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Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup

Creamy chicken noodle soup made with a roux-thickened broth, tender vegetables, and egg noodles simmered until soft. Velvety heavy cream and nutmeg create a rich, comforting texture.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 520

Ingredients
  

Chicken breast
  • 1.5 lb chicken breast, diced
Carrots
  • 4 carrots, sliced
Celery
  • 4 celery, sliced
Onion
  • 1 onion, diced
Garlic
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
Chicken broth
  • 6 cup chicken broth
Heavy cream
  • 2 cup heavy cream
Butter
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter
All-purpose flour
  • 0.25 cup all-purpose flour
Egg noodles
  • 8 oz egg noodles
Dried thyme
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
Dried parsley
  • 1 tsp dried parsley
Nutmeg
  • 0.25 tsp nutmeg
Salt and pepper
  • 1 salt and pepper
Fresh parsley
  • 1 fresh parsley for garnish

Equipment

  • 1 Dutch oven

Method
 

Sauté the vegetables
  1. Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat until it foams, then add the onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5 minutes, stirring often, until the vegetables begin to soften and look glossy.
  2. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly to avoid browning. You should smell the garlic sharply and see no dark spots.
Build the creamy base
  1. Whisk in the all-purpose flour and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring until it forms a smooth paste. The mixture should look slightly thicker and lightly toasted.
  2. Gradually whisk in the chicken broth until fully combined and smooth. Whisking constantly will prevent lumps while the pot starts to steam and thicken.
  3. Add the diced chicken, dried thyme, and dried parsley, then stir to coat the chicken in the broth. Let the soup return to a steady simmer.
  4. Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are tender. Keep the bubbles gentle rather than boiling hard.
Cook noodles and finish
  1. Stir in the heavy cream and nutmeg, then bring the soup back to a gentle simmer. Watch for steam and small bubbles around the edges, not a rolling boil.
  2. Add the egg noodles and cook for 6-8 minutes until tender, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. They should be fully cooked but still hold their shape.
  3. Season with salt and pepper to taste, then garnish with fresh parsley. Serve immediately while the broth is hot and silky.

Notes

Pro tip: whisk the flour with the butter thoroughly before adding broth so the soup turns out smooth and velvety. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3-4 days; reheat gently, adding a splash of broth if it thickens. Freezing is not recommended because cream soups and noodles can change texture after thawing. For a lighter option, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream (texture remains creamy).