Cold Fighting Chicken Noodle Soup
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The most soothing, comforting soup for flu season! So easy to make, you’ll be feeling better in no time!
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As flu season is among us, this chicken soup has been an absolute god-send. The veggies and garlic, ginger, lemongrass, lemon juice combo here does absolute wonders and has you feeling better and back on your feet in no time. It’s just so darn cozy and soothing, and it just warms your soul in so many ways.
why i love cold fighting chicken noodle soup
- Best kind of shortcut chicken soup that doesn’t require an entire chicken or hours of simmering
- Nourishing, brothy, soothing and satisfying even when I’m not sick
- Packed with so many cozy, healing, anti-inflammatory ingredients
- Amazingly freezer-friendly, perfect to have it ready to go next time I’m feeling under the weather
tips and tricks for success
- Use good-quality stock. The better quality your stock, the better your soup. Many brands love to pack in the salt so always opt for unsalted or a lower-sodium variety. Homemade stock is even better.
- Use ginger and lemongrass. Ginger and lemongrass are a powerhouse for colds. Both have anti-inflammatory properties, soothing sore throats and alleviating cold symptoms.
- Fresh herbs are best. Although you can certainly substitute dried herbs, fresh herbs are ideal here, delivering the best kind of flavor.
- Add freshly squeezed lemon juice. Lemon juice will elevate your chicken noodle soup, adding a fresh, bright flavor and balancing out all the saltiness and richness of the soup.
more chicken noodle soup recipes
Tools For This Recipe
Dutch oven
Cold Fighting Chicken Noodle Soup: Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, chicken breasts can absolutely be used here but chicken thighs have more dark meat and a higher fat content which will yield juicier, more flavorful chicken.
If you cannot find fresh lemongrass, lemongrass paste will do wonders here.
Absolutely! But because dried herbs are often more potent/concentrated than fresh herbs, you need less when using dry. The correct ratio is 1 tablespoon fresh herbs to 1 teaspoon dried herbs.
Orzo, rotini or even elbow macaroni are great subs for the ditalini pasta.
Yes! You can freeze the leftovers without the pasta (or else they will get mushy) in individual freezer bags, thaw overnight, and reheat on the stovetop, adding freshly cooked pasta when serving.
Cold Fighting Chicken Noodle Soup
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 carrots, peeled and diced
- 2 ribs celery, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
- 1 tablespoon minced lemongrass
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
- 5 cups chicken stock
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- ¾ cup ditalini pasta
- 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
Equipment
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, carrots and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 3-4 minutes.
- Stir in garlic, ginger, lemongrass, thyme and rosemary until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
- Stir in chicken stock, bay leaves and 1 cup water. Add chicken and bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer, covered, until the chicken is cooked through, about 10-12 minutes. Remove chicken and shred, using two forks; set aside.
- Stir in pasta and cook until tender, about 8-10 minutes.
- Stir in chicken and lemon juice; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Serve immediately, garnished with chives, if desired.
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I needed a relatively quicker than usual yet still hearty recipe for chicken soup for a sick kid. Ummm… this is the best thing I’ve made all month, probably. I had a cup for myself without pasta, or salt and pepper and it was amazing. I will make this again and again.
I found this recipe in 2018 and have been making it ever since! My husband gets sore throats a lot and whenever he’s sick, I make this soup and he loves it. It’s the most comforting thing when you’re sick and it’s packed with flavor!
Can you freeze it? I do – but freeze it without the pasta!
Otherwise, the pasta gets soggy and soaks up all the broth. I just add and cook the pasta while I’m heating up the soup.
Thanks for this great recipe!
My favorite soup recipe ever! The absolute perfect amount of brightness in a salty classic.
I came across your recipe last year when one of my littles was sick! We ended up eating the whole pot that night! This soup helped us all through winter! Now one of my littles is sick again with a fever, and we’ve all had a cough for a few weeks! First thing that came to mind was making your soup!!! Not an hour after eating and I’m having coughing fits and sinus drainage…..which although annoying is just what I need to get this cough to go away! Plus my littles have both also been having healing symptoms! We have leftovers for tomorrow and I prepped for an additional 2 pots for next time we need help getting back on the mend!!I I just love how balanced this is, and the lemon juice at the end totally brings it all together! I tend to use ginger and lemongrass paste, and add some chicken bullion paste!! Other than that and Salt/Pep there is no reason to add anything as this is the perfect soup!
I ate the entire pot of soup myself
So yummy! How would I freeze this or does it freeze well? I’d love to have this on hand for when we get sick like we are right now and I need a healthy soup!
This is great! I cooked a whole chicken all night in the crockpot (I’m a believer some of the healing qualities come from the bone marrow too) and wanted a new chicken soup idea. This was perfect. The lemongrass, ginger and lemon were an interesting twist that gave the soup a little punch without losing that delicious traditional comfort chicken soup I crave. I didn’t have fresh ginger so I used a little dried/ground. I also prefer the wide noodles for that more traditional comfort food feeling. I added some of my stewed chicken broth with the store-bought and poof… delicious homemade healing chicken soup that checks all the boxes. My daughter (the one who is currently sick) loved it too and said the recipe is a keeper! I’ll probably be making a second batch tomorrow. I will probably make step 1 & 2 and freeze some.
This soup looks good and easy to make. I am currently sick though, and even this easy recipe is too daunting at the moment. Is this a recipe that will freeze well for the next time I find myself in this precarious position?
Wow this soup is everything. We are recovering from COVID and this soup is literally giving me life again! And simple enough that my boyfriend could make it while I was down for the count! Thank you!
Simply the best. This was the best chicken soup reciepe that I have tried. I could not stop from eating it. It made me sweat alot and I felt a whole lot better. I am not out of the woods yet, but this soup is spot on. I made it for me and my husband, we both were sick.
Thanks so much!!
Thank you for sharing your fabulous soup recipe! I already feel better!
My teenage son was sick with a throat infection and had difficulty eating and swallowing. I made this soup and he absolutely loved it, asking if I could save this recipe to make again. I’m not one for chicken soup but this was great!
So good!! The only thing I skipped was fresh rosemary because the store didn’t have it and I added a little bit of parmesan to my serving right before eating.
I made this today, I used 4 boneless chicken thighs and 2 bone in thigh cutlets ( for extra flavour). I browned the chicken in the pot first, removed the chicken then did the onion, carrot and celery in the chicken juices. The rest was followed as per recipe.
I sent 2 bowls over to my in-laws who have Covid. Only about 250 calories per bowl. This soup will be a regular.
The first time I made this recipe was last year, and my big fussy kids have just gotten sick and have all requested this particular soup ! Absolutely love it !! Have just started my second batch
The best soup when you are sick. Absolutely delicious.
Mine is simmering on the oven, hubby is sick and « requested » a chicken soup. I googled and your recipe sounded good and all ingredients on hand. I literally followed the recipe….. I just had a taste and it’s already yummy without the lemon.
Will save the recipe in my folder and bookmark your website.
5 stars from me
Made this for a friend sick with cold and flu, she was amazed how it cleared up for blocked nose! I boiled the raw chicken and used the broth as chicken stock, which saved so much time. Thank you for sharing this recipe 🙂
Excellent recipe!! Our substitutions were that we used lemongrass paste and ginger paste, along with rotisserie chicken. It was so good we are making a second batch for dinner tonight since I’m fighting off a nasty cold, and my son is just getting over a sinus infection.
Your recipes never disappoint!
Thank you
Every time we are sick we make this soup and somehow it cures us! It’s so tasty and everyone loves it! 100000000/10
The flavors of this broth are so yummy and soothing. Do not substitute. Do not skimp. Do not adjust to what you think will taste better as it won’t. Perfect soup for those days when only Chicken Noodle will do.