Old-Fashioned Chicken and Noodles (Easy One-Pot Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

How can I thicken my chicken and noodles? ›

Flour or Cornstarch: Flour (or cornstarch) thickens the liquid, taking this soup from brothy to creamy.

→ Follow this tip: Adding noodles to the soup should be the very last thing you do before taking the pot off the heat. Wait until the soup is just about finished, mix in the noodles, and simmer until the noodles are about halfway cooked. The residual heat from the soup will continue to cook the pasta.

When serving chicken noodle soup for dinner, some really stellar side dishes can really help complete the meal. From classics such garlic bread and green salad, to healthier options such as sauteed spinach and grilled peppers, there are so many options.

You can add pureed potatoes or you can use cornstarch, arrowroot or potato starch. Try rice flour, tapioca starch or potato starch/flour. All will thicken a soup or sauce.

Mix equal amounts butter and flour into a smooth paste, add bit by bit to the cooking stew, stirring until melted each time, until you like the thickness of the stew.

Bring broth to a boil. Add noodles (either uncooked homemade egg noodles, or dry store-bought pasta) and cook just until noodles are al dente. If using store-bought noodles, be cautious not to overcook them! Remove pot from heat as soon as they are just barely tender.

Adding the pasta to water that isn't boiling will actually increase your overall cook time and cause your pasta to sit in the water longer. You will end up with pasta that has absorbed too much water with a mushy texture. Be patient and wait for a rapid boil; it'll pay off.

Combine chicken broth, both condensed soups, and diced chicken in a large pot. Season with onion powder, seasoning salt, and garlic powder. Bring to a boil over high heat and stir in noodles. Reduce heat to low and simmer until desired consistency is reached, 20 to 30 minutes.

Are chicken and noodles good for you? ›

Chicken noodle soup offers a nutritious blend of protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, many of which can support your immune system while you're sick. While homemade soup is your best bet for limiting your sodium intake, experts say you can still choose a healthy store-bought version.

In other words, cook the noodles in the broth itself, then ladle the whole shebang into a bowl and serve. Not only does this sidestep another dirty pot, but it infuses the noodles with flavor.

Wait until the very end of cooking to add the noodles

Mushy noodles, the outlet explains, are the result of overcooking. This occurs when the noodles are added too soon into the soup's cooking process, giving them ample opportunity — too much opportunity — to cook.

Garlic and ginger are two aromatics that can help liven up the flavor of your broth. Not only do ginger and garlic bring a great punch of flavor, but they're also an easy addition to your meal. After you fully remove the peel of your garlic cloves, simply drop them into the hot broth to disseminate their flavor.

Powders and flours. Cornstarch, arrowroot, common wheat flour, and the flours or powders made from potato, tapioca, chickpea — to name but a few — long have been used to thicken cooking liquids. (Gelatins and gums also can play a similar role.)

Cornstarch: Make a slurry of half water, half cornstarch and whisk until smooth. Cornstarch is a powerful thickener, so start by whisking in no more than 1 tablespoon of the mixture per 2 cups of simmering sauce; stir and simmer for 2 minutes, check the thickness, and repeat with more slurry as needed.

Whisk together 2 ½ – 3 Tbs flour (unbleached) to about 3 cups of chicken broth. The more flour you use, the thicker your sauce will be.

Use Cornstarch to Thicken Chicken and Dumplings

To give that a little thicker texture we're going to add 1 cup of cool water to 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and stir it up well. Make sure the soup is brought back to a good boil and go ahead and stir in the cornstarch mixture.