Easy 5-ingredient chicken noodle soup recipe for your sick family

Easy chicken noodle soup that is still homemade

In the winter, nothing beats a good homemade chicken noodle soup. It can be hard to find the time to make a pot from scratch, which is why this quick and easy recipe is so good for weeknights or when you are feeling sick. Containing just a few ingredients, most of which you may already have on hand, this recipe is also friendly for your budget.

I first made this recipe during my kids’ naptime as something quick and simple. My husband and I enjoyed it over lunch. We paired a smaller serving with turkey and cheese wraps and were so satisfied with the soup, we skipped the wraps the next day for a bigger bowl. It is really hard to beat comfort food in the winter, and that is definitely what chicken noodle soup is for me.

Recipe with just a few, simple ingredients

I love to keep things simple, keep the shopping list down, and the number of things I need to stack on the counter when cooking. With just 5 main ingredients, this recipe definitely checks all the boxes for me. It is also really convenient that I usually have most, if not all of these things on hand at home. It makes it so I am able to whip this up whenever I get the craving (or the cold!).

Let’s talk about the 5 main ingredients

Bone Broth

The reason I prefer bone broth to stock or standard broth is its hardiness. It comes packed with a lot more flavor and nutrition, which is especially important when you or your family is sick. Also, bone broth has some additional benefits that really make it the preferred choice.

Some say bone broth is anti-aging because of the collagen that is found in the bone when the broth is first boiled down. The process turns this into glycine and glutamine, amino acids that are great for the body. It has also been shown to increase plasma levels and even promote the loss of fat.

Bone broth is also great for the digestive system and gut health, which is a really hot topic lately. Because of the gelatin found in it, water is bound to and helps move food through the digestive system at a better rate.

It is also important to note it is rich in calcium, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus. A lot of these minerals help the body stay hydrated, which is so important both in winter and during the cold season.

Additionally, the marrow itself contains vitamin A, K12, zinc, iron, boron, manganese, selenium, and even omega fatty acids. Talk about a superfood! Most of us could definitely use more of these in our diet, and this is a great soup base to use to make that happen.

Chicken

I personally pick chicken thighs because I like the added flavor and fat, especially for a hardy soup when the family is feeling sick. You can 100% sub this for chicken breast if you are looking for a leaner option. If you want it easy altogether just shred a rotisserie and throw that in and skip the first few steps of the recipe.

Chicken is a great ingredient when you are sick, whether breast, thigh, or both. It is packed full of protein and micronutrients. It is also readily available and budget-friendly making this a great star of the dish.

Cavatappi Noodles

Aren’t they fun? One of the reasons I like Cavatappi over other noodles is just how they look. They really are not different than most other pasta except for their shape and texture. Egg noodles run a close second and are great in this recipe as well! I would stick to thicker, more full-bodied noodles when making this, especially if you plan to store leftovers and reheat them. You want something that is going to stand up to the storage and not get soggy or fall apart.

Adding noodles to the soup simply serves as a carbohydrate and grain to complete the meal, making it more of a comfort food and filling you up when you are feeling sick. You can leave it out completely if you are wanting a more carb-conscious meal, or substitute it with alternative pasta like chickpea or rice noodles. The beauty of this recipe is how versatile and easy it is.

Frozen Veggies

I know, I know, frozen veggies often have a stigma attached to them. I grew up in the Bay Area in California and have to admit I had access to almost anything fresh. It was not often I was served a meal that included frozen veggies so it was new to me when my husband suggested keeping them around.

THEY MAKE THINGS SO EASY!

Not only do I save on shopping and chopping for meals like soups, but flash freezing can actually help food retain MORE nutrients than fresh food. When food is frozen at the source, or shortly after, it does not have to spend all of that time en route to the distributor, store, and eventually to you. All of that time causes some types of vegetables to lose a lot of their original nutritional value.

Plus, if we are looking for quick and easy and/or we have sick people at home, frozen veggies just really help the process along.

I really like this blend. It includes some veggies I would not normally cook with but are great in soup, and I feel good about getting their nutrients in.

Poultry Seasoning

Last but not least, the seasoning. Poultry seasoning just goes well with this and enhances the bone broth and chicken in a way that the soup screams comfort food and homemade. If you like a milder flavor you can use half of the recommended amount, but I urge you to go for it and use it all!

Unlike the other ingredients, which provide essential nutrition and energy to the meal, this one just comes in and flavors the dish up, which is equally important in my opinion.

This is where you can change the dish quite a bit, if you want to, by using other seasonings and altering the flavor profile. I will leave the experimenting to you. Drop me a note below if you try something different and let me know how it goes.

Easy Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe, Step by Step

Now that we went over our main 5 ingredients, it is time to get them cooking in this easy chicken noodle soup recipe. I personally like to start by lining everything up on the counter so I have what I need in front of me.

Prep

There is not a ton of prep that needs to be done here except for the chicken. If you are following the recipe this is when you would cut your chicken thighs into cubes. I get them as close to half an inch as I can, but sometimes I want a little more comfort in my bowl and go for larger chunks. Since you cook them on their own, you really can use whatever size you prefer.

Cooking

Pre-heating the pan is key so you can get a little sear on your chicken and lock in the juices and flavors. I get the heat going in my dutch oven as I chop up the chicken. When I am almost done I eyeball the oil and let it get shiny and transparent in the bottom of the pot.

The chicken itself does not take much attention, just a stir every minute or so once you have added it. You want to make sure it has time to cook through without overcooking, and you should be able to see this as you stir it up.

While this is happening I get a pot of water going to boil my pasta. A lot of people like one-pot meals, and I understand the appeal, however, I really have never been a fan of the pasta cooked right in the dish. The starch has always put me off and added a sort of gummy consistency to everything. You definitely can add your noodles right into step 4, and skip the separate cook completely.

From here it is really very simple!

Once the chicken is cooked you add everything else but the pasta to the pot and bring it to a boil. If you opted for leftover or rotisserie chicken you would just be starting here.

Cook the pasta according to the directions and drain and this should line up about the same time the soup has come to a boil. Simply dump it in, stir, add salt and pepper to taste and you are done! It is as simple as that to make this homemade chicken noodle soup!

Storing leftovers or freezing

This soup will freeze great, but we never make it that far in this house. You can always whip up extra or make a batch just to freeze and have it on hand.

It also keeps well in the refrigerator and makes an even easier leftover meal. The pasta can absorb a lot of the liquid once you store it, and if this happens, you can add a bit of water, broth, or stock. I usually add half bone broth, half water, and heat it on medium-low in a pot on the stove. It does not take too long to heat up!

Since this is such a complete meal, I have found it really does not need to be paired with anything. If you opt for a cup instead of a bowl I would recommend it with a light salad or wrap. Let me know what combo you come up with.

Most importantly, happy cooking and enjoy!