How To Add Flavour To Bland Chicken Noodle Soup?

How to add flavour to bland chicken noodle soup?

In this article, we are going to answer the question: “How to add flavour to bland chicken noodle soup?”. Here are some tried and tested methods as well as a step-by-step guide to add flavour to bland chicken noodle soup.

How to add flavour to bland chicken noodle soup?

There are many ways that can help you add flavour to bland chicken noodle soup; here are a few of them. You must remember to use good quality chicken broth. If using a store bought broth, ensure it’s one with low sodium and is darker in colour (an indication of more flavour).

Chicken noodle soup is better when made with darker meat, so it is recommended that you use chicken thighs for this delicious recipe. The noodles can be any pasta of your choice, but the lightness of egg noodles will elevate the flavour of the soup.

Herbs are a must in this soup to create a flavour backbone to the broth. Add thyme and bay leaves (or other fragrant herbs) at the beginning and enough chopped parsley at the end to give it a pop of freshness.

If you feel that your chicken noodle soup is still missing something, a dash of fish sauce goes a long way to fix it.

What do you need to prepare flavourful chicken noodle soup?

Here is what you need to prepare flavourful chicken noodle soup.

2 tablespoons Butter, Chicken Fat or Olive Oil

1 large Onion, chopped

2 large Carrots, chopped

2 stalks Celery, chopped

4 cloves of Garlic, minced

2 Bay Leaves

3 sprigs fresh Thyme or ½ tsp dried Thyme

1 pound skinless, boneless Chicken thighs (4 or 5 thighs)

8 cups Chicken stock, low sodium or homemade

5 ounces Egg Noodles (or any pasta of your choice)

Salt and Pepper for seasoning

¼ cup fresh Parsley, finely chopped

Water or more stock, as needed

A step-by-step guide to add flavour to bland chicken noodle soup

In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium heat (add some oil to it so it doesn’t burn). Combine the onions, carrots and celery in the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 6 minutes or until the veggies begin to soften.

Combine the garlic, bay leaves, and thyme to it and cook for about 1 minute, roasting the garlic well.

Add the chicken stock and bring it to a moderate simmer. Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper as you like. You may need to add 1 or more teaspoons of salt depending on the stock used.

Immerse the chicken thighs in the soup until they are completely covered by the broth. Reduce the heat on the soup to a low simmer, then partially cover the pot with a lid and cook. Keep stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes or until the chicken thighs are cooked through.

If the broth appears to be running low during this time, add a splash of stock or water and increase the heat to medium-low.

Remove the cooked chicken and place it on a dish. Add the noodles into the soup and cook until tender for around 6 to 10 minutes (depending on the type of noodles used).

While the noodles are cooking, shred or cut the chicken into strips or cubes. Return the chicken to the pot and season with salt and pepper to taste.

As required, season with more salt and pepper. Serve with the parsley stirred in.

Other FAQs about noodle soup

What happens when adding egg noodles to the soup?

Can you cook noodles in chicken broth?

What are the secrets to add flavour to bland chicken noodle soup?

Make use of high-quality stock/broth.

Season the soup beforehand and check it frequently.

Chicken thighs are more tender than chicken breasts and create a superior soup.

Herbs, both at the beginning and at the end, should be used to provide extra taste.

What are the mistakes you should avoid while making chicken noodle soup?

Using only chicken breast

Since chicken breast lacks flavour, adding it alone will not add depth or richness to the soup. Use chicken thighs instead or a combination of both.

Adding all of the veggies at once

Keep in mind that not all veggies require the same amount of cooking time, so add them in accordingly.

Putting the noodles in too soon

When noodles are put too soon into a pot of boiling soup, they become overdone and sticky.

Leaving a sheen of oil on the surface of your soup

Before serving, remove the layer of oil from your chicken noodle soup.

Final Thoughts

Chicken noodle soup is one of the simplest soups to cook, and when done correctly, it is pure comfort food. This soup is ideal because it is filling and substantial, with pieces of chicken, thick slices of veggies, and all the flavour you can imagine from elementary and simple ingredients.

Other FAQs about Soup that you may be interested in.

Can you eat Campbell’s tomato soup without adding water?

Can you eat chicken noodle soup without heating it?

Can you eat canned soup without heating up?

How to thaw frozen soup?

Conclusion

In this article, we have answered the question: “How to add flavour to bland chicken noodle soup?”. You will find above tried and tested methods as well as a step-by-step guide to add flavour to bland chicken noodle soup.