Crock-Pot Chicken Noodle

Homemade chicken noodle soup is already easy to whip up, but tossing all of your ingredients in a slow cooker makes it even easier. (Looking for a healthy chicken noodle soup recipe? We gotchu?)

Do you cook the chicken before putting in the soup?

It's not necessary! Let your slow cooker do the hard work for you :) Add raw boneless skinless chicken breasts to the slow cooker, then let it cook for 6 hours. Once the chicken is tender, remove the breasts from the slow cooker and use two forks to shred the meat. Return the chicken to the slow cooker and stir with the soup.

What can I add to chicken soup to make it more flavorful?

Fresh herbs, garlic, and a bay leaf will help make your soup more flavorful. If you make chicken soup and feel like it's lacking something, this can typically be not enough salt. Finish the soup with a pinch of flaky sea salt, a drizzle of olive oil, and a squeeze of lemon for a brighter, more punchy flavor. If you like spicy food, also consider adding a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne to give the soup some heat.

Do I need to use fresh herbs?

You can definitely use dried thyme and rosemary here, but we love the ease of throwing in fresh sprigs, and the more vibrant flavor of fresh herbs.

What's the best kind of noodles for chicken noodle soup?

While egg noodles are the most common, any short pasta can work. Use it as an opportunity to use up that bowtie or rigatoni that you've had forever. 

Can I freeze chicken noodle soup?

We prefer to freeze the soup without the noodles. The soup itself freezes well and can be reheated whenever the craving hits, but the noodles will get mushy sitting in all of that broth so we'd recommend cooking them off fresh!

Can I make chicken noodle soup in my Instant Pot? Absolutely! See this recipe here.