Description
This Smoked Chicken Noodle Soup features a rich homemade smoked chicken broth simmered for four hours, combined with tender egg noodles, fresh vegetables, and savory shredded smoked chicken. It’s a comforting and hearty soup perfect for chilly days or whenever you crave a flavorful, warming meal.
Ingredients
Broth Ingredients
- 1 smoked chicken carcass (meat separated and set aside)
- 1 medium yellow onion (skin left on and cut into wedges)
- 2 small carrots (cut into chunks)
- 2 ribs celery (cut into chunks)
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary
- 6 cloves garlic (peeled)
- 1 Tablespoon salt
- 4 quarts water
Soup Ingredients
- 5 cups uncooked egg noodles
- 2 cups carrots (diced)
- 2 cups celery (diced)
- 1 medium yellow onion (diced)
- 2 cups smoked chicken (shredded or cubed)
- ¼ cup fresh parsley (minced)
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Make the homemade chicken broth: Place the smoked chicken carcass, onion wedges (with skin), carrot chunks, celery chunks, thyme, rosemary, garlic cloves, and salt into an 8-quart stock pot. Pour in 4 quarts of cool water to cover the bones and vegetables. Bring the liquid to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer gently for 4 hours to extract deep flavors.
- Strain the stock: Every 30 minutes during simmering, remove the lid and carefully skim off any foam or scummy bubbles from the surface using a wooden spoon. After 4 hours, remove the pot from the heat. Strain the stock through a fine mesh sieve to separate and discard the bones and cooked vegetables. Return the clear broth to the pot.
- Make the chicken noodle soup: Bring the strained broth back to a boil. Add diced carrots, celery, and diced onion to the pot and boil for 8 to 10 minutes until the vegetables are tender-crisp. Add the uncooked egg noodles and cook for another 4 to 5 minutes until noodles are al dente. Stir in the shredded smoked chicken, minced fresh parsley, and black pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt if needed.
- Enjoy: Serve the soup immediately while hot. Be cautious as the soup will be very warm. Enjoy the rich smoky flavors and comforting texture.
Notes
- Be sure to skim foam regularly during broth simmering to keep the stock clear and flavorful.
- If you prefer a stronger smoked flavor, you can add smoked paprika or a splash of liquid smoke while making the soup.
- Leftover soup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
- This recipe can be made gluten-free by substituting the egg noodles with gluten-free noodles.
- For a richer broth, some cooks like to roast the chicken carcass before simmering.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American