Dive into the delightful world of our Kid-Approved Chicken Noodle Soup, a recipe that stands out with its herb variations, allergy-friendly options, and homemade broth tips. It’s not just another soup; it’s a customizable, comforting bowl of goodness that’s perfect for the whole family, ready to be tailored to your taste and dietary needs.
Introducing our Chicken Noodle Soup for Kids, the perfect recipe for those seeking a quick yet delightful lunch or dinner option. Crafted with speed and simplicity in mind, this recipe features common ingredients for hassle-free preparation.
Specially designed for picky eaters, it emphasizes using child-favorite ingredients and noodle shapes, ensuring that even the fussiest little diners will relish every bite.
Get ready to serve up smiles with a meal that’s loved by kids and stress-free for you!
🥰 Why You Will Love This Recipe?
- Simplicity and Speed: This Easy Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe is a dream come true for busy parents and caretakers. With a mere 5 minutes of prep time and 55 minutes of cooking, you can have a nourishing, homemade meal on the table without spending hours in the kitchen. This quick turnaround makes it perfect for a hassle-free lunch or dinner, especially on those hectic weekdays.
- Kid-Friendly: Tailored for young, discerning palates, this recipe transforms the classic comfort of chicken noodle soup into a meal that even the pickiest of eaters will devour. By incorporating familiar ingredients and fun pasta shapes, it ensures that mealtime is free of complaints and full of smiles. This Healthy Soup for Kids is a surefire way to nourish them with essential nutrients without the usual dinner table battles.
- Wholesome and Nutritious: Filled with fresh vegetables like carrots and celery, lean protein from chicken quarters, and hearty pasta, this Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup is a balanced meal in a bowl. It’s a healthy choice that doesn’t sacrifice flavor for nutrition, making it a win-win for both parents and children.
- Versatility in Ingredients: This recipe is wonderfully adaptable. Whether you have chicken thighs on hand instead of quarters or prefer a different type of pasta, the recipe is forgiving and flexible. This adaptability makes it a great option for using up what you already have in your pantry or fridge.
- Meal Prep Friendly: The recipe yields enough to have leftovers, which can be a lifesaver for busy weeks. It’s perfect for meal prep, as the soup can be stored in the fridge or freezer, retaining its flavor and quality. This means you can cook once and have a delicious, homemade meal ready to reheat and enjoy, saving time and energy on future meal planning.
- Comforting and Heartwarming: There’s something incredibly comforting about a bowl of chicken noodle soup, and this version is no exception. It’s the kind of meal that not only feeds the body but also soothes the soul, making it ideal for chilly days or when someone in the family needs a little extra care.
- Cooking from Scratch Pride: There’s a unique satisfaction in Cooking Chicken Soup from Scratch. This recipe provides an easy entry into homemade cooking, allowing even novice cooks to experience the joy of creating a wholesome meal from basic ingredients. It’s a fulfilling way to introduce children to cooking and to instill in them the value of making meals at home.
🥘 Ingredients and Substitutes
- Pasta is the heart of this soup, adding texture and making it appealing, especially for kids. If you’re out of regular pasta, try egg noodles for a similar texture, or whole wheat pasta for a healthier twist. Both are great at soaking up the flavors of the soup.
- Parsley brings a fresh, herby flavor that lightens up the dish. No parsley in the crisper? Try using fresh cilantro for a different, but equally refreshing taste, or dried parsley as a convenient alternative, though it’s milder in flavor.
- Chicken Quarters provides the soup with its rich protein base and deep flavor. If you don’t have chicken quarters, chicken breasts or thighs can be excellent substitutes, offering a similar flavor and texture, though the cooking time may vary slightly.
- Carrots contribute sweetness and a vibrant color to the soup. If you’re out of carrots, consider parsnips or sweet potatoes, which can offer a similar sweetness and texture, adding their own unique twist to the flavor profile.
- Celery adds a subtle, earthy flavor and a nice crunch. In its absence, fennel stalks can be a fantastic alternative, bringing a slightly different, anise-like flavor to the soup, or you can use bell peppers for a different kind of crunch and sweetness.
- Bay Leaves impart a subtle depth and complexity to the broth. If bay leaves are not available, a pinch of thyme or oregano can be used, offering a different but equally aromatic flavor profile to your Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup.
- Onion is foundational for a rich flavor base. If onions are not an option, leeks or shallots make great substitutes, offering a milder and slightly sweeter flavor that complements the other ingredients well.
👩🍳 Step-by-step Directions
The first important step in this recipe is choosing good quality chicken meat. If you have the opportunity, I suggest you use free-range chicken, which is healthier, tastier, and more nutritious.
Thoroughly wash the chicken and cut it into two halves, place the chicken in the pot and add alongside it the cleaned and cut vegetables in large pieces for easy removal from the soup later.
Add a bay leaf and 1 teaspoon of salt. Then pour 6 cups of cold water.
Quick Note: It’s important to pour cold water because this way, we’ll get a more flavorful soup. If you pour hot water over the ingredients, their pores seal, trapping the taste and aroma inside. In our case, we need the ingredients to flavor the soup, not to keep their taste and aroma to themselves.
Put the soup to boil on low heat for about 50 minutes, then remove all the ingredients from the soup and strain well, returning only the liquid to the pot.
Boil again on medium heat, and when it comes back to a boil, add the noodles and cook for about 4 minutes.
In the meantime, remove the meat from the bones and add it back into the soup.
Finally, add finely chopped parsley and turn off the heat.
Pro Tip: I suggest you turn off the heat as soon as you add the parsley to preserve its beautiful color.
Cover the pot with a lid and let it sit for about 10 minutes to blend all the flavors.
Serve hot, and if you wish, you can serve it with a slice of lemon for even more flavor and a hint of sour taste for contrast.
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
Cozy Family Dinner
Complement the Chicken Noodle Soup with warm dinner rolls and a side of steamed green beans or broccoli.
Presentation: Serve the soup in individual bowls, accompanied by a small basket of warm dinner rolls and a side dish of steamed vegetables. Add a pat of butter on top of the vegetables for extra richness.
Occasion: Perfect for a comforting family dinner on a chilly evening or a casual get-together with close friends.
Light Lunch Option
Pair the soup with half a sandwich, like a classic ham and cheese or a vegetarian cucumber and cream cheese sandwich, to add some variety to the lunch.
Presentation: Cut the sandwiches into neat triangles and place them on the side of a smaller soup bowl. Garnish the soup with a sprinkle of chopped parsley and a lemon wedge for added zest.
Occasion: Great for a quick yet satisfying weekday lunch, especially suitable for those working from home or for a weekend lunch when time is of the essence.
Elegant Soup Starter
Serve a smaller portion of the soup as an appetizer, accompanied by a few gourmet croutons and a light drizzle of truffle oil for an upscale twist.
Presentation: Use small, elegant soup bowls, and float the croutons on top of the soup. The truffle oil should be lightly drizzled in a circular pattern for visual appeal.
Occasion: Ideal for dinner parties or special family gatherings where a sophisticated yet comforting starter is desired.
Kid’s Party Favorite
Transform the soup into a fun meal for kids by adding shaped pasta like stars or letters, and serve with a side of fruit kebabs or mini cheese toasties.
Presentation: Serve in colorful bowls with child-friendly utensils. Arrange the fruit kebabs on a skewer and the mini toasties on a small side plate.
Occasion: Perfect for a kid’s birthday party or a playdate, where a nutritious yet fun and engaging meal is required to please the little guests.
🏆 Expert Tips. What to Pay Attention To?
- Quality of Ingredients: The flavor of your soup largely depends on the quality of the ingredients used. Opt for fresh vegetables and high-quality chicken. Organic produce and free-range chicken can make a noticeable difference in taste.
- Properly Preparing the Chicken: When cooking chicken soup from scratch, it’s crucial to properly prepare the chicken. If you’re using chicken quarters, make sure to clean them well. Also, consider browning the chicken pieces before adding them to the soup, as this can add depth to the flavor.
- Sautéing the Vegetables: Before adding your broth, sauté the onions, carrots, and celery. This step enhances the flavors of these vegetables, lending a richer taste to your Easy Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe.
- Seasoning Balance: Be mindful of your seasoning. Start with a moderate amount of salt, and adjust as needed towards the end of cooking. Remember, you can always add more, but you can’t take it away. Also, the bay leaves should be removed before serving, as they have done their job of flavoring the soup.
- Simmering the Soup: Allow the soup to simmer gently. Rapid boiling can make the chicken tough and break down the vegetables too much. A gentle simmer helps in developing the flavors while keeping the ingredients intact.
- Adjusting Consistency: If the soup is too thick, add a bit more broth or water until you reach your desired consistency. If it’s too thin, let it simmer a bit longer to reduce and concentrate the flavors.
- Involving Kids in Preparation: Since this is a Kid-Friendly Chicken Noodle Soup, involving children in safe parts of the preparation process can be a fun and educational experience. Let them help with tasks like washing vegetables or adding pre-measured spices.
- Herbs for Freshness: Adding a bit of fresh parsley towards the end of cooking can bring a burst of color and freshness to the soup. Fresh herbs generally add a nice touch to Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup.
- Taste Testing: Always taste your soup before serving. Adjust the seasonings as necessary to ensure the perfect balance of flavors.
🤔 Answering Your Questions:
Can I Use Different Types of Pasta?
Absolutely! While the recipe suggests a specific pasta type, feel free to experiment with various shapes and sizes that might appeal more to your kids. Fun shapes like stars, letters, or bow-ties can make the soup more enticing for children. Just keep in mind that different pastas may have varying cooking times, so adjust accordingly.
Can I Add More Vegetables to the Soup?
Certainly! This recipe is quite versatile, and you can add other vegetables like spinach, peas, or potatoes. Just keep in mind the cooking times for different vegetables; add them to the soup at the appropriate time so they don’t overcook or become too mushy.
How Can I Make This Soup Creamier?
For a creamier texture, you can add a splash of cream or milk towards the end of the cooking process. Alternatively, a spoonful of sour cream or Greek yogurt can be added to each serving for a tangy, creamy twist.
What If the Soup Is Too Thick or Too Thin?
If your soup is too thick, simply add more broth or water until you reach your desired consistency. If it’s too thin, let it simmer for a bit longer to reduce and thicken. Remember, the soup will also thicken slightly as it cools, especially once the noodles are added.
📋 Recipe Card:
Kid-Approved Chicken Noodle Soup
Equipment
Ingredients
Instructions
- Prepare Chicken: Clean the chicken thoroughly and cut it into two halves.12 oz Chicken Leg Quarters
- Combine Ingredients: In a large pot, place the chicken halves and add the prepared vegetables. Add a bay leaf and 1 teaspoon of salt. Pour 6 cups of cold water over the ingredients.12 oz Chicken Leg Quarters, 1 piece Celery Stalk, 1 piece Carrot, 1 Bay Leaf, Salt, 6 cup Water, 1 piece Onion
- Cook: Bring the soup to a boil over low heat and let it simmer for about 50 minutes.
- Strain Soup: Remove all the ingredients from the soup, strain well, and return only the liquid to the pot.
- Add Noodles: Bring the soup to a boil again on medium heat. Once boiling, add the noodles and cook for about 4 minutes.3 oz Egg noodles
- Add Chicken: In the meantime, remove the chicken meat from the bones and add it back into the soup.
- Finish with Parsley: Add finely chopped parsley to the soup and turn off the heat immediately to preserve the parsley's color.Parsley
- Let Sit: Cover the pot with a lid and let the soup sit for about 10 minutes to allow the flavors to blend.
- Serve: Serve the soup hot. For added flavor, offer a slice of lemon on the side for a hint of sour taste.
Quick Note
I highly recommend reading the entire recipe to find more tips and notes about this recipe. Read Full Recipe ⇑
Notes
- Herb Variations: While parsley is used in this recipe, feel free to experiment with other herbs like dill or thyme for a different flavor profile. Fresh herbs are best added towards the end of cooking to preserve their flavor.
- Chicken Preparation: If you’re short on time, using pre-cooked or rotisserie chicken can be a great time-saver. Simply shred the chicken and add it towards the end of the cooking process to avoid overcooking.
- Broth Tip: For an even richer flavor, consider making your own chicken broth. Homemade broth can be prepared in advance and frozen, ready to be used in your soup.
- Vegetable Chop Size: Chop the vegetables in bite-sized pieces, keeping in mind they should be small enough for children to easily eat, but large enough to retain some texture after cooking.
- Adjusting the Salt: If using store-bought chicken broth, be mindful of its salt content. Adjust the amount of added salt accordingly to avoid an overly salty soup.
- Lemon Zest Addition: For a fresh twist, consider adding a bit of lemon zest towards the end of cooking. It adds a nice brightness and can enhance the overall flavor of the soup.
- Serving Suggestion for Adults: For adult palates, consider offering red pepper flakes, freshly ground black pepper, or a dash of hot sauce on the side to add a bit of heat.
- Allergy-Friendly Option: If catering to allergies, ensure to use gluten-free pasta and check all your ingredients for potential allergens.
- Freezing Without Noodles: If you plan to freeze the soup, do so without the noodles as they can become mushy upon thawing. Cook fresh noodles when you’re ready to serve the thawed soup.
Nutrition Estimates
Love our Kid-Approved Chicken Noodle Soup? We’d be thrilled to hear from you! Please rate this recipe and leave a comment sharing how you and your family enjoyed it. Did you add a personal twist? Let us know in the comments! Your unique variations and tips could be incredibly helpful for others looking to try this comforting, family-friendly dish.
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