For those cold, winter days, nothing is better than a large, steaming bowl of soup. Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup is a hearty meal that warm the kitchen and your belly. Make this homemade chicken noodle the soup for your family today.

creamy chicken noodle soup in a bowl

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Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

It’s cold outside! There’s always things to be done outdoors. But what better way to warm those frozen fingers and noses than a big bowl of Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup. This recipe is easy and, with all of the fresh ingredients, it is a meal in and of itself.

This soup is similar to classic chicken noodle soup, except the base is creamier thanks to the addition of the heavy cream. It’s full of flavor and a great way to warm your body and belly.

Why You’ll Love this Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe:

  • SIMPLE INGREDIENTS: The ingredient list may be a bit longer than normal, but they are all easy to find and make one delicious soup.
  • HEARTY MEAL: You can add a side dish to this soup, but it’s a full meal all on it’s own!
  • EASY TO MAKE: Like classic chicken noodle soup, this creamy version is easy to make.

Cozy up next to the fireplace or under your favorite heated blanket with a bowl of Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup that you prepared all on your own. Just like Grandma used to make!

step by step photos for how to make creamy chicken noodle soup
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creamy chicken noodle soup in a bowl

How to Make Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup

You can jump to the recipe card for full ingredients & instructions!

  1. Thaw your chicken ahead of time and pat the meat dry with a paper towel.
  2. Season with salt and pepper.
  3. Pour a small amount of olive oil in the bottom of a stock pot and sear the chicken skin side down until golden brown. Remove the chicken, but leave the drippings.
  4. Add more olive oil.
  5. Add onion and garlic and saute until tender.
  6. Pour one cup of broth into the pot and deglaze the bottom with a wooden spoon. 
  7. In a small bowl, whisk together the milk and the flour until smooth. Pour into the pot, add the remainder of the broth, and stir.
  8. Bring it to a low boil. 
  9. Return the chicken to the pot and add in your carrots, celery, bay leaves, and thyme.
  10. Cover the pot and reduce the heat.
  11. Simmer for about 30 minutes to let the chicken cook the rest of the way. 
  12. Once the chicken is thoroughly cooked and tender, transfer the thighs to the cutting board.
  13. Stir in the noodles and let them cook for 4 minutes or so, until they’re soft.
  14. Remove the chicken meat from the bone and shred the meat. Return the chicken to the pot.
  15. When noodles are tender, stir in the cream, parsley, and lemon juice.
  16. Adjust seasonings. Serve and enjoy.

Recipe Notes

  • Be sure to pat dry the chicken thighs before searing
  • Allow the thighs to cook thoroughly in the soup before deboning. It will be much easier to remove the meat and you won’t be dealing with potentially raw chicken a second time.
  • Fresh parsley will have a pleasant, but subtle herbal flavor in this meal, as opposed to dried parsley which can be hit or miss on flavor quality.
  • Fresh squeezed lemon juice is always better than the store bought bottle of lemon juice. You want the lemon to enhance the overall flavor profile, not over power it.
creamy chicken noodle soup in a pot with a ladle
creamy chicken noodle soup in a bowl
Can I use frozen chicken thighs?

It is not recommended. However, if you do not thaw your chicken ahead of time, be sure to allow for a longer cook time in the soup, before attempting to debone and shred the meat.

What other cuts of chicken can I use for chicken noodle soup?

Dark meats like thighs are preferred. If you don’t have thighs, wings and legs are perfect substitutes. However, if all you have are chicken breasts, then, by all means, go for it!

How long does chicken noodle soup last?

About three days when properly stored in the fridge.

Can I freeze chicken noodle soup?

Yes, you can definitely freeze this soup! A large Tupperware container or gallon sized Ziploc bags are perfect for stowing this away in any freezer.

Serving Suggestions

Everyone loves a big, hearty bowl of chicken noodle soup. This easy recipe is perfect in that it takes old fashioned chicken noodle soup and adds some filler thanks to the milk, flour, and cream. 

ladle of creamy chicken noodle soup
creamy chicken noodle soup in a bowl

Tips!

  • Ensure you have a pot large enough to handle the volume of this soup.
  • If you want to make this dairy free, use coconut cream instead of heavy cream.
  • This soup is best when shared with others! 

This soup is a great way to use leftover chicken and vegetables. You can reduce the cook time by using leftover ingredients that you have on hand.

Can I make this soup with rotisserie chicken?

You can and it will remove the need for many of the steps included in this recipe. You may want to debone the meat from the get go and just let it simmer in the pot. 

What are the best noodles for chicken noodle soup?

Kluski egg noodles are the way to go. These Polish noodles soften easily in any soup.

Can I make this soup in a crockpot?

Most certainly! You won’t be able to sear the meat in the crock pot, so be sure to do that part of the recipe in a frying pan.

More Easy Chicken Recipes We Love

creamy chicken noodle soup in a bowl with a spoon

Despite the time required, this creamy chicken noodle soup is easy to make. Nothing beats a homemade soup that the whole family will love!

More Cozy Soup Recipes to Try:

If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy! You can also jump to recipe.

Recipe Card

Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe

4.65 from 42 votes
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 1 hour
Total: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 6
Author: Becky Hardin
featured creamy chicken noodle soup
For those cold, winter days, nothing is better than a large, steaming bowl of soup. Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup is a hearty meal that warm the kitchen and your belly. Make this homemade chicken noodle the soup for your family today.
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Ingredients 

  • 3 pounds bone-in chicken thighs
  • Kosher salt to taste
  • Black pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large onion diced
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 6 cups chicken broth divided
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ cups carrots sliced
  • 1 ½ cups celery chopped
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 2 cups egg noodles
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley chopped
  • Juice from ½ a lemon

Instructions 

  • Use paper towels to pat the chicken thighs dry. Season them with salt and pepper.
    3 pounds bone-in chicken thighs, Kosher salt, Black pepper
  • In a large stockpot set over medium-high heat, heat 1 tablespoon of oil. Sear the chicken in batches, skin side down, for 3-4 minutes or until golden brown. Remove the chicken from the pot and set aside, leaving the drippings in the pot.
    1 tablespoon olive oil
    seared chicken thighs on a white plate
  • Reduce the heat to medium and add the onion to the pot. Sauté for 4-5 minutes, until tender. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 second until fragrant. Add 1 cup of chicken broth, deglazing the pan with a wooden spoon.
    1 large onion, 3 garlic cloves, 6 cups chicken broth
    sautéed onion and garlic in a pot
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the milk and flour until smooth. Pour it into the pot and stir, then add the rest of the broth and bring it to a low boil.
    1 cup whole milk, 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
    milk and flour mixture added to pot with onion and garlic with a whisk
  • Return the chicken to the pot and add the carrots, celery, bay leaves, and thyme. Cover, reduce the heat, and simmer for 25-30 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
    1 ½ cups carrots, 1 ½ cups celery, 2 bay leaves, 2 sprigs fresh thyme
    chicken soup in a pot
  • Transfer the chicken to a cutting board. Remove and discard the bay leaves and thyme stems.
  • Stir in the noodles, cover, and cook for 3-4 minutes, then remove the pot from the heat.
    2 cups egg noodles
    chicken soup in a pot
  • Debone the chicken, discard the skin and bones, and shred the meat into bite-sized pieces. Return the chicken to the pot.
    shredded chicken added to pot of soup
  • When the noodles are tender, stir in the cream, parsley, and lemon juice. Taste and season if necessary. If desired, adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper.
    ½ cup heavy cream, ¼ cup fresh parsley, Juice from ½ a lemon

Video

Calories: 638kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 37gFat: 44gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gMonounsaturated Fat: 18gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 231mgSodium: 1081mgPotassium: 904mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 6209IUVitamin C: 25mgCalcium: 126mgIron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment!

Meet Becky Hardin

Becky Hardin is a wife and mother living in Saint Louis Missouri. She founded The Cookie Rookie in 2012 as a creative way to share recipes. Now, she is a trusted resource for easy cooking around the world, being featured in Taste of Home, The Kitchn, ABC’s Home and Family, and more. Here at The Cookie Rookie she is the editor in chief of all recipes and continues to enjoy sharing her passion for cooking for busy families. She has since founded two additional food blogs, Easy Chicken Recipes and Easy Dessert Recipes.

4.65 from 42 votes (39 ratings without comment)
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Merima
Merima
October 21, 2022 9:39 pm

Love this recipe! I was lazy and used rotisserie chicken so it didn’t take as long to make and it was still very delicious! My family enjoyed it and I’ll be making it again.5 stars

Courtney Minor
October 24, 2022 9:40 am
Reply to  Merima

That’s great, rotisserie chicken is a great way to speed things up. So happy everyone enjoyed it!

Rosslyn
Rosslyn
January 21, 2022 8:04 am

I made this soup last night and it was awesome! I took your tip and used kluski noodles. I think kluski noodles are so much better than regular egg noodles and will be using them from now on. Thank you for the great tip!5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
January 27, 2022 3:16 pm
Reply to  Rosslyn

Thanks for sharing!!

Carrie
Carrie
January 17, 2022 9:39 pm

I made this recipe today for my husband who is ill and can use the calories. It is absolutely delicious. I didn’t use as many chicken thighs as I had only 4 in my freezer, but that amount was perfect. Alos, I used organic chicken bone broth. I did add some salt at the end. Thank you for this recipe. I will be making it again and again.5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
January 20, 2022 4:28 pm
Reply to  Carrie

Thank you for sharing, Carrie!