Description
This Easy Chicken Noodle Soup recipe offers a warm, comforting classic made from scratch using simple ingredients. Tender chicken thighs simmered in a flavorful broth with fresh vegetables, rotini pasta, and aromatic dill create a wholesome and satisfying meal perfect for any day.
Ingredients
Scale
Soup Base
- 8 cups chicken broth (low sodium recommended)
- 6 cups water
- 1 Tbsp sea salt (or to taste)
Chicken
- 4 chicken thighs (skins removed, bone-in or boneless)
Vegetables and Seasonings
- 1 medium onion (finely chopped)
- 2 medium celery sticks (finely chopped)
- 2 carrots (sliced into rings)
- 1 garlic clove (pressed)
- 3 Tbsp fresh or frozen dill
- 1 tsp Mrs. Dash or your favorite salt-free seasoning
Pasta
- 6 oz rotini pasta
Cooking Fat
- 2 Tbsp olive oil (for sautéing vegetables)
Instructions
- Prepare Broth and Cook Chicken: In a large soup pot, combine 6 cups of water, 8 cups of chicken broth, and 1 tablespoon of sea salt. Bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, add the chicken thighs, partially cover, and let simmer for 20 minutes. Skim off any foam that rises to keep the broth clear.
- Sauté Vegetables: While the chicken cooks, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the finely chopped onion and celery, sautéing until they become soft and translucent. Transfer the sautéed vegetables into the soup pot with the broth.
- Add Pasta and Carrots: Add the sliced carrots and 6 ounces of rotini pasta to the soup pot. Reduce heat to maintain a low boil and cook for 15 minutes or until the pasta reaches your desired tenderness.
- Shred Chicken: Remove the chicken thighs from the pot and shred the meat using forks or your hands, discarding bones and any excess fat. Return the shredded chicken to the soup pot.
- Season and Finish: Season the soup with 1 teaspoon of Mrs. Dash or your preferred salt-free seasoning, adjust salt to taste, and press in the garlic clove. Stir in 3 tablespoons of fresh or frozen dill. Remove the pot from heat and serve hot.
Notes
- Using low sodium chicken broth allows you to control the saltiness of the soup better.
- Bone-in chicken thighs add extra flavor, but boneless can be used for convenience.
- You can substitute rotini pasta with other short pasta shapes like elbow macaroni or shells.
- For a quicker version, use pre-cooked shredded chicken and reduce cooking time accordingly.
- Fresh dill enhances the flavor, but frozen dill works well if fresh is unavailable.
- Skimming foam during boiling helps achieve a clear, clean broth.
