Easy "Homemade" Chicken Noodle Soup!

I had a bad chicken noodle experience a few years back. ;) My husband's grandmother gave me her famous chicken noodle soup recipe in which she makes her very own homemade noodles. Let's just say, I butchered the noodles - they came out thick, doughy and tasted nothing like Grandma's. Plus it took me hours to make! I haven't tried making homemade noodles ever since. I know what you're thinking. There are millions of recipes out there to try! Don't worry, I'm taking baby steps. :)

So I was rifling through my awesome family cookbook and came across my Sister-in-Law's Mom's recipe for chicken noodle soup. When I saw that you add packaged pasta or rice right into the broth, I knew I had to try it! It didn't disappoint! Super easy, flavorful, and my family loved it!

EASY CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP (recipe from my Sister-in-Law, Tina Mecham):

-1 large soup pot filled with water near top (can add chicken broth if you prefer)
-4 chicken breasts
-3 large carrots, sliced into rings
-1 1/2 c. pasta or rice (any kind of pasta noodle you like, longer varieties broken up - I used linguine)
-2 large celery stalks, sliced
-1 medium onion, diced
-1/2 c. soy sauce
-2/3 c. fresh parsley, chopped
-1 tsp. garlic powder
-1/2 tsp. thyme
-salt & pepper, to taste

Place your (raw) chicken breasts inside your soup pot and fill with water (2" from the top). Heat until the water begins to boil. Turn the heat down slightly so the broth will not overflow. Let boil approx. 20 minutes. While boiling, saute the celery, onion and carrots in a little olive oil/butter for about 10 minutes to soften them up and bring out the flavors.

When your chicken is cooked through, after approximately 20 minutes, remove from broth and place on cutting board to cool. Now add your sauteed vegetables, noodles and soy sauce to the broth.

While the soup is simmering, cut the chicken into cubes and shred with your fingertips. Return the chicken to the soup. TASTE THE BROTH. Add salt and pepper if needed and add the remaining ingredients: chopped parsley, garlic powder and thyme. Cook only about 10 more minutes. 

And there you have it! A simple chicken noodle soup without the pain of homemade noodles! A delicious meal any day of the week! What do you think??

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