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Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup with Mini Croutons Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 146 reviews

This creamy chicken noodle soup recipe is a comforting and flavorful dish featuring tender chicken, crisp bacon, hearty angel hair pasta, sweet corn, and vibrant vegetables in a rich, creamy broth. Finished with crunchy homemade mini croutons, it’s a perfect warm meal for any day.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat and Seasonings

  • 400g/10oz chicken breast (2 small, cut in half horizontally to form 2 thin steaks; boneless thighs can be substituted)
  • 1/4 tsp cooking salt / kosher salt
  • 1/4 tbsp black pepper
  • 4 strips streaky bacon (enough to cover base of pot)

Sauté and Soup Base

  • 30g/2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1/2 onion, finely diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
  • 2 sprigs thyme or 1/2 tsp dried thyme (optional)
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped (~0.5 x 1.2 cm pieces)
  • 1 carrot, chopped (~0.5 x 1 cm pieces)
  • 3/4 cup corn kernels (frozen thawed or canned drained)
  • 4 tbsp flour
  • 3 cups milk (full fat preferred, low fat or non-dairy acceptable)
  • 2 cups low sodium chicken stock/broth
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 tsp cooking salt

Pasta and Vegetables

  • 1 1/3 cups (100g) broken angel hair pasta (or angel hair/spaghetti broken into 6 pieces or other small spoon-able pasta)
  • 3/4 cup frozen peas
  • 1/2 tsp finely chopped parsley (optional)

Croutons

  • 1 cup bread (crustless, cut into 7mm / 1/4″ cubes; sourdough or regular sandwich bread)
  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • Pinch cooking salt / kosher salt

Instructions

  1. Make Croutons: Preheat oven to 180°C/345°F (160°C fan). Toss bread cubes with olive oil and a pinch of salt. Spread on a baking tray and bake for 8-10 minutes, tossing halfway through, until golden and crisp. Cool on tray and set aside.
  2. Season Chicken: Sprinkle both sides of the chicken breasts with 1/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tbsp black pepper evenly.
  3. Cook Bacon: Place bacon strips in a single layer in a large unheated pot. Turn heat to medium-high and cook bacon until golden on both sides (approximately 2-3 minutes first side, 1 1/2 minute second side). Remove bacon and drain on paper towels to crisp as it cools. Finely chop bacon and set aside for garnish, leaving bacon fat in pot.
  4. Cook Chicken: Using the same pot with bacon fat, cook chicken for 1 1/2 minutes per side until light golden. Remove to a plate and let cool. Chop chicken into small 8 mm (1/3″) cubes once cool enough to handle.
  5. Prepare Soup Base: Lower heat to medium-high. Melt butter in the same pot. Add onion, garlic, celery, carrot, and thyme sprigs. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring regularly, until the carrot is softened and onion is translucent but not browned. Add flour and stir constantly for 1 minute to form a roux.
  6. Add Liquids: Gradually pour in milk while stirring to dissolve the flour. Add chicken stock, water, and 1 tsp salt, then stir to combine thoroughly.
  7. Simmer Soup: Increase heat to high and bring mixture to a gentle simmer. Then reduce heat to low and simmer gently for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. The soup will still be thin at this point but will thicken as pasta cooks.
  8. Cook Pasta and Vegetables: Turn heat back to high. Add broken pasta and corn kernels. Cook for 5 minutes until pasta is soft. For the last 2 minutes of cooking, add frozen peas and chopped chicken with any accumulated juices.
  9. Serve: Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with reserved crispy bacon, homemade croutons, and a sprinkle of finely chopped parsley if desired. Serve hot and enjoy!

Notes

  • For a crunchier crouton, sourdough bread works best, though regular sandwich bread is fine as well.
  • Bacon fat is used to add flavor when cooking chicken and vegetables; do not discard.
  • The soup thickens as the pasta cooks; if it seems thin initially, trust the process.
  • Non-dairy milk alternatives can be used but full fat milk gives the creamiest texture.
  • Chicken thighs can substitute chicken breast for a juicier outcome.

Keywords: chicken noodle soup, creamy soup, homemade croutons, bacon, comforting soup, easy dinner recipe

Find it online: https://dinewithdylan.com/creamy-chicken-noodle-soup-with-mini-croutons-recipe/