Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Lickety-Split Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup...the Weekend Gourmet Way!

Let's face it. Sometimes, the only thing that will do the trick is a big pot of homemade chicken noodle soup. It's basic, but as comforting as a warm blanket: juicy chunks of chicken, healthy veggies, and lots of noodles! Michael called me at work last Friday afternoon and asked if I'd make a pot of chicken noodle soup for dinner. It was a chilly night, and his allergies were really acting up. A bowl of comforting soup courtesy of Dr. Weeekend Gourmet was exactly what he needed. 

Some cooks contend that a proper pot of chicken soup needs to simmer for several hours to develop that soul-satisfying flavor that cures all ills. But, sometimes that's just not practical...but you want to do more than open a can of soup. Through trial and error, I've come up with a recipe for hearty chicken noodle soup that's ready to eat in about an hour -- but it tastes like you've been simmering it for hours. It's comforting on sore throats, and it really warms you up on a chilly winter evening. 


Lickety-Split Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

Step 1:  Add 1 tbs. extra-virgin olive oil to a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add 2 sliced carrots,  2 ribs sliced celery, and half of a chopped yellow onion. Stir well and cook for about 5 minutes, until the onion begins to soften.


Step 2:  Add 1 lb. diced chicken tenders, 2 grated/finely chopped garlic cloves, 1.5 tsp. poultry seasoning, and salt and pepper to taste. Stir to combine and cook until the garlic is fragrant and the chicken is browned on all sides. 


Step 3:  When the chicken is cooked, add: 8 cups chicken stock, 2 bay leaves, 1 can Campbell's Creamy Chicken-Mushroom soup, 8 ounces No-Yolks egg noodles, and 3/4 cup frozen corn kernels. Stir well to combine. 


The canned soup may seem out-of-place in a homemade chicken soup, but it's my secret ingredient! In a pot of soup this large, it simply adds a nice richness and depth of flavor to the finished product. When the soup comes to a boil, reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes, until the noodles are cooked. 


Step 4:  Ladle the soup into bowls and serve. This pot makes six to eight bowls of hearty, comforting soup. We love lots of noodles in our chicken noodle soup, but you can cut the amount of noodles in half if you prefer.

The next time you feel a cold coming on...or you just want to warm up on a chilly evening...I hope you'll give this soup recipe a try!! I find it's even better when you eat this soup while wearing your favorite pajamas and sitting in front of a roaring fireplace.


14 comments:

  1. Love me a bowl of soup! Looks terrific, Wendy, and I love that it only takes an hour.

    ReplyDelete
  2. i, like most people, love me some chicken noodle soup. i love this quicker-to-make version because, some nights, we just don't have hours + hours to simmer. thanks for sharing the recipe, + i hope this soup made your honey feel lots better. =)

    ReplyDelete
  3. i am with you... it is not practical at all- i am far too much of a fatty to wait that long!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I have not been making much soup this winter and i have no earthly idea why! :( I'm bookmarking this great recipe to try soon! Thanks for linking up and sharing!!! Have a super weekend!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Mmmm...this sounds yummy & I love that it's so quick! This might be on the menu next week!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for all the kind comments...this soup is so thick and hearty. Michael said it really did the trick for his stuffy nose and sore throat! I like that it's ready to eat in about an hour!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Looks wonderful - We love soup at our house, in fact I just posted a southwest creamy chicken soup on my blog if anyone is interested - kinda spicy!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Now, with the weather the way it is, this chicken noodle would be perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love chicken soup of all kinds and this soup sounds so comforting and warming, especially on these chilly nights. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Wendy...I am visiting from quit eating out. I may try adding Better than Bouillion for the canned soup...but it looks and sounds so yummy! Thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I adore chicken noodle soup...but only if it is homemade! My mom makes an amazing turkey noodle soup every January, and I've missed it so much this year! This looks delicious. Thank you for sharing such a wholesome recipe. I hope your weekend overflows with good food, good friends, and love!

    ReplyDelete
  12. sigh.... What a beautiful and heartwarming recipe! I agree completely that when you feel a little yucky a hot bowl of homemade soup is the best! And I love your secret ingredient- that is awesome! Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Yum! This does look perfectly comforting for these cold winter days:) What a great recipe to have on hand.

    ReplyDelete

I love hearing your feedback!!!