Best Test Kitchens Favorite Chicken Noodle Soup Recipes

THE ULTIMATE CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP

The Ultimate Chicken Noodle Soup image

My first Wisconsin winter was so cold, all I wanted to eat was homemade chicken noodle soup. Of all the chicken noodle soup recipes out there, this type of soup is my favorite and is in heavy rotation from November to April. It has many incredibly devoted fans.-Gina Nistico, Denver, Colorado

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Dinner Lunch

Time 1h

Yield 10 servings (about 3-1/2 quarts).

Number Of Ingredients 15

Ingredients

2-1/2 pounds bone-in chicken thighs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
10 cups chicken broth
4 celery ribs, chopped
4 medium carrots, chopped
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme or 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
3 cups uncooked kluski or other egg noodles (about 8 ounces)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Optional: Additional salt and pepper

Steps:

Pat chicken dry with paper towels; sprinkle with salt and pepper. In a 6-qt. stockpot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken in batches, skin side down; cook until dark golden brown, 3-4 minutes. Remove chicken from pan; remove and discard skin. Discard drippings, reserving 2 tablespoons., Add onion to drippings; cook and stir over medium-high heat until tender, 4-5 minutes. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Add broth, stirring to loosen browned bits from pan. Bring to a boil. Return chicken to pan. Add celery, carrots, bay leaves and thyme. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until chicken is tender, 25-30 minutes., Transfer chicken to a plate. Remove soup from heat. Add noodles; let stand, covered, until noodles are tender, 20-22 minutes., Meanwhile, when chicken is cool enough to handle, remove meat from bones; discard bones. Shred meat into bite-sized pieces. Return meat to stockpot. Stir in parsley and lemon juice. If desired, adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper. Discard bay leaves.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 239 calories, Fat 12g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 68mg cholesterol, Sodium 1176mg sodium, Carbohydrate 14g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 18g protein.

TEST KITCHEN'S FAVORITE CHICKEN SOUP MADE WITH A WHOLE CHICKEN

Test Kitchen's Favorite Chicken Soup Made with a Whole Chicken image

Ask your butcher to cut a chicken into pieces and give you the backboneâ€"it makes for a richer broth.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories Food & Cooking Appetizers Finger Food Recipes

Time 4h45m

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

1 whole chicken (4 1/2 pounds), cut into 8 pieces with the backbone, plus 8 extra wings (1 1/2 pounds)
4 large sprigs parsley
2 large sprigs thyme
1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon kosher salt, plus more for seasoning
1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns, plus freshly ground black pepper for seasoning
1 small onion, diced (1 cup)
2 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch rounds (1 cup)
1/2 stalk celery, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch slices (1/2 cup)
6 ounces cooked egg noodles
1 teaspoon chopped fresh dill
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Steps:

Fill a large pot with 14 cups water, chicken pieces, backbone, wings, parsley, thyme, bay leaf, salt, and peppercorns. Bring to a boil. Skim foam, reduce heat, and gently simmer for 25 minutes. Remove chicken (except wings); continue simmering while you discard skin and remove meat from bones. Cover meat and refrigerate; return bones to pot and simmer 3 1/2 hours more.
Strain broth through a fine-mesh sieve and discard solids, including bones and wings. Skim fat and transfer broth to a clean pot. Add onions, carrots, and celery. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until vegetables are very tender, 25 minutes.
Cut or tear reserved chicken into 3 cups of bite-size pieces. (You'll end up with an extra cup of meat; save it for a salad or a sandwich.) Add to broth, along with noodles, dill, and lemon juice. Heat through, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper; serve.