Description
Hearty crockpot chicken noodle soup combines classic comfort with effortless slow-cooking techniques. Home cooks appreciate this simple, nourishing meal that warms hearts and satisfies hunger with minimal preparation.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 8 cups (2 L) chicken broth
- 2 cups (120 g) egg noodles (or your favorite pasta)
- 3 medium carrots, sliced
- 3 celery stalks, sliced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tsps dried parsley
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tbsp lemon juice (optional, for added brightness)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Layering Foundation: Arrange chicken pieces in the crockpot, creating a solid base for the soup’s flavor development.
- Vegetable Integration: Distribute chopped carrots, diced celery, and minced onion around the chicken, ensuring even flavor infusion and aromatic complexity.
- Seasoning Preparation: Sprinkle minced garlic, fresh parsley, thyme, and a bay leaf over the ingredients, complementing with salt and ground black pepper to elevate the taste profile.
- Liquid Incorporation: Pour chicken broth into the crockpot, completely covering all ingredients to promote uniform cooking and flavor melding.
- Slow Cooking Process: Cover and set crockpot to low heat, allowing the soup to simmer for several hours until chicken becomes fork-tender and easily shreddable.
- Meat Preparation: Extract chicken from broth, shred using two forks, then return the tender meat back to the soup, ensuring distributed protein throughout.
- Noodle Finalization: Introduce egg noodles during the final 30 minutes of cooking, allowing them to absorb the rich broth while maintaining perfect texture.
Notes
- Optimize Chicken Placement: Arrange chicken pieces in a single layer without overcrowding to ensure even cooking and maximum flavor absorption.
- Prevent Noodle Overcooking: Add egg noodles only in the last 30 minutes of cooking to maintain perfect texture and prevent soggy, mushy noodles.
- Enhance Flavor Depth: Use fresh herbs instead of dried whenever possible for more vibrant, robust taste profiles that elevate the soup’s overall quality.
- Customize Dietary Needs: Easily adapt the recipe by substituting regular egg noodles with gluten-free alternatives or using shredded rotisserie chicken for a quicker preparation method.
- 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: 5
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg