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Cross-era - American home cooks, deli cooks, and soup-company kitchens popularizing chicken noodle soup

Chicken Noodle Soup

Chicken Noodle Soup is a comforting one-pot dish made by simmering chicken, vegetables, broth, and egg noodles into a nourishing soup. A staple across American kitchens for generations, it highlights simplicity, warmth, and adaptability in soups and stews throughout the country's culinary evolution.

Difficulty

Easy

Prep time

15 minutes

Cook time

45 minutes

Total time

1 hour

Servings

Region

United States

Era introduced

Cross-era

Introduced by

American home cooks, deli cooks, and soup-company kitchens popularizing chicken noodle soup

Tags and Occasions

cold-weather chicken noodles vegetables broth European-American

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The Story

Chicken Noodle Soup is a time-honored American comfort food, reflecting centuries of European immigrant influence and rural home cooking. Known for its healing and hearty qualities, the soup's core elements of chicken, vegetables, and egg noodles simmered together demonstrate the classic one-pot cooking tradition cherished in American households. Its widespread popularity endures due to its simplicity, nourishment, and versatility across regions and seasons.

Recipe based on common American home cooking traditions; consult regional cookbooks for variations.

Ingredients

- 1 whole chicken (3-4 pounds), cut into pieces
- 8 cups water or chicken broth
- 3 carrots, sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups egg noodles
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. In a large pot, combine chicken pieces and water or broth; bring to a boil.
2. Reduce heat, skim foam, and simmer for 30 minutes.
3. Add carrots, celery, onion, and garlic; simmer until vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes.
4. Remove chicken pieces and let cool; shred meat, discarding bones and skin.
5. Return shredded chicken to pot.
6. Add egg noodles and cook according to package directions, typically 7-10 minutes.
7. Season with salt, pepper, and fresh parsley.
8. Serve hot.

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