Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

Get ready for soup season with this incredibly easy and simple recipe for one-pot Chicken Noodle Soup! We'll show you how to make soup right from your kitchen, starting with prepping fresh vegetables and chicken breast. This easy soup recipe is perfect for dinner and will quickly become a family favourite!

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

• Salt, to season

• 1 tbsp butter (optional, recommended when using chicken breast)

• 1 large white onion, finely diced

• 2 celery stalks, diced

• 4 garlic cloves, finely diced

• 2 carrots, sliced (or 4 small carrots)

• 2 bay leaves

• 3 chicken bouillon cubes

• 8 cups chicken broth

• 1 cup water

• 6 whole cloves

• 1 cinnamon stick (about 7 to 8 cm / 3 inches)

• 1 piece fresh ginger (about 5 cm / 2 inches)

• 1 small bunch fresh thyme

• Black pepper, to taste

• 1½ cups noodles or small pasta of choice

• ½ lemon, juice

• Fresh dill, finely chopped

• Fresh parsley or cilantro, finely chopped

Method

1. Season the chicken breasts with salt. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat and sear the chicken breast until lightly golden on both sides. Remove from the pot and set aside.

2. Add butter to the same pot. Once melted, add the onion and celery. Sauté until the onion turns translucent.

3. Stir in the garlic and cook for another minute until the raw smell disappears.

4. Add bay leaves, and chicken bouillon cubes. Sauté for a minute or two, stirring, until the bouillon begins to dissolve.

5. Now add the cut carrot and saute for a minute.

6. Pour in the chicken broth and water. Place the cloves, cinnamon stick, and ginger into a muslin cloth or spice bag and add it to the pot. Add the bunch of thyme.

7. Return the chicken breasts to the pot. Season with black pepper and allow the chicken to cook for 15 to 20 minutes. 

8. Remove the chicken breasts from the pot, allow them to rest for 2 minutes before shredding them using two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the soup and  bring the soup to a gentle boil.

9. Toss in the noodles or pasta and cook until desired tenderness or as per the instructions on the box.

10. Remove the bay leaves, thyme, and spice bag.

11. To finish it off add the lemon juice, finely chopped fresh dill and parsley or cilantro.

12. Turn off the heat, give the soup a final stir, and serve hot.

Helpful Notes

• If using chicken thighs instead of breasts, you can skip the butter.

• This soup thickens as it sits, so add a splash of broth or water when reheating.