Imagine the cozy aroma of simmering chicken, herbs, and fresh vegetables filling your home — that’s the magic of my Easy Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe. It’s the kind of soup that warms your soul and reminds you of home-cooked comfort on a chilly day.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
This recipe isn’t just soup—it’s a hug in a bowl. I’ve made it countless times when friends or family come over, and it’s always a hit. With just a handful of wholesome ingredients and simple steps, you get rich, hearty flavors with minimal effort.
- Effortless Cooking: Toss everything into your crockpot and let it do the work while you carry on with your day.
- Fresh, Real Ingredients: No canned soups here—just fresh veggies, herbs, and chicken that taste amazing.
- Perfect Comfort Food: Warm, nourishing, and comforting, this soup hits the spot every time.
- Flexible & Customizable: Make it your own with easy tweaks to suit your taste or what’s in your fridge.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Every ingredient plays a role in building that classic chicken noodle soup flavor. I always pick fresh onions and carrots for sweetness, hearty celery for a subtle crunch, and good-quality chicken broth for depth. Here’s why each one counts:
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts: They shred easily and stay tender after slow cooking.
- Yellow onion: Adds natural sweetness and aroma that mellows as it cooks.
- Carrots: Bring a gentle sweetness and vibrant color to the soup.
- Celery: Offers a mild, savory crunch and rounds out the vegetable mix.
- Garlic cloves: For that fragrant warmth that makes everything taste homemade.
- Dried thyme and rosemary: Classic herbs that boost the savory depth without overpowering.
- Kosher salt & black pepper: Simple seasonings that bring all the flavors to life.
- Bay leaf (optional): I use it occasionally for a subtle herbal note in the broth.
- Better than Bouillon chicken base: Concentrated flavor that enhances the broth beautifully.
- Reduced sodium chicken broth: I prefer less salt so I can control seasoning later.
- Egg noodles (wide or extra wide): They soak up the broth perfectly and stay tender without turning mushy.
- Fresh parsley: Adds a bright finish and fresh color as garnish.
Make It Your Way
One of the best things about this Easy Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe is how flexible it is. Over the years, I’ve found little tweaks that keep it exciting, so don’t hesitate to adjust based on what you love or what you have on hand.
- Variation: I sometimes swap chicken breasts for thighs because they stay juicier, especially if I’m short on time. Plus, it adds extra richness.
- Vegetable additions: Need to sneak in more veggies? Toss in some frozen peas or zucchini slices during the last 15 minutes for a fresh twist.
- Gluten-free option: Use gluten-free noodles or spiralized zucchini to keep it hearty but friendly for all diets.
- More herbs: Fresh thyme or dill can brighten the flavors even more if you have them fresh on hand.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Easy Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe
Step 1: Layer Your Ingredients
Start by placing the trimmed chicken breasts at the bottom of your 6-quart crockpot. This helps them cook evenly and stay moist. Then pile the diced onions, sliced carrots, celery, garlic, and dried herbs right on top. Adding the Better than Bouillon base before pouring in the broth ensures the flavor disperses perfectly. Give everything a gentle stir—just enough to spread the bouillon but not to mix up the layering too much.
Step 2: Slow Cook Low and Slow
Cover your crockpot and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours. If you’re short on time, HIGH for 3 to 4 hours works, but the flavors really develop best with that slow, low heat. Don’t lift the lid too often—that’s the key to tender chicken and rich broth.
Step 3: Shred the Chicken, Add Noodles
Remove the chicken breasts carefully and shred them with two forks—it’s easy and satisfying. Discard the bay leaf if you used one, then stir the shredded chicken back into the soup. Now, add the egg noodles on top and cook on LOW for another 10 to 15 minutes until they're tender but not mushy. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper before serving.
Top Tip
After making this soup countless times, I've picked up a few tricks that really make a difference. Whether it's getting the chicken perfectly tender or keeping noodles from overcooking, these tips come from real kitchen wins and the occasional “aha” moments.
- Choosing Your Noodles: Use wide egg noodles—they hold up much better in slow cooker soups than thinner ones, which can get mushy fast.
- Timing the Noodles Right: Add the noodles at the very end to prevent them from turning gummy, which was a rookie mistake I made on my first try!
- Shred While Warm: It’s easier to shred the chicken right after cooking when it’s warm and moist—it flakes apart perfectly with just forks.
- Don’t Skip the Bouillon Base: It’s my secret weapon for rich broth without extra salt or additives. Just a little goes a long way.
How to Serve Easy Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe
Garnishes
I always finish my soups with a sprinkle of freshly minced parsley—it adds a lovely pop of color and a bright, fresh flavor that contrasts beautifully with the rich broth. Sometimes I add a dash of cracked black pepper for a little kick. A squeeze of fresh lemon juice can also brighten it up if you want a zesty edge.
Side Dishes
Simple is best here—crusty bread or warm, buttery dinner rolls are my go-to because they help soak up all the savory broth. For something lighter, I like a crisp green salad with a tangy vinaigrette to balance the soup’s comforting richness.
Creative Ways to Present
For a cozy dinner party, I've served this soup in mini bread bowls—a fun twist that everyone loves. You can also garnish with tiny herb sprigs or edible flowers for a pretty touch. It’s great for making things feel special without extra fuss.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I usually store leftovers in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 3 days. The soup flavors deepen overnight, so it actually tastes even better the next day. Just give it a good stir before reheating.
Freezing
This soup freezes really well — I recommend freezing it without the noodles to keep them from getting mushy. When reheating, just cook fresh noodles separately and add them in.
Reheating
To reheat, gently warm the soup on the stove or microwave until heated through. If noodles absorb too much broth, add a splash of chicken broth or water to loosen it up. Stir well to bring back that perfect soup consistency.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! Chicken thighs work wonderfully because they remain juicy and tender during slow cooking. Just adjust cooking time if needed and shred them the same way.
Yes! You can make this soup on the stovetop by simmering all ingredients in a large pot for about 45 minutes to an hour, and adding the noodles at the end until tender.
The key is to add the egg noodles near the end of cooking—let them cook only for 10 to 15 minutes until just tender. Adding them too early causes them to soak up too much liquid and become mushy.
This particular recipe centers on chicken and chicken broth, but you can easily swap chicken with hearty vegetables or tofu and use vegetable broth instead to make a vegetarian version. Keep in mind that the flavor will shift but can be just as satisfying with good seasonings.
Final Thoughts
Honestly, this Easy Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe holds a special place in my kitchen routine. It’s one of those simple meals that never fails to comfort and satisfy, whether it’s for a busy weeknight or a lazy weekend. I’d encourage you to give it a try—it’s a thousand times better homemade than anything from a can, and truly one of those dishes that makes your house feel like home.
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Easy Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours 15 minutes
- Total Time: 8 hours 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Soup
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Description
This homemade crockpot chicken noodle soup is a hearty and comforting dish made with tender chicken breasts, fresh vegetables, and wide egg noodles simmered in a flavorful chicken broth. Perfect for an easy, nourishing meal that warms you up on chilly days.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed of excess fat
- 1 medium to large yellow onion, diced
- 3 large carrots, peeled and sliced into circles
- 2 stalks celery, sliced
- 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary leaves
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 bay leaf (optional)
- 2 teaspoon Better Than Bouillon base, chicken flavor
- 9 cups reduced sodium chicken broth
- 8 oz egg noodles (wide or extra wide)
- fresh parsley, minced (for garnish)
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Add Ingredients to Slow Cooker: Place the trimmed chicken breasts at the bottom of a 6-quart or larger slow cooker. Top with diced onion, sliced carrots, sliced celery, minced garlic, dried thyme, dried rosemary, kosher salt, black pepper, and bay leaf if using.
- Add Bouillon and Broth: Dollop the Better Than Bouillon chicken base over the top and pour in the reduced sodium chicken broth. Gently stir to combine ingredients. Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on LOW for 8 hours.
- Shred Chicken: Remove the cooked chicken breasts from the slow cooker and transfer to a large mixing bowl. Shred the chicken using two forks. Discard the bay leaf from the slow cooker and return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker.
- Cook Noodles: Add the egg noodles to the slow cooker and stir to combine. Cover and cook on LOW for 15 minutes or until the noodles are tender.
- Season and Serve: Taste the soup and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Serve warm, garnished with minced fresh parsley and an optional sprinkle of black pepper.
Notes
- This soup is best made in a slow cooker or crockpot for hands-off cooking and deep flavor development.
- Use wide or extra wide egg noodles for the best texture in the soup.
- Feel free to add extra vegetables like peas or corn toward the end of cooking for additional nutrition.
- If you prefer a thicker broth, you can stir in a slurry of cornstarch and cold water during the last 10 minutes of cooking.
- Leftover soup can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 175 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 245 mg
- Fat: 1 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 31 mg
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