Welcome to my kitchen! Today, we’re starting the joyous journey of crafting homemade chicken noodle soup from scratch. And this isn’t your run-of-the-mill soup, believe me!
Imagine a dish, an embodiment of coziness that’s been our ally on cold winter evenings, our soothing balm on days when life’s not playing nice. Picture a soup that’s like a culinary postcard from home, brimming with love and care, akin to a warm embrace served in a bowl.
As we navigate this Finding Sanity recipe, I’ll be your compass, guiding you through every twist and turn. Starting from the quest for premium ingredients to the dance of flavors in the pot, we’ll uncover every secret together.
We’ll chat about supercharging the taste, about smart hacks to cook quicker without trading off the flavor, and the finest ways to preserve this traditional delight.
Novice or a kitchen wizard, it doesn’t matter. As you reach the finale of this post, you’ll find yourself armed with everything you need to cook up a storm, bringing to life a delectable homemade chicken noodle soup. So, shall we begin our culinary adventure?
Essentials for Your Soup Making
The magic of any dish lies in the quality of its ingredients, and our beloved chicken noodle soup is no exception. To embark on our soup making adventure, we’ll need some humble, yet flavor-packed ingredients.
Our hero here is the chicken! I suggest rotisserie for its convenience and added flavor, but any leftover chicken will work just as well.
To accompany our chicken, we’ll need a duo of diced carrots and celery stalks, the backbone of any good soup, providing a sweet, earthy base. Add to that some minced garlic for a hint of pungency, and our flavor foundation is set.
To bring it all together, we’ll need chicken broth, creating a rich, savory liquid in which our ingredients will simmer and mingle. And of course, let’s not forget the star of our dish, the noodles! For this recipe, we’ll use broken-up spaghetti noodles, their slender and delicate texture perfect for our homemade soup.
We’ll season it simply but effectively with salt and freshly ground black pepper. It’s time to start cooking now that we have acquired all of our necessary ingredients.
Chicken Noodle Soup Ingredients
- Medium carrots – sliced or diced.
- Celery stalks – sliced or diced.
- Garlic, – minced for zesty undertone.
- Chicken broth – stock would be fine too.
- Spaghetti noodles Broken up – Other pasta will work too.
- Chicken Rotisserie – Makes this recipe easy.
- Salt and Black Ground Pepper.
A Step-by-step Guide to Chicken Noodle Soup
Step 1: Heat the Soup Pot
Let’s begin by bringing a soup pot to a simmer over a medium-high burner. All of our ingredients will be combined at this point to produce a flavorful medley.
Step 2: Cook the Vegetables
The diced carrots and celery should be added once your saucepan is hot. Allow them to soften for 3 to 4 minutes while stirring occasionally. This process will help release the natural sweetness of the vegetables, forming a flavor-rich base for our soup.
Step 3: Pour in the Chicken Broth
Next, we’ll introduce the chicken broth to the pot. As it meets the softened vegetables, the broth will start to boil, creating a hot, flavorful bath ready for the remaining ingredients.
Step 4: Season the Soup
Now, it’s time to add the salt and pepper, our simple yet essential seasonings. Stir them in to evenly distribute throughout the broth, enhancing the overall taste of our soup.
Step 5: Add the Noodles
With our broth seasoned and boiling, we can now add the broken-up spaghetti noodles. These will need around 8 minutes to cook, but don’t wander too far, they’ll need a stir now and then.
Step 6: Let the Soup Rest
Once your noodles have fully cooked, it’s time to move the pot off your stove, letting your soup take a breather.
While it rests, those noodles will keep on soaking up that tasty broth, getting softer until they hit that sweet spot. This marks the finish line for our DIY chicken noodle soup.
Walking through this process might look like a piece of cake. However, it’s this very straightforwardness that lets the authentic taste of each ingredient step into the spotlight.
Choosing the Right Noodles
The secret to an amazing chicken noodle soup? Believe it or not, it’s all about the noodles. The type you pick plays a huge role.
Take our recipe as an example, we went with crumbled spaghetti noodles. Why? They’re tender and balance well with the robust flavor of the chicken and soup broth.
Yet, don’t forget, the noodle universe is wide-ranging and adaptable. Switching up your noodle choice can put a fresh spin on your soup.
Have you tried egg noodles? They’re a crowd favorite in chicken noodle soup recipes. Beloved for their slightly rich taste and a sturdy texture that provides a satisfying bite to your soup.
Then again, perhaps gluten-free is more your speed? If that’s the case, consider rice noodles. They’re airy, easy on the stomach, and they bring a charming clarity to the soup’s appearance.
Are you a whole-grain enthusiast? Try whole wheat noodles. They introduce a pleasing earthy flavor to the soup, and they come with a bonus: they’re filled with nutrients.
Picking the perfect noodle can turn your soup from just “okay” to “wow, this is the best!” Remember though, the noodle you like most will always make your soup truly shine.
Tips to Creating the Ultimate Chicken Noodle Soup
Achieving the best chicken noodle soup isn’t a matter of chance; it’s an art. A few thoughtful practices can turn your good soup into a great one. Here are a few tips to help you master this comforting dish.
Use Quality Chicken Broth
The broth is the soul of the soup. A quality chicken broth will provide a rich, full-bodied flavor that forms the base of your soup. If possible, homemade is always best, but there are plenty of good store-bought options available, too.
Don’t Rush the Vegetables
When sautéing your vegetables, take your time. Let them soften slowly to release their natural sweetness. This process, known as sweating the vegetables, is a crucial step to developing a deep flavor base.
Mind Your Noodles
A word of caution: Don’t overcook your noodles! They ought to be delicate but still have a little amount of bite, ideally.
Consider boiling the noodles separately and adding them to individual plates if you anticipate having leftovers. In this manner, they won’t go mushy when the soup is reheated.
Season to Taste
Though the recipe we’ve provided certainly offers precise measurements for salt and pepper, don’t be afraid to tinker with these to suit your own palate!
You know what they say: once it’s in, you can’t take it out! Hence, start modestly, sample, and tweak to your heart’s content.
Preparation and Storage Hacks for Your Soup
Preparing and storing chicken noodle soup can be made easier with a few handy tricks.
Make Ahead for Busy Days
Chicken noodle soup is a dish that often tastes even better the next day as the flavors meld together. To save time on busy days, consider making a big batch in advance.
Simply refrigerate it and reheat portions as needed throughout the week. This way, you’ll have a comforting meal ready to enjoy with minimal effort.
Proper Storage for Freshness
It’s crucial to carefully preserve the soup if you intend to keep it for a longer time. Before transferring the soup to an airtight container or freezer-safe bags, let it cool fully.
Label and date them to keep track of freshness. Properly stored, chicken noodle soup can last in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Thawing and Reheating
When you’re ready to enjoy your frozen chicken noodle soup, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight.
To reheat, gently warm it on the stove top over low heat, stirring occasionally, until it reaches your desired temperature. This gradual reheating will help maintain the integrity of the flavors and textures.
Customize Your Soup
Chicken noodle soup is a versatile canvas that allows for customization. Feel free to add other ingredients such as cooked vegetables, herbs, or even a splash of lemon juice for a bright, zesty kick. Get creative and make it your own!
Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
Ingredients
- 2 Medium carrots, sliced or diced
- 2 Celery stalks, sliced or diced
- 1 Clove garlic, minced
- 8 Cups Chicken broth
- 3 Cups Spaghetti noodles Broken up
- 2 Cups Chicken Rotisserie
- 1 Tsp Salt
- 1/2 Tsp Black Ground Pepper
- 1 Tsp Olive Oil
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat.
- Add diced carrots and celery, cook for 3–4 minutes until softened, stirring occasionally.
- Add the garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds.
- Pour in chicken broth, bring to a boil.
- Now, add in the salt and pepper.
- Add spaghetti noodles or your favorite, cook for about 8 minutes, or until al dente.
- Remove from heat and let the noodles soak until tender.
- Add the broken up rotisserie chicken pieces.
- Taste and add more salt or pepper should you desire.
- Serve and enjoy!
