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Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup from Scratch

Rich golden broth made from a whole chicken, with tender chicken and egg noodles — worth every minute.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 5 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Soup
Cuisine: American
Calories: 280
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the from-scratch broth
  • 1 ​ whole chicken (3.5-4 lbs), giblets removed
  • 10 cups cold water ​
  • 2 large carrots roughly chopped
  • 2 stalks celery roughly chopped
  • 1 large onion quartered (skin on)
  • 4 cloves garlic smashed
  • 3 ​ bay leaves ​
  • 1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns ​
  • ​ ​ a few thyme sprigs ​
For the soup
  • 3 medium carrots sliced into 1/4-inch coins
  • 3 stalks celery sliced
  • 1 large yellow onion diced
  • 2 tablespoons butter or olive oil ​
  • 8 oz wide egg noodles ​
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice ​
  • ​ ​ salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste ​

Equipment

  • large stockpot (at least 8 quarts) ​

Method
 

  1. Start the broth: place whole chicken in stockpot, cover with 10 cups cold water. Add carrots, celery, onion, garlic, bay leaves, peppercorns, thyme.
  2. Simmer low and slow: bring to a gentle boil, reduce to the barest simmer. Skim foam in first 20 minutes. Simmer 1 hour 15 minutes until chicken is fall-apart tender.
  3. Strain: lift out chicken; strain broth through fine-mesh strainer; discard vegetables.
  4. Shred the chicken: pull meat from bones, discard skin and bones; shred into bite-sized pieces.
  5. Sauté vegetables: melt butter, cook onion, carrots, celery 6-7 minutes.
  6. Build the soup: pour strained broth back in, bring to gentle boil, add noodles, cook 8-10 minutes.
  7. Finish: stir in chicken, parsley, lemon juice; simmer 2 minutes; season boldly with salt and pepper.

Notes

Never let the broth boil hard — the barest lazy simmer gives crystal-clear golden broth.
Nutrition per serving: Calories 280, Protein 24g, Carbohydrates 24g, Fat 8g, Fiber 2g, Sugar 3g, Sodium 600mg.