Best Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup

Introduction

Best Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup is a hearty, hands-off classic, perfect for busy weeknights, sick days, or meal-prep Sundays. This slow-cooker recipe, featuring tender chicken, al-dente noodles, and aromatic vegetables in a golden broth, delivers grandma-quality results with a rich, savory depth. Presented in a deep ceramic bowl, optionally garnished with fresh parsley and cracked black pepper, this Best Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup recipe offers a charming, appetizing aesthetic that elevates any gathering. This recipe provides a simple dump-and-go method with pantry staples, adaptable for dietary preferences, ideal for home cooks seeking a go-to soup that brings comforting, crowd-pleasing charm to any occasion.

Why you’ll love this recipe

  • 10 minutes prep: Dump, set, forget—dinner in 6 hours.
  • Set-it-and-forget-it: Crockpot does the work; no babysitting.
  • Freezer-friendly: Double batch; freeze for instant comfort.
  • Noodle timing trick: Add pasta last 30 minutes—never mushy.
  • Endlessly customizable: Rotisserie shortcut, gluten-free, or extra veggies.

Ingredients

Soup Base

  • 1½ lbs (680 g) boneless chicken thighs or breasts
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 3 medium carrots, sliced (1½ cups)
  • 3 celery stalks, sliced (1½ cups)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 8 cups (1.9 L) low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 tsp dried rosemary
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tsp fine sea salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper

Finish

  • 8 oz (225 g) egg noodles (or gluten-free)
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice (optional brightness)

Essential Tools and Equipment

  • 6-quart slow cooker
  • Cutting board and knife
  • Measuring cups
  • Wooden spoon
  • Ladle

Step-by-step process

  1. Layer crockpot: Add chicken, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, broth, thyme, rosemary, bay leaves, salt, pepper.
  2. Set timer: Cover; cook on LOW 6–7 hours or HIGH 3–4 hours until chicken shreds easily.
  3. Shred chicken: Remove chicken; shred with two forks. Return to the pot. Discard bay leaves.
  4. Add noodles: Stir in dry noodles. Cook on HIGH 20–30 minutes until al dente.
  5. Finish: Stir in parsley and lemon juice. Taste; adjust salt/pepper.
  6. Serve hot: Ladle into bowls; top with extra parsley.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Cooking noodles early: Mush city—add last 30 minutes.
  • Low broth: Evaporates—start with 8 cups.
  • Boneless only: Bone-in adds flavor; remove bones post-cook.
  • No shred: Chunky texture—fork-shred for classic feel.
  • Flat broth: Lemon + fresh herbs at the end wakes it up.

Variations of the Best Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup

  • Rotisserie Hack: 3 cups shredded rotisserie; reduce cook to 4 hours LOW.
  • Veggie Boost: Add mushrooms, spinach, or peas last 10 minutes.
  • Creamy Twist: Stir in ½ cup heavy cream post-noodles.
  • Gluten-Free: GF noodles; same timing.
  • Spicy Kick: ½ tsp red pepper flakes with spices.

Tips for better storage

  • Refrigerator: Cool completely; airtight up to 4 days. Store noodles separately to prevent sogginess.
  • Freezer: Omit noodles; freeze soup up to 3 months. Add fresh noodles when reheating.
  • Reheating: Stovetop low with ¼ cup water; or microwave 2-minute bursts.
  • Meal prep: Portion in 16-oz jars; add cooked noodles day-of.
  • Revive broth: Splash chicken stock if it thickens.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Frozen chicken? Yes—add 1 hour on HIGH first.
  • No egg noodles? Any pasta; adjust cooking time 15–45 minutes.
  • Make it faster? HIGH 3–4 hours; noodles last 20 minutes.
  • Double batch? 8-quart crockpot; same ratios.
  • Too salty? Use low-sodium broth; adjust at the end.

Conclusion

Best Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup is comfort in a bowl—each slurp a hug from the inside out, made while you conquer the day. One slow cooker turns basic ingredients into a pot of gold that feeds a family or stocks your freezer for rainy days. Keep chicken and broth in the pantry, and a soul-soothing dinner is 10 minutes of prep away. Whether you’re nursing a cold, feeding a crowd, or craving nostalgia without the effort, this soup delivers warmth and wonder in every steaming spoonful. One ladle, endless healing, and the quiet joy of a classic made effortless.

Best Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup

Best Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup

Slow-cooked chicken and vegetables in golden broth, finished with al-dente noodles. Dump-and-go cozy classic.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 10 minutes
Servings 8

Ingredients
  

  • For the Soup:
  • lbs chicken
  • Onion carrots, celery
  • 8 cups broth
  • Garlic herbs
  • Finish:
  • 8 oz egg noodles
  • Parsley lemon

Instructions
 

  • Layer all except noodles in crockpot.
  • Cook LOW 6–7 hrs or HIGH 3–4 hrs.
  • Shred chicken; return.
  • Add noodles; HIGH 20–30 min.
  • Stir in parsley + lemon.
  • Serve steaming.

Notes

  • Noodles last 30 min.
  • Freeze without pasta.
  • Rotisserie shortcut OK.
  • GF: Use GF noodles.
  • A 6-quart crockpot is ideal.

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating