Description
Creamy comfort meets hearty delight in this crack chicken noodle soup, a soul-warming dish packed with tender chicken, cheesy goodness, and perfectly cooked noodles. Homemade magic awaits at your dinner table, promising a quick, satisfying meal that brings pure warmth and joy to hungry hearts.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 4 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
Dairy and Cheese:
- 1 (8 ounces/226 grams) package cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 cups milk (or heavy cream for a richer soup)
Base and Seasonings:
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 packet ranch seasoning mix (about 1 ounce/28 grams)
- 2 cups egg noodles
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh chopped parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Initiate the flavor foundation by sautéing diced onions in olive oil over medium heat until translucent, then introduce minced garlic and cook briefly to release its aromatic essence.
- Carefully pour chicken broth into the pot, gently nestling whole chicken breasts into the liquid. Allow the mixture to reach a rolling boil before reducing to a gentle simmer, ensuring chicken cooks thoroughly and becomes tender.
- Extract the perfectly cooked chicken from the broth and methodically shred using two forks, creating tender, bite-sized pieces. Return the shredded meat back to the simmering liquid.
- Transform the soup’s character by incorporating cream cheese, stirring until it dissolves completely. Integrate ranch seasoning and milk, whisking until the mixture achieves a silky, uniform consistency.
- Introduce egg noodles directly into the creamy broth, allowing them to cook and absorb the rich flavors. Sprinkle cheddar cheese throughout, stirring until it melts into a luxurious, velvety texture.
- Elevate the soup’s complexity by folding in crispy, crumbled bacon. Taste critically and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to achieve a balanced flavor profile.
- Ladle the steaming soup into serving bowls, finishing with a delicate garnish of freshly chopped parsley. Serve immediately while maintaining optimal temperature and creamy consistency.
Notes
- Elevate the soup’s richness by using homemade chicken broth for deeper, more complex flavor profiles.
- Swap egg noodles with gluten-free alternatives like zucchini noodles or cauliflower rice for low-carb dietary needs.
- Reduce sodium by using low-sodium chicken broth and monitoring added salt during seasoning process.
- Customize protein options by substituting chicken with rotisserie chicken, turkey, or plant-based protein for varied dietary preferences.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 490
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg