Homemade Leftover Chicken Noodle Soup (2024)

Homemade leftover chicken noodle soup with cuts of carrots and celery, tender pieces of chicken, egg noodles, and seasoned chicken broth.It’s really the best cure-all when you aren’t feeling welland the best part is it’s a one-pot meal!

This is the best chicken noodle soup recipe. When I was younger, the only chicken noodle soup I knew was from a Campbell’s soup can and it was so salty.

I never cared for it until I tried a classic chicken noodle soup recipe with fresh herbs. I make it any time I’m not feeling well.

Chicken noodle soup is not only appreciated for its delicious taste but also for its perceived healing properties, often considered a go-to remedy for colds and illnesses.

The warmth and rich flavor of the broth, the nourishing vegetables, and the protein from the chicken make it a go-to choice for both soothing the soul and providing comfort on those cold nights or when under the weather.

It’s a timeless and versatile comfort food that can be enjoyed as a starter, a light meal, or a bowl of warmth and familiarity. The flavorful broth alone would be tasty if you ever had to be on a clear liquid diet.

I actually made the broth with fresh herbs when I was going to have my first colonoscopy. Just be sure to strain all of the herbs from the liquid before you drink it.

The prep for this dish really easy. All you have to do is pull tender pieces of chicken off the bone and dice the carrots and celery. That’s the bulk of it and it’s pretty simple.

At the grocery store near me, they sell shredded rotisserie chicken in containers for salads, soups, and pasta. It makes the prep that much easier.

Also, if you happen to have a Sam’s Club membership they sell cooked rotisserie chicken for just over $4. For a whole cooked chicken! Take advantage if you are a member.

Ingredients for Leftover Chicken Soup Recipe

• Reduced-Sodium Chicken Broth
• Wide Egg Noodles
• Leftover Rotisserie Chicken or Leftover Roast Chicken, shredded
• Carrots
• Celery
• Olive Oil
• Minced Garlic
• Dried or Fresh Bay Leaf
• Dried or Fresh Oregano
• Dried or Fresh Parsley
• Dried or Fresh Thyme
• Salt

How to Make Leftover Chicken Noodle Soup

• Dice carrots and celery into bite-size pieces.

• Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large pot or Dutch oven. Once hot, add carrots and celery and cook for 7 minutes. Add garlic, bay leaves, oregano, parsley, thyme, and salt. Cook for 30-60 seconds until it becomes fragrant.

• Add broth and leftover chicken meat. Stir ingredients and bring the pot to a boil.

• Add the noodles and reduce heat to medium-high heat. Allow to simmer for 6-7 minutes, or until noodles are al dente. Remove the bay leaves and serve with crackers or bread.

Substitutions

Instant Pot Shredded Chicken:Don’t have any rotisserie chicken? Making shredded rotisserie-style chicken at home is so easy! It makes tender chicken that’s easy to shred with a fork.

Boiled Chicken:If you do not have an Instant Pot to whip up some shredded chicken, this is the easiest and fastest way. I’ve used this method countless times. Boil the chicken breasts in salted water or chicken broth for 15-20 minutes. It’s done when you can easily pull it apart with a fork.

Different Types of Noodles:Wide egg noodles are my personal preference, but they can be replaced with ramen, rice noodles, gluten-free noodles, or whole wheat pasta.

Storage

Refrigerator

Chicken noodle soup lasts in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days in an airtight container.

Freezer

Freezing soups with noodles is not the best idea because the noodles themselves soak up a lot of the liquid and then disintegrate.

1. To freeze chicken noodle soup successfully, make the base of the soup with the chicken, broth, and seasonings as normal, but leave out the egg noodles.
2. Allow it to cool to room temperature.
3. Freeze it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.

Thawing

When preparing to thaw the soup leave it in the refrigerator overnight and into the next day for supper. Once it’s thawed, boil the egg noodles and add them to the soup.

Recommended Recipes

• 50 Best Soups for Cold Weather
• Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup
• Garlic Bread Soup
• Instant Pot Beef Stew
• Leftover Turkey Soup
• Slow Cooker Chicken Marsala

More Main Dishes