Description
Comforting crockpot chicken noodle soup simmers with hearty ingredients, promising warmth from first spoonful. Tender chicken, soft vegetables, and perfectly cooked noodles invite you to savor this classic, soul-soothing meal that feels like a culinary hug.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 lb (450 g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
Vegetables:
- 3 medium carrots, sliced
- 3 celery stalks, sliced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Liquids and Seasonings:
- 8 cups (2 L) chicken broth
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 cups (120 g) egg noodles (or your favorite pasta)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional, for added brightness)
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Nestle the chicken pieces into the crockpot, creating a solid base layer for the soup’s foundation.
- Scatter chopped carrots, diced celery, and minced onion around the chicken, creating a colorful vegetable medley that will infuse rich flavors into the broth.
- Sprinkle minced garlic, fresh parsley, fragrant thyme, and a carefully balanced bay leaf over the ingredients, followed by a judicious pinch of salt and ground black pepper to enhance the overall taste profile.
- Gently pour chicken broth into the crockpot, ensuring all ingredients are completely submerged and will cook evenly, allowing the flavors to meld and develop during the slow cooking process.
- Cover the crockpot and set to low heat, allowing the soup to simmer and develop deep, comforting flavors for several hours until the chicken is tender and easily shreds.
- Once the chicken is cooked through, carefully remove it from the broth and shred using two forks, then return the tender meat back to the soup.
- Add egg noodles during the final 30 minutes of cooking, allowing them to become perfectly soft and absorb the savory broth without becoming mushy.
- Taste and adjust seasoning as needed, ensuring a balanced and delicious final dish that warms both body and soul.
Notes
- Opt for bone-in chicken thighs to enhance the soup’s richness and depth of flavor, as they release more gelatin during slow cooking.
- Select fresh herbs over dried ones to bring a brighter, more vibrant taste to the soup, with parsley adding a wonderful finishing touch.
- Chop vegetables uniformly to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the soup, preventing some pieces from becoming mushy while others remain too firm.
- Consider adding a splash of white wine or a squeeze of lemon juice at the end to brighten the overall flavor profile and cut through the soup’s richness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours (low) or 3-4 hours (high)
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 245
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 21 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg