soup, before attempting to debone and shred the meat.
Dark meats like thighs are preferred. If you don’t have thighs, wings and legs are perfect substitutes. However, if all you have are chicken breasts, then, by all means, go for it!
About three days when properly stored in the fridge.
Yes, you can definitely freeze this soup ! A large Tupperware container or gallon sized Ziploc bags are perfect for stowing this away in any freezer.
Serving Suggestions
- Bread and butter
- Fresh fruit with cream cheese dip
- Crackers, saltine or Ritz
Everyone loves a big, hearty bowl of chicken noodle soup. This easy recipe is perfect in that it takes old fashioned chicken noodle soup and adds some filler thanks to the milk, flour, and cream.
Tips!
- Ensure you have a pot large enough to handle the volume of this soup.
- If you want to make this dairy free, use coconut cream instead of heavy cream.
- This soup is best when shared with others!
This soup is a great way to use leftover chicken and vegetables. You can reduce the cook time by using leftover ingredients that you have on hand.
Can I make this soup with rotisserie chicken?
You can and it will remove the need for many of the steps included in this recipe. You may want to debone the meat from the get go and just let it simmer in the pot.
What are the best noodles for chicken noodle soup?
Kluski egg noodles are the way to go. These Polish noodles soften easily in any soup.
Can I make this soup in a crockpot?
Most certainly! You won’t be able to sear the meat in the crock pot, so be sure to do that part of the recipe in a frying pan.
More Easy Chicken Recipes We Love
- Chicken and Dumplings
- Chicken Marsala
- Chicken Caccatorie
- White Chicken Lasagna
Despite the time required, this creamy chicken noodle soup is easy to make. Nothing beats a homemade soup that the whole family will love!
More Cozy Soup Recipes to Try:
- Lasagna Soup
- Chicken Mac and Cheese Soup
- Chicken Soup
- Crockpot Turkey Noodle Soup
- Broccoli Cheese Soup
- Italian Wedding Soup
- Swedish Meatball Soup
If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy!
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 3 pounds bone-in chicken thighs
- ▢ Kosher salt to taste
- ▢ Black pepper to taste
- ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ▢ 1 large onion diced
- ▢ 3 garlic cloves minced
- ▢ 6 cups chicken broth divided
- ▢ 1 cup whole milk
- ▢ 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ▢ 1 ½ cups carrots sliced
- ▢ 1 ½ cups celery chopped
- ▢ 2 bay leaves
- ▢ 2 sprigs fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ▢ 2 cups egg noodles
- ▢ ½ cup heavy cream
- ▢ ¼ cup fresh parsley chopped
- ▢ Juice from ½ a lemon
Video
Instructions
- Use paper towels to pat the chicken thighs dry. Season them with salt and pepper. 3 pounds bone-in chicken thighs, Kosher salt, Black pepper
- In a large stockpot set over medium-high heat, heat 1 tablespoon of oil. Sear the chicken in batches, skin side down, for 3-4 minutes or until golden brown. Remove the chicken from the pot and set aside, leaving the drippings in the pot. 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Reduce the heat to medium and add the onion to the pot. Sauté for 4-5 minutes, until tender. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 second until fragrant. Add 1 cup of chicken broth, deglazing the pan with a wooden spoon. 1 large onion, 3 garlic cloves, 6 cups chicken broth
- In a small bowl, whisk together the milk and flour until smooth. Pour it into the pot and stir, then add the rest of the broth and bring it to a low boil. 1 cup whole milk, 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- Return the chicken to the pot and add the carrots, celery, bay leaves, and thyme. Cover, reduce the heat, and simmer for 25-30 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and tender. 1 ½ cups carrots, 1 ½ cups celery, 2 bay leaves, 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- Transfer the chicken to a cutting board. Remove and discard the bay leaves and thyme stems.
- Stir in the noodles, cover, and cook for 3-4 minutes, then remove the pot from the heat. 2 cups egg noodles
- Debone the chicken, discard the skin and bones, and shred the meat into bite-sized pieces. Return the chicken to the pot.
- When the noodles are tender, stir in the cream, parsley, and lemon juice. Taste and season if necessary. If desired, adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper. ½ cup heavy cream, ¼ cup fresh parsley, Juice from ½ a lemon
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 pounds bone-in chicken thighs
- Kosher salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion diced
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 6 cups chicken broth divided
- 1 cup whole milk
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups carrots sliced
- 1 ½ cups celery chopped
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 cups egg noodles
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup fresh parsley chopped
- Juice from ½ a lemon
Instructions
- Use paper towels to pat the chicken thighs dry. Season them with salt and pepper. 3 pounds bone-in chicken thighs, Kosher salt, Black pepper
- In a large stockpot set over medium-high heat, heat 1 tablespoon of oil. Sear the chicken in batches, skin side down, for 3-4 minutes or until golden brown. Remove the chicken from the pot and set aside, leaving the drippings in the pot. 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Reduce the heat to medium and add the onion to the pot. Sauté for 4-5 minutes, until tender. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 second until fragrant. Add 1 cup of chicken broth, deglazing the pan with a wooden spoon. 1 large onion, 3 garlic cloves, 6 cups chicken broth
- In a small bowl, whisk together the milk and flour until smooth. Pour it into the pot and stir, then add the rest of the broth and bring it to a low boil. 1 cup whole milk, 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- Return the chicken to the pot and add the carrots, celery, bay leaves, and thyme. Cover, reduce the heat, and simmer for 25-30 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and tender. 1 ½ cups carrots, 1 ½ cups celery, 2 bay leaves, 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- Transfer the chicken to a cutting board. Remove and discard the bay leaves and thyme stems.
- Stir in the noodles, cover, and cook for 3-4 minutes, then remove the pot from the heat. 2 cups egg noodles
- Debone the chicken, discard the skin and bones, and shred the meat into bite-sized pieces. Return the chicken to the pot.
- When the noodles are tender, stir in the cream, parsley, and lemon juice. Taste and season if necessary. If desired, adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper. ½ cup heavy cream, ¼ cup fresh parsley, Juice from ½ a lemon
Video
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
