The Best Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup

This Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup is an easy way to make a comforting homemade soup without standing over the stove. Chicken breasts, carrots, celery, onion and garlic slowly cook in a flavorful broth, then the egg noodles are added at the very end. It’s a cozy family dinner that’s especially good on chilly days or when you’re craving a warm bowl of chicken noodle soup.

chicken noodle soup in a slow cooker

Ingredient Notes

  • Chicken breasts: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts cook right in the broth until tender.
  • Carrots: Add a little sweetness and plenty of classic chicken soup flavor.
  • Celery: A must for that familiar chicken noodle soup taste.
  • Yellow onion: Slowly cooks into the broth and adds lots of flavor.
  • Garlic: Fresh minced garlic gives the soup another layer of flavor.
  • Chicken broth: Use homemade chicken broth or your favorite low-sodium broth so you can control the salt.
  • Olive oil: Adds a little richness to the broth.
  • Thyme and bay leaf: These season the soup as it cooks.
  • Wide egg noodles: Add them near the end of cooking so they don’t become too soft.
  • Fresh parsley: Stirred in at the end for a little fresh flavor and color.
  • Salt and pepper: Season to taste depending on how salty your chicken broth is.
How do you keep noodles from getting mushy in chicken noodle soup?

The most important thing is not adding them too early. Add the egg noodles during the final few minutes of cooking and check them often. You can also cook the noodles separately and add them to individual bowls when serving.

Can I cook the noodles separately?

Absolutely. Cook the noodles according to the package directions and add them to each bowl as you serve the soup.

Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts?

Boneless, skinless chicken thighs can be substituted for the chicken breasts. Keep in mind that this recipe was originally developed using chicken breasts, so check the chicken for doneness rather than relying only on cooking time.

How to store and reheat:

– Refrigerator. Store in an airtight container up to 4 days. The noodles keep drinking broth as they sit, so add a splash of broth or water when you reheat.
– Freezer. Freeze up to 3 months. For the best texture, freeze the soup before the noodles go in and cook fresh noodles when you reheat. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
– Meal prep. Make the soup base ahead and keep it separate from the noodles. Portion the base into containers, then add hot noodles at serving time.

  • Wait to add the noodles. The egg noodles only need about 5–10 minutes in the Crockpot. Adding them too early can leave you with very soft or mushy noodles.
    Cooking the noodles separately is also an option. This works especially well if you expect leftovers. Spoon the cooked noodles into each bowl and ladle the hot soup over them.
  • Buy sturdy noodles. No Yolks and Great Value wide egg noodles both hold their shape. The thinner store brands are the ones readers report breaking apart.
  • Cut your vegetables into similar-sized pieces. This helps the carrots and celery cook at about the same rate.
  • Taste before adding extra salt. Chicken broth can vary quite a bit in saltiness, so adjust the seasoning toward the end.
  • Use thawed chicken. If your chicken is frozen, thaw it before putting it into the slow cooker. Cook chicken to an internal temperature of 165°F.

How to Make Chicken Noodle Soup in the Crockpot

  1. In a 6 quart crockpot place whole chicken breasts on the bottom and top with , carrots, onion, celery, garlic, olive oil, thyme and bay leaf.

    The Best Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup - Chicken and vegetables in the crockpot
  2. Next add in chicken broth, water, and season with salt and pepper to taste. I used 1/2 teaspoon salt & 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cover and cook on low heat 6 – 7 hours.

    Soup ingredients in the crockpot
  3. Remove cooked chicken breasts and cut into bite sized pieces. Place chicken back in to the crockpot. Now add in egg noodles and parsley. Cover and cook just until noodles are tender, 5-10 minutes.

    The Best Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup - Add noodles into crockpot
  4. Enjoy with your favorite crackers!
the best crockpot chicken noodle soup in a white bowl

Here are more soup recipes we love!

4.64 from 199 votes

The Best Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup

Author Corey Valley
As you know, I LOVE SOUP! And what I love even more is soup that I can cook in the crockpot. The is The Best Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup EVER!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 7 hours
Total Time 7 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients
 

  • 1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 2 cups carrots peeled and chopped
  • 1 medium yellow onion diced
  • 3 stalks celery chopped
  • 3-4 cloves garlic minced
  • 3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 bay leaves
  • 6 cups chicken broth use my EASY homemade broth or low-sodium
  • 1 cup water
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste (I used 1/2 teaspoon salt & 1/4 teaspoon pepper)
  • 2 cups uncooked wide egg noodles
  • 3 Tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

  • In a 6 quart crockpot add in whole chicken breasts, carrots, onion, celery, garlic, olive oil, thyme and bay leaf.
  • Next add in chicken broth, water, and season with salt and pepper to taste. I used 1/2 teaspoon salt & 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
  • Cover and cook on low heat 6 – 7 hours.
  • Remove cooked chicken breasts and cut into bite sized pieces. Place chicken back in to the crockpot. Now add in egg noodles and parsley.
  • Cover and cook just until noodles are tender, 5-10 minutes.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 246kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 782mg | Potassium: 633mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 5565IU | Vitamin C: 18.1mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 1.2mg

Nutritional Disclaimer: Family Fresh Meals is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.

Sharing of this recipe is encouraged and appreciated. Copying of full recipe to any social media is prohibited.

Did You Make This Recipe?

Make sure to share it with me below!

Originally Posted: October 2014
Post Updated: August 2026

4.64 from 199 votes (49 ratings without comment)

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436 Comments

  1. Is it possible to make this recipe minus the noodles as I do use white flour anything? Or substitute something healthier? Taking it out or substitution either way is fine.

    1. I love this recipe. I also use No Yolk noodles and they come out perfect. I cook the soup on high for 4 hours, shred the chicken, cook another hour on high. Put in a full bag of noodles in and cover with lid.. I stir after 15 minutes and cover again. After another 7 to 10 minutes, they are usually tender ready. NEXT: TAKE THE CROCK OUT OF THE COOKER AND POUR THE SOUP IN A SEPARATE CONTAINER. That way the noodles will NOT overcook and become mushy.

  2. Corey, how important is the parsley in your opinion? I have everything in the crockpot now and realized I forgot that!

    1. Sorry I just saw this Kathryn! It should be fine with out it 🙂

    2. Sorry I just saw this Kathryn! It should be fine with out it 🙂

  3. 5 stars
    I tried this recipe on high temp for 4 hours before “trying” to get the chicken out to cut it up. It was already so tender that 2 forks managed to pull most of it apart without even removing it from the slow cooker. The rest stayed as tasty bite sized pieces. For prep, I used the pre-chopped quart container of creole “trinity” mix I can get at the local grocery which is onion, celery and green bell pepper and added that right in along with the chopped carrots, some additional celery chopped coarser and a package of sliced mushrooms. Using regular egg noodles, they were cooked just enough after 15 minutes, but I let them sit another half hour on warm and that helped them soak up a lot more broth and made the soup much thicker, which is better in my opinion. Overall, a great recipe you can play with and see what works best for your taste.

  4. 5 stars
    This recipe was GREAT! I had no issues with ANYTHING. All you have to do is follow the directions! No issues with bad flavoring, or noodles. It was perfect! Thank you so much for sharing! I will be sharing this with my family 🙂

    1. Awesome Nina! Thanks for sharing 🙂

  5. Wow…this soup is beyond bland! I was encouraged by all of the positive comments, followed the recipe to a tee, and ended up with a tasteless pot of soup. Can’t be just me…..?

    1. I am so sorry you didn’t enjoy it Jane. Sometimes if people aren’t used to low sodium broth, it can be lacking that salty taste. I suggest maybe adding some salt to see if that brings out the flavor for you.