Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup
Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup blends tender chicken breasts, sautéed onion, carrot, celery, and aromatic herbs in a rich broth thickened with butter and flour, finished with milk and cream. Medium egg noodles added at serving maintain texture and absorb the savory flavors, making a comforting, hearty soup.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. chicken breast about 2 large, boneless, skinless
- 1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil divided
- 1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onion (1 medium)
- 1 1/2 cups carrot 3 carrots, chopped
- 1 1/2 cups celery 3 stalks, chopped
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic 3 cloves
- 4 cups chicken broth can add more to thin near end if desired, low-sodium
- 1 Tbsp chopped thyme or 1 tsp dried, fresh, leaves
- 2 bay leaf
- salt and black pepper
- 1/3 cup butter
- 6 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 cups milk whole
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups egg noodles dry medium
- 3 Tbsp chopped parsley fresh
Instructions
- Heat 1 Tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Pound chicken to an even thickness using a meat mallet then dab chicken dry with paper towels and season both sides with salt and pepper.
- Sear chicken in pot until browned on both sides, about 4 minutes per side (it won't be fully cooked through at this point). Transfer to a plate.
- Heat remaining 1/2 Tbsp olive oil in pot. Add onion, carrot and celery and saute 5 minutes, then add garlic and saute 1 minute longer.
- Add chicken broth, thyme, bay leaves and season with salt and pepper to taste. Add chicken breasts and bring soup to a simmer.
- Reduce heat to low, cover with lid and allow soup to cook until chicken has cooked through, about 5 to 10 minutes longer (cook time will vary depending on thickness of chicken breasts).
- Meanwhile in a medium saucepan melt butter over medium heat, add flour and cook, stirring constantly, 2 to 3 minutes until it's a deeper golden. While whisking slowly add in milk and whisk vigorously to smooth lumps.
- Whisk in cream to milk mixture then bring mixture to a simmer, stirring constantly (scrape bottom edges as well).
- Remove cooked chicken from soup and allow to rest for 5 minutes, then shred into small bite size pieces. Meanwhile add noodles to soup, cover and cook until tender, about 6 to 12 minutes (or according to time on package).
- Turn heat off soup. Pour milk mixture into soup mixture and return shredded chicken to soup. Stir in parsley. Let soup cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- This soup should not be frozen as the dairy can separate and curdle upon thawing.
- Prepare the soup base ahead of time but add the noodles only just before serving to avoid mushy noodles.