Chicken noodle soup is a classic comfort food that never goes out of style. The soothing broth, tender chicken, and soft noodles combine for a dish that warms you up and fills your belly. When a craving for this staple strikes, you’ll want to know the best places to pick up a bowl or can of chicken noodle soup. With options at grocery stores, restaurants, and delivery services, chicken noodle soup is always within reach.
Grocery Store Chicken Noodle Soups
Grocery stores offer convenient and affordable canned, boxed, and fresh refrigerated chicken noodle soups. Keep your pantry stocked with canned and dried options for quick preparation when cravings hit. Or grab a fresh tub or carton of chicken noodle for an easy heat-and-eat meal.
Canned
Canned chicken noodle soups are shelf-stable for long-term storage. Top brands like Campbell’s Progresso, and Store Brands have classic recipes packed with chicken, vegetables, and noodles in chicken broth. Low-sodium and condensed soup versions allow you to control sodium content and thickness. Pick up a few cans on your next trip for a quick weeknight dinner or lunch.
Boxed
Boxed chicken noodle soups provide portion-controlled servings Look for individual cups or family-size packs from brands like Lipton and Knorr, Pop a cup in the microwave for a fast solo serving Or simmer a packet in water for 4 portions of scratch-made taste without the work,
Refrigerated
The deli section offers fresh refrigerated chicken noodle soup in plastic tubs and cartons. Refrigerated soups like Roasted Red Pepper and Herb Chicken Noodle from Soup Simplicity taste like homemade. And brands like Kettle & Fire come in tetra packs for portability. Refrigerated soups have a short shelf life, so only buy what you’ll use within a week.
Tips for Buying the Best Grocery Store Chicken Noodle Soup
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Check the ingredients list for chunks of chicken vs. mechanically separated chicken. Opt for chunks of breast or thigh meat.
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Look for soups with 10g protein or more per serving for satiety.
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Low-sodium options have 140mg sodium or less per serving.
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Organic chicken noodle soups don’t contain preservatives or artificial flavors.
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Gluten-free and vegan chicken noodle soups are available for dietary needs.
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Cartons and tetra packs don’t require draining a can, saving you dishes.
Restaurant Chicken Noodle Soups
From fast food to fine dining, restaurants nationwide offer chicken noodle soup. Enjoy a steaming bowl with a sandwich for lunch or as an appetizer at dinner.
Fast Casual Restaurants
Fast casual spots like Panera, Noodles & Company, and McAlister’s Deli have hearty chicken noodle soups. Panera’s Homestyle Chicken Noodle Soup contains chunks of chicken breast with noodles, carrots, and celery. Pick up a cup or bowl with a bakery item or sandwich. McAlister’s chicken noodle soup features pulled roasted chicken and wide egg noodles. Pair your bowl with a baked potato or spud max.
Fast Food Chains
Major chains like Chick-fil-A, KFC, and Boston Market dish up filling chicken noodle soups. KFC’s version contains its signature fried chicken bites and thick noodles. Boston Market’s shredded rotisserie chicken soup comes loaded with carrots and celery. Most fast food soups are lower in sodium than canned.
Full-Service Restaurants
At full-service restaurants like Olive Garden, Texas Roadhouse, and Cracker Barrel, start your meal with hot chicken noodle soup. Cracker Barrel’s homestyle recipe loaded with carrots, celery, and chicken comes gratis with each entrée. Texas Roadhouse’s chicken noodle soup offers hand-rolled noodles and veggies. Olive Garden puts an Italian twist on it with chicken, spinach, and gnocchi.
Tips for Ordering the Best Restaurant Chicken Noodle Soup
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Choose restaurants using fresh chicken rather than canned soup.
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Ask about sodium content if limiting intake.
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Request a side of crackers for topping or dunking.
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For a lighter option, order broth-based soup instead of creamy.
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Pair with salad and bread for a soup and sandwich meal.
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Get it to go and reheat later for a quick dinner.
Chicken Noodle Soup Delivery
When you don’t feel like leaving home, order chicken noodle soup delivery from your favorite restaurants or a meal delivery service. With contactless drop-off, you can stay comfortable while enjoying a hot, fresh bowl of chicken noodle goodness.
Food Delivery Services
Services like DoorDash and Uber Eats let you order soup for delivery from local restaurants. Browse restaurant menus to find ones serving chicken noodle soup. Or search the term “chicken noodle soup” to find spots near you. Delivery usually takes 30-60 minutes depending on distance. Expect to pay a delivery fee and tip.
Meal Kit Delivery
Meal kit companies like HelloFresh and Green Chef ship the ingredients for homemade chicken noodle soup straight to your door. All you have to do is chop, mix, and cook. Meal kits take the grocery shopping and meal planning out of homemade soup. Meal kit soup servings cost $8-$12 on average.
Prepared Meal Delivery
Order fully prepared, refrigerated chicken noodle soup from fresh meal delivery companies like Freshly and Splendid Spoon. Heat and eat for a fuss-free homemade-tasting soup minus lengthy prep. Individual servings of prepared chicken noodle soups average $8-$10.
Tips for Ordering Chicken Noodle Soup Delivery
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Browse restaurant menus on delivery apps to find chicken noodle soup options.
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Filter by prep time on meal kits to find quick-fix chicken noodle soup recipes.
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Reheat prepared chicken noodle soups gently to avoid boiling.
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Time delivery so soup arrives when ready to eat.
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For less waste, choose meal kits or reusable containers from prepared meal companies.
Whip Up Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
When you have time, making chicken noodle soup from scratch rewards you with total control over the ingredients. Adjust seasonings to your taste and use higher quality chicken and veggies. Simmer up a batch on a weekend to reheat all week long.
Select the Best Ingredients
Homemade chicken noodle soup is only as good as the sum of its parts. Use freshly diced carrots, celery, and onions – pre-cut veggie mixes lack flavor. Skinless chicken thighs or breasts provide flavorful meat without excess fat. And don’t overlook the broth – use chicken or vegetable broth, not water, for the base.
Nail the Cooking Method
Low and slow simmering elicits maximum flavor. Start by cooking aromatics like onion, garlic, celery, and carrots in the broth. Then add the chicken and noodles, cooking just until the noodles are tender. Shred or cube the chicken right before serving to keep it from drying out.
Season to Taste
Beyond salt and pepper, spices like sage, thyme, parsley, rosemary, and bay leaves add dimension. A splash of lemon juice or vinegar brightens at the end. Don’t over-season the broth, as you can always add table salt and pepper when eating.
Storage and Reheating
Refrigerate leftover homemade chicken noodle soup up to 4 days. The noodles will continue soaking up broth, so add extra broth or water when reheating to return to the right consistency. Avoid boiling when reheating to prevent the chicken from toughening.
Enjoy the Simple Pleasures of Chicken Noodle Soup
As one of the world’s most comforting foods, chicken noodle soup has remained beloved for generations, and for good reason. It’s a nostalgic taste of childhood or the perfect pick-me-up when you’re under the weather. With so many quick, convenient options for buying chicken noodle soup at grocery stores, restaurants, and delivery services, there’s no reason to deny a craving. When time allows, connecting with traditions by simmering chicken noodle soup at home offers unmatched satisfaction. However you get your hands on it, let the soothing warmth of chicken noodle soup nourish your body and soul.
How Does the Soup Thicken Up?
Cooking down the onion, carrots, and celery is a key step in the recipe. After you cook them down, add flour and your herbs. The flour will absorb the liquid from the softening vegetables, and create a nice thick base for the soup. This is exactly how we start biscuit vegetable pot pie, too.
Whole milk or half-and-half also thicken up the soup. I’ve even made it with half the amount (1/2 cup or 120ml) heavy cream in a pinch. (Add more chicken broth if you use heavy cream; see recipe Note.)
Nice and thick, without being too heavy.
After the vegetable mixture cooks and you add the flour and seasonings (above), you’ll add the broth and potato. Boil, and then simmer on the stove before adding the milk/half-and-half, chicken, and noodles. Finish cooking. It’s all very simple.
*Slow cooker instructions in the recipe Notes below!*
Best Ingredients to Use:
You need 1 big pot and a few staple ingredients. This is a forgiving recipe, so let’s review what can change if needed.
- Butter: Just a Tablespoon, to soften the vegetables.
- Vegetables: Onion, carrots, and celery form the mirepoix flavor base for this soup.
- Herbs/Flavors: Use a blend of garlic, dried or fresh thyme and oregano, fresh ground pepper, and salt. Feel free to use other herbs you enjoy instead, if desired.
- Flour or Cornstarch: Flour (or cornstarch) thickens the liquid, taking this soup from brothy to creamy. See recipe Note for that substitution.
- Chicken Broth: Or stock.
- Potato: 1 medium potato is the first magical ingredient in this recipe, because it cooks down and makes the soup SO creamy, hearty, and satisfying.
- Chicken: This recipe saves time because you can use pre-cooked chicken. You could also use leftover cooked turkey, like we do in this turkey pot pie! I usually pick up a small rotisserie chicken from the grocery store, shred it, and add it right into the soup. (I do the same for this BBQ chicken pizza—so easy!) Or you can boil/poach chicken breasts or roast them with a little garlic and thyme, let cool slightly (or refrigerate for a day or two), then shred or chop. If you have leftover chicken, you can also use it in recipes like my chicken quinoa salad or peanut chicken zucchini noodles.
- Milk or Half-and-Half: This is the other magical ingredient that turns your homemade chicken noodle soup into the creamiest soup ever. Use 1 cup of whole milk or 1 cup of half-and-half. If you want to make regular (non-creamy) chicken noodle soup, replace the milk with more chicken broth.
- Noodles: I prefer wide egg noodles in chicken soup, but you can use any type of dry pasta you like, or go noodle-less.
If you can find wide egg noodles, go ahead and use those in today’s soup. If you don’t have egg noodles, any dry pasta you like would work. Keep the noodles small enough to fit on a spoon, so break any large dry pasta before using if needed. A few readers have even used tortellini instead!
How To Make Easy Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe – Natasha’s Kitchen
FAQ
Who makes really good chicken noodle soup?
- The Zestiest Broth: Rao’s Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup. Sara Haas. …
- When You Want Organic: Pacific Chicken Noodle Soup. Sara Haas. …
- The Best for When You’re Sick: Campbell’s Homestyle Chicken Noodle. Sara Haas. …
- The Heartiest Version: Campbell’s Chunky Classic Chicken Noodle.
Is store-bought chicken noodle soup healthy?
No. It has a lot of sodium per serving,many not much protein, the noodles are highly glycemic, and there are absolutely no vegetables. It’s probably the least nutritious soup they make.
Do Chick-fil-A still sell chicken noodle soup?
Yes, Chick-fil-A does have Chicken Noodle Soup. It’s a menu item that features shredded chicken breast, chopped carrots and celery, egg noodles, and a hearty broth, served with Saltine crackers.
Why do doctors recommend chicken noodle soup?
A hot, steamy, soothing bowl of chicken noodle soup is just what the doctor ordered when you’re under the weather. Although the ingredients in chicken noodle soup are there for flavor, they also provide important health benefits. The broth provides hydrating fluid and electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and magnesium.
Where can I buy chicken noodle soup?
Zoup! Chicken Noodle Soup, Shelf-Stable, 16oz Shop for Chicken Noodle Soup in Soup. Buy products such as Progresso Traditional, Chicken Noodle Soup, 19 oz. at Walmart and save.
What is chicken noodle soup?
However, the popular fast-food joint also offers excellent Chicken Noodle Soup. Served in the restaurant’s recognizable blue and white packaging, this fragrant broth is simmered with tender white meat chicken, thick plank-like noodles, and an assortment of veggies like celery and carrots.
Where can I buy Rao’s chicken noodle soup?
Did you? Get top deals, latest trends, and more. Shop Rao’s Italian Style Chicken Noodle Soup – 16oz at Target. Choose from Same Day Delivery, Drive Up or Order Pickup. Free standard shipping with $35 orders.
Is chicken noodle soup a classic comfort?
You can sink your spoon into a wide range of hearty soups at popular restaurant chains across the country—from broccoli cheddar and Zuppa Toscana to baked potato and tomato bisque and beyond—but nothing quite hits the spot like a steamy bowl of chicken noodle soup. That rich, cozy broth is the very definition of classic comfort.
What ingredients are used in Raos noodle soup?
INGREDIENT FOCUSED: Our chicken soups use chicken raised without antibiotics. Packaging May Vary. Bring home the famous taste of Raos Made for Home Soup! Our chicken noodle soup is made with rich chicken broth, chicken, tender fusilli pasta, carrots, celery and onions.
Does Costco sell chicken noodle & potato soup?
What I will never understand is why COSTCO seems to adopt the belief that Chicken Noodle or their Potato Soups are only cold weather soups, and thus, you can never purchase these wonderful soups during the summer months. Soup is soup. All soups are good year around IMHO including Old El Pasco Corn Chowder.