Description
Hearty crockpot chicken noodle soup brings comfort straight from grandma’s kitchen to your dinner table. Fragrant herbs and tender chicken create a soul-warming meal that wraps you in delicious nostalgia, promising warmth with each perfectly seasoned spoonful.
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
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional, for added brightness)
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Nestle chicken pieces into the bottom of the slow cooker, creating a single layer.
- Scatter chopped carrots, celery, onion, and minced garlic around the chicken, distributing aromatics evenly.
- Sprinkle dried parsley, thyme, and a bay leaf over the vegetables, adding a layer of herbaceous complexity.
- Season with a modest pinch of salt and pepper to enhance the natural flavors.
- Gently pour chicken broth over the ingredients, ensuring everything is completely submerged.
- Secure the lid and allow the soup to simmer on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours until chicken becomes fork-tender.
- Carefully extract the chicken from the liquid and use two forks to shred the meat into bite-sized pieces.
- Remove and discard the bay leaf to prevent any bitter undertones.
- Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and introduce egg noodles into the broth.
- Cook on HIGH for 15-20 minutes until noodles reach perfect al dente consistency.
- Brighten the soup with a splash of lemon juice, adding a subtle tangy dimension.
- Taste and fine-tune seasoning with additional salt and pepper as desired.
- Ladle the steaming soup into serving bowls and garnish with fresh parsley for a pop of color and freshness.
Notes
- Swap chicken thighs for leaner protein options like turkey breast or plant-based alternatives to accommodate different dietary preferences.
- Enhance soup’s nutrition by adding extra vegetables like zucchini, spinach, or kale during the last 30 minutes of cooking for added vitamins and minerals.
- Customize texture by adjusting noodle cooking time – cook less for firmer noodles or longer for softer, more dissolved noodles depending on personal preference.
- Create a gluten-free version by using rice noodles or gluten-free pasta instead of traditional egg noodles, ensuring everyone can enjoy this comforting soup.
- 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: 210
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg