Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
**Introduction**
Embrace the kind of comfort only a bowl of Hearty Chicken Noodle Soup can provide. Perfect for those chilly evenings or whenever you need to feel that homely coziness enveloping you. This soup is not only filling and nutritious but also easy to whip up. The best part is, it serves six, making it an ideal dish for family meal times.
**Why Make This Recipe**
Who wouldn’t love a classic chicken noodle soup? It’s a versatile dish, perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a slow-cook weekend comfort food. Plus, it’s packed with vitamins and nutrients from the vegetables, protein from the chicken, and wholesome carbohydrates from the noodles.
**How to Make Hearty Chicken Noodle Soup**
**Ingredients**
– 1 tablespoon Olive oil
– 1 medium Onion, chopped
– 3 cloves Garlic, minced
– 3 medium Carrots, sliced
– 2 Celery stalks, sliced
– Salt and Pepper to taste
– 8 cups Chicken broth
– 2 cups Cooked chicken, shredded
– 2 cups Egg noodles
– 2 tablespoons Fresh parsley, chopped
– 1 teaspoon Dried thyme
– 1 Bay leaf
**Directions**
1. On medium heat, warm olive oil in a large pot.
2. Add onion, garlic, carrots, and celery. Sauté for about 5 minutes until soft.
3. Pour in chicken broth, add salt and pepper, and allow it to reach a boil.
4. Include shredded chicken, egg noodles, parsley, thyme, and the bay leaf in the pot.
5. Reduce the flame and let it simmer for 15 minutes, or until the noodles are tender.
6. Fish out the bay leaf, taste the soup and rectify the seasoning if needed.
7. Serve hot, sprinkling more parsley for garnish if you prefer.
**How to serve Hearty Chicken Noodle Soup**
Surprise everyone by bringing a large soup mold to the table. Serve hot and steamy with a garnishing of fresh parsley for added aesthetics. Freshly baked bread and a simple green salad make the perfect sides for this hearty soup.
**How to store Hearty Chicken Noodle Soup**
This soup stores well in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the fridge. If freezing, do so without the noodles. You can always add cooked noodles when reheating the soup.
**Tips to Make Hearty Chicken Noodle Soup**
– Always opt for low sodium chicken broth to prevent the soup from getting too salty.
– The use of fresh herbs over dried ones gives the soup a fresher and more powerful flavor.
– Sautéing the vegetables before adding the broth enhances the soup’s flavor profile.
**Variations**
For a vegetarian option, replace chicken broth with vegetable broth and the cooked chicken with tofu.
**FAQs**
1. **Can I use something else instead of egg noodles?**
Yes, any type of pasta or even rice would work nicely in this soup.
2. **Can I add other vegetables?**
Absolutely! You can make it even more wholesome by adding more vegetables like peas, corn, or spinach.
3. **Can I use uncooked chicken?**
Yes, but remember to adjust the cooking time accordingly as uncooked chicken would need more time than cooked, shredded chicken.