There’s nothing quite like a steaming bowl of chicken noodle soup to warm you from the inside out, and this cozy crockpot version makes it wonderfully simple. Bursting with tender chicken, soft vegetables, and comforting noodles in a savory broth, it’s the ultimate hug in a bowl. This is the kind of meal that feels like home, perfect for a chilly evening or when you just need a little extra comfort.
This slow cooker chicken noodle soup is a timeless classic, elevated by the ease of your trusty crockpot.
Recipe Details
- Flavor Profile: Savory, herbaceous, and deeply comforting.
- Texture: Tender chicken, soft vegetables, yielding noodles, and a rich broth.
- Total Time: Approximately 3.5 to 8.5 hours (mostly hands-off cooking time).
- Active Time: About 20 minutes.
- Difficulty: Easy. Perfect for beginners and busy weeknights.
What You’ll Need
To bring this heartwarming chicken noodle soup to life, you’ll primarily rely on tender chicken, an aromatic medley of vegetables, flavorful herbs, a rich chicken broth, and classic wide egg noodles. The slow cooker does most of the heavy lifting, making this a delightfully simple recipe.
Ingredient Notes
- Chicken – You can use either boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs. Thighs tend to stay a bit more tender and flavorful during the slow cooking process, but breasts work beautifully too.
- Vegetables – The classic trio of carrots, celery, and onion forms the aromatic base of this soup. Don’t skip the garlic; it adds a wonderful depth of flavor.
- Broth – A good quality chicken broth is key to a flavorful soup. Low sodium options are great if you prefer to control the saltiness yourself.
- Herbs – Dried thyme, oregano, and a bay leaf impart classic herby notes that meld perfectly with the chicken and vegetables.
- Noodles – Wide egg noodles are traditional and soak up the broth wonderfully.
Add-ins and Substitutions
While this recipe is perfect as is, you can easily customize it to your liking. For a richer broth, you could use a combination of chicken broth and chicken stock. If you prefer a creamier soup, stir in a splash of heavy cream or half-and-half during the last 10 minutes of cooking, just before adding the noodles. Some fresh dill stirred in with the parsley at the end can add another lovely layer of flavor.
How to Make Cozy Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup
Making this comforting soup couldn’t be simpler, thanks to the magic of your slow cooker. Just toss everything in, let it do its thing, and come back to a delicious, ready-to-serve meal.
- Prep Your Ingredients: Gather all your ingredients. Slice the carrots, dice the celery and onion, and mince the garlic.
- Combine in the Slow Cooker: Place the chicken, sliced carrots, diced celery, diced onion, and minced garlic directly into your slow cooker.
- Add Seasonings and Broth: Sprinkle the dried thyme, dried oregano, bay leaf, salt, and black pepper over the ingredients in the slow cooker. Pour in the chicken broth.
- Cook Low and Slow: Cover the slow cooker and cook on the low setting for 6 to 8 hours, or on the high setting for 3 to 4 hours. You’re looking for the chicken and vegetables to be very tender.
- Shred the Chicken: Once cooked, carefully remove the chicken pieces and the bay leaf from the slow cooker. Place the chicken on a cutting board and shred it using two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the pot.
- Pro Tip: Discarding the bay leaf is important to avoid accidentally biting into it later.
- Add Noodles and Finish: Stir the wide egg noodles into the soup. Cover the slow cooker and cook on the high setting for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until the noodles are tender.
- Serve: Stir in the fresh chopped parsley. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Ladle the hot, comforting soup into bowls and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Vegetable Size: Aim for consistent, bite-sized pieces for your carrots, celery, and onion so they cook evenly.
- Don’t Overcook Noodles: While the slow cooker is forgiving, keep an eye on the noodles during the final cooking stage to ensure they are perfectly tender and not mushy.
- Broth Level: If you prefer a soupier consistency, you can add a little extra chicken broth or water when you add the noodles, just be sure to re-season.
- Flavor Boost: For an even richer flavor, you can sauté the onion, celery, and carrots in a little butter or olive oil in a skillet for about 5 minutes before adding them to the slow cooker. This step is optional but adds a lovely depth.
FAQs
- Can I use frozen chicken? Yes, you can add frozen boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs directly to the slow cooker. You may need to add an extra hour or so to the cooking time on low.
- What if I don’t have fresh parsley? Dried parsley can be used, but it has a less vibrant flavor and color. Add about 1/2 teaspoon of dried parsley along with the other dried herbs in step 2.
- How do I make sure the chicken stays moist? Using chicken thighs generally helps keep the chicken moist, but even with breasts, the slow cooking method helps prevent them from drying out. Shredding it and returning it to the broth also ensures it stays hydrated.
Serving Suggestions
This hearty chicken noodle soup is a complete meal on its own, but it’s also wonderful served with a side of crusty bread for dipping into that flavorful broth. A simple green salad with a light vinaigrette makes a refreshing accompaniment. For a more substantial meal, consider serving it alongside grilled cheese sandwiches or garlic bread.
Make This Recipe in Advance
This cozy crockpot chicken noodle soup is fantastic for meal prepping.
* Prep Ahead: You can chop all your vegetables (carrots, celery, onion, garlic) a day or two in advance and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
* Freezing: Cooked and cooled soup can be stored in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, or frozen for up to 3 months. It’s best to add the noodles just before serving if you plan to freeze portions, as they can become mushy upon thawing and reheating. If you freeze the soup with noodles already in it, they may soften considerably. When reheating, you might want to add a little extra broth or water.
Cozy Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup
- Total Time: 3.5-8.5 hours
- Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
Description
This cozy crockpot chicken noodle soup recipe is wonderfully simple, bursting with tender chicken, soft vegetables, and comforting noodles in a savory broth. It’s the ultimate hug in a bowl, perfect for a chilly evening or when you just need a little extra comfort.
Ingredients
1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
3 medium carrots, sliced into rounds
3 ribs celery, diced
1 medium yellow onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
6 cups chicken broth
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried oregano
1 bay leaf
6 oz wide egg noodles
Salt and black pepper to taste
2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
Put the chicken, carrots, celery, onion, and garlic into your slow cooker.
Sprinkle in the thyme, oregano, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Pour the chicken broth on top.
Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, or on high for 3 to 4 hours, until the chicken and veggies are soft.
Take out the chicken and the bay leaf. Shred the chicken with forks and put it back in the pot.
Add the egg noodles, cover, and cook on high for about 15 to 20 minutes until the noodles are cooked through.
Stir in the fresh parsley, add more salt and pepper if you like, and enjoy your warm soup.
Notes
Aim for consistent, bite-sized pieces for your carrots, celery, and onion so they cook evenly.
While the slow cooker is forgiving, keep an eye on the noodles during the final cooking stage to ensure they are perfectly tender and not mushy.
If you prefer a soupier consistency, you can add a little extra chicken broth or water when you add the noodles, just be sure to re-season.
For an even richer flavor, you can sauté the onion, celery, and carrots in a little butter or olive oil in a skillet for about 5 minutes before adding them to the slow cooker. This step is optional but adds a lovely depth.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 3-8 hours
- Category: Soup
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: N/A
- Fat: N/A
- Carbohydrates: N/A
- Protein: N/A
