Comforting chicken & noodles

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🍗 Comforting Chicken & Noodles (Homestyle Recipe)

Serves: 6-8
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 45-60 minutes
Total time: About 1 hour 10 minutes
Style: Creamy, comforting, and traditional

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🛒 Ingredients

For the Chicken:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter

• 1 medium onion, diced

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 3 medium carrots, sliced

• 2 celery stalks, chopped

• 1½ pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts

• 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth (or a mix of broth and water)

• 2 bay leaves

• 1 teaspoon dried thyme (or 2 tsp fresh)

• ½ teaspoon black pepper

• Salt, to taste

For the Noodles:

• 12 oz egg noodles (preferably wide or homestyle Amish-style)

• Optional: 1 cup frozen peas (added at the end)

Optional Creamy Addition:

• ½ to 1 cup heavy cream or whole milk (for a creamier version)

• 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water (if you’d like it thicker)

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🍲 Instructions

1. Sauté the Base

In a large pot or Dutch oven:

• Heat olive oil or butter over medium heat.

• Add diced onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté until vegetables begin to soften, about 5–6 minutes.

• Add garlic and cook another 30 seconds until fragrant.

2. Add Chicken & Simmer

• Nestle in the chicken pieces.

• Pour in the chicken broth.

• Add bay leaves, thyme, pepper, and a pinch of salt.

• Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer.

• Cover and simmer for 25–30 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.

3. Shred the Chicken

• Remove the chicken and shred it using two forks.

• Discard bay leaves.

• Return the shredded chicken to the pot.

4. Cook the Noodles

• Raise heat to medium-high and bring the soup to a boil again.

• Add the egg noodles.

• Cook according to package instructions (usually 6–8 minutes) until tender.

5. Creamy Option (Optional but delicious!)

• Lower heat to a gentle simmer.

• Stir in heavy cream or milk.

• If you want a thicker broth, mix cornstarch with cold water, then stir into the pot and simmer until slightly thickened (3–5 minutes).

6. Final Touch

• Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed.

• Stir in peas (optional), let them heat through for 2 minutes.

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🥣 Serving Suggestions

• Serve hot with warm, crusty bread or biscuits.

• Garnish with fresh parsley or a sprinkle of black pepper.

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🔄 Variations

• Slow Cooker Version: Combine everything but noodles and cream in the slow cooker. Cook on LOW for 6–7 hours or HIGH for 3–4. Shred chicken, add noodles and cream, and cook for an additional 20–30 minutes.

• Leftover Rotisserie Chicken? Use 3 cups shredded chicken and skip the simmering step.

• No Egg Noodles? Sub with other pasta like rotini or even dumplings.

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Would you like a printable version of this recipe or a meal-prep version (freezer-friendly)?