The Easiest Way to Make Classic Chicken Noodle Soup (Use Your Slow Cooker!)

Chicken Noodle Soup
Chicken Noodle Soup

When making chicken soup from scratch, a slow cooker is the perfect cooking method. A long, slow simmer time allows the ingredients' flavor to develop fully.

Serves: 6
Yields: 6 main-dish servings
Total Time: 8 hr

Related:16 Healthy Slow-Cooker Meals

Ingredients:
- 8 cup(s) water
- 4 medium carrots, cut into 1/4-inch slices
- 4 medium stalks celery, cut into 1/4-inch slices
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon(s) dried thyme
- Salt
- Ground black pepper
- 1 whole(s) (3 1/2-pound) chicken
- 3 cup(s) egg noodles, uncooked

Related:The 6 Biggest Mistakes You're Making With Your Slow Cooker

Directions:
1. In 4 1/2- to 6-quart slow-cooker bowl, combine water, carrots, celery, onion, bay leaves, thyme, 4 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Place whole chicken on top of vegetables. Cover slow cooker with lid and cook as manufacturer directs on low setting 8 to 10 hours or on high setting 4 to 5 hours.

2. Transfer chicken to cutting board. Discard bay leaves. Add noodles to slow-cooker bowl; cover with lid and cook (on low or high) 20 minutes.

3. While noodles cook, remove and discard skin, fat, and bones from chicken; shred meat.

4. Skim fat from soup and discard. Return chicken to soup to serve.

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