Tiffany Haney
Chicken noodle soup is a classic comfort food, especially when you're feeling under the weather. It's easy to make in a crock pot, which does all the work for you. You can use a combination of bone-in, skin-on chicken parts, but boneless, skinless chicken breasts are easier. For vegetables, onion, carrots, and celery are a great base, but you can also add fennel, butternut squash, potatoes, zucchini, green beans, or corn. Fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, and a bay leaf add a signature flavour. Simply add all the ingredients to the crock pot, cover, and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8 hours. In the last hour, add the egg noodles and cook until al dente.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Chicken | Boneless, skinless chicken breasts, or chicken with skin and bones |
| Chicken Broth | Low-sodium chicken broth, or chicken stock |
| Vegetables | Onion, carrots, celery, garlic, fennel, butternut squash, potato, zucchini, green beans, corn |
| Herbs | Fresh thyme, dried thyme, dried rosemary, sage, fresh minced parsley, bay leaf |
| Pasta | Egg noodles, ditalini, rotini, rigatoni, fettuccine, or any short pasta |
| Spices | Salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, cayenne, black pepper |
| Oil | Olive oil |
| Cook Time | 3 1/2 hours on high, 5 1/2 hours on low, or until chicken reaches 160ºF (71ºC) |
| Noodle Cook Time | 20-30 minutes on high, or until al dente |
| Serving Suggestions | Biscuits, crusty bread, saltine crackers, or artisan bread |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Chicken options: use fresh, leftover, rotisserie, or bone-in chicken
Chicken noodle soup is a versatile dish that can be made with various chicken options, including fresh, leftover, rotisserie, or bone-in chicken. Here are some detailed instructions on how to prepare this comforting meal in a crock pot using these different chicken options:
Fresh Chicken:
Using fresh chicken is an excellent option for crockpot chicken noodle soup. You can choose between boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs for convenience and ease. Simply add the fresh chicken to your crockpot along with the other ingredients, such as vegetables, herbs, and stock or broth. Set the crockpot to low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. Once the chicken is cooked through, remove it from the crockpot, shred it, and return it to the soup.
Leftover Chicken:
If you have leftover roasted chicken or turkey, you can easily add it to your crockpot chicken noodle soup towards the end of cooking. This is a quick and simple way to incorporate protein into your soup. Simply shred or chop your leftover chicken and add it to the crockpot during the last hour of cooking, along with the noodles.
Rotisserie Chicken:
Rotisserie chicken is a convenient option for crockpot chicken noodle soup. Simply remove the meat from the rotisserie chicken and shred or chop it into bite-sized pieces. Add the chicken to your crockpot along with the other ingredients. Follow the same cooking instructions as you would for fresh chicken.
Bone-in Chicken:
Using bone-in chicken adds flavour to your crockpot chicken noodle soup. You can opt for bone-in chicken breasts or thighs, with or without the skin. Add the bone-in chicken to your crockpot at the beginning of the cooking process, along with the other ingredients. Follow the standard cooking instructions, and once the chicken is cooked, remove the skin and bones before shredding the meat and returning it to the soup.
Remember, when using any of these chicken options, it is important to ensure the chicken is cooked through before shredding and adding it back to the crockpot with the noodles. Adjust your cooking time accordingly, depending on the setting (low or high) and the type of chicken used.
Pan Size Switch: 11 x 9 Equals?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Vegetables: add carrots, celery, onion, and garlic
Chicken noodle soup is a versatile dish that can be made with a variety of vegetables. For a crock pot recipe, carrots, celery, onion, and garlic are a great base.
Start by chopping up the carrots, celery, onion, and garlic into bite-sized pieces. This ensures even cooking and a more cohesive final product. You can also sauté these vegetables in a separate pan before adding them to the crock pot to soften them and bring out their natural sweetness.
Carrots add a subtle sweetness and a burst of colour to the soup. They are a great source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, which boosts immunity and eye health.
Celery brings a refreshing, crisp flavour to the soup. It also adds a satisfying crunch, especially if you chop it into larger pieces. Like carrots, celery is packed with vitamins and minerals, including vitamins B6, C, and K, as well as folate and potassium.
Onion is a staple ingredient in many soups, as it provides a savoury flavour base that enhances the taste of the other ingredients. It also softens during cooking, adding a subtle texture to the soup. Onions are known for their antioxidant content, particularly quercetin, which has anti-inflammatory properties.
Garlic, the final touch to the vegetable base, adds a pungent kick to the soup. It is widely used for its distinct flavour and aroma, contributing to the overall taste experience of the dish. Garlic also boasts potential health benefits due to its organosulfur compounds, which may provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
Together, these vegetables create a nutritious and flavourful foundation for your chicken noodle soup. Feel free to experiment with quantities and additional vegetables to make the recipe your own!
Clue Endings: Do They Measure Up?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Herbs: use rosemary, thyme, and bay leaves
When making chicken noodle soup in a crock pot, adding herbs like rosemary, thyme, and bay leaves can greatly enhance the flavour of the soup. Using fresh herbs is always preferable, but dried herbs can be used if fresh herbs are not available.
Rosemary is a fragrant herb with a woody aroma and a hint of lemon and pine. It is a member of the mint family and is commonly used in Mediterranean cuisine. When using rosemary in your chicken noodle soup, it is best to add it at the beginning of the cooking process to allow its robust flavour to infuse into the broth.
Thyme is another herb that pairs well with chicken noodle soup. It has a subtle, slightly minty flavour with hints of lemon and citrus. Thyme is a versatile herb that can be added at any stage of the cooking process, but it is best to add it towards the end to preserve its delicate aroma.
Bay leaves provide a subtle, complex flavour with hints of pine, lemon, and mint. They pair well with chicken and can be added at the beginning of the cooking process to allow their flavour to infuse into the soup. However, be sure to remove the bay leaves before serving, as they are not meant to be eaten whole.
When using rosemary, thyme, and bay leaves together in chicken noodle soup, it is important to find the right balance to avoid overwhelming the other flavours in the soup. Start with a small amount of each herb and adjust to your taste preferences.
In addition to these herbs, you can also experiment with others like sage or parsley to create your own unique flavour profile for your chicken noodle soup. Remember to add the herbs at the appropriate times during the cooking process to maximise their flavour and aroma.
How to Reseal Your Double Pane Window at Home
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$10.99 $10.99
Broth: use low-sodium chicken broth
Chicken noodle soup is a brothy soup, so it's best to use chicken broth instead of stock. Chicken broth is made from simmering meat, while chicken stock is made from simmering bones, so the latter has a richer flavour and a less clear appearance.
Chicken broth can be quite salty, so it's important to use a low-sodium variety to avoid an overly-salty soup. This will also give you more control over the amount of salt in the dish. You can also use homemade instant pot bone broth for an extra nutritious base.
Once you've added the chicken, vegetables, herbs, and spices to the slow cooker, pour in the low-sodium chicken broth. Cover and cook on a low setting for 5 to 8 hours, or on a high setting for 3 to 4 hours.
After cooking, remove the chicken and shred it, before returning it to the slow cooker. Then, add the egg noodles and cook on high for about 30 minutes, or until the noodles are tender.
If you're planning to refrigerate or freeze your soup, it's best to cook and store the noodles separately, as they will continue to absorb the broth and become very soft.
How to Tile Shower Walls with a Fiberglass Pan?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![Sheet Pan Chicken: 50 Simple and Satisfying Ways to Cook Dinner [A Cookbook]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91eAWgpA7ML._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Noodles: add egg noodles in the last hour of cooking
Noodles are a key ingredient in chicken noodle soup, but it's important to add them at the right time to avoid overcooking. Egg noodles are the most common choice, but any short pasta will work. You can even use up leftover pasta shapes like bowtie or rigatoni. Semolina-based pasta may take a little longer to cook, so bear that in mind.
If you're cooking your soup in a crock pot, the best time to add the noodles is in the last hour of cooking. This will ensure they don't become overly soggy. You can add the dry, uncooked noodles directly to the crockpot, but make sure they are the last ingredient you add. Put the crockpot on a high setting and let it cook the noodles for you. It should take around 30 minutes for the noodles to cook, but keep an eye on them to avoid overcooking.
If you prefer your noodles to be al dente, you can cook them separately on the stovetop and add them to the crockpot when serving. This is also a good option if you're planning to store your soup, as noodles can become very soft when left in the broth.
Finally, if you want a creamier soup, stir in some heavy cream when the noodles have about 15 minutes of cooking time left.
Fixing Drip Pan: Easy DIY Guide for Beginners
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
You will need chicken, vegetables, herbs, and stock. Chicken breast is a popular choice, but you can also use chicken with skin and bones for more flavor. For vegetables, onion, carrots, celery, and garlic are commonly used. Fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves are recommended. Lastly, use low-sodium chicken broth or stock to avoid an overly salty soup.
The cooking time depends on the setting of your crock pot. On a high setting, cook for 3 to 4 hours. On a low setting, cook for 5 to 8 hours. In the last hour of cooking, add in the noodles and cook until al dente.
You can customize your soup by adding more vegetables, such as zucchini, potatoes, or corn. To make it creamy, add heavy cream towards the end of the cooking process. If you are not serving the soup immediately, it is recommended to cook the noodles separately and add them to the soup when serving to prevent them from becoming soggy.
