The Best Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe

Updated on: December 16, 2025

Steaming bowl of a delicious crock pot chicken soup recipe with noodles, tender chicken, carrots, and fresh parsley.

Craving ultimate comfort without the fuss? This crock pot chicken soup recipe delivers hearty, soulful flavor with minimal effort. Simply toss ingredients into your slow cooker, and let it work its magic all day. You’ll come home to a warm, inviting meal that tastes like it simmered for hours. This family-friendly classic is perfect for busy weeknights.

Why You’ll Love This Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup

This recipe quickly becomes a family favorite for so many reasons. Enjoy incredible flavor with hardly any hands-on time.

Effortless “Set It and Forget It” Cooking: Your slow cooker handles almost all the work.
Hearty, Wholesome, and Incredibly Comforting: It’s a nourishing meal that warms you from the inside out.
Perfect for Meal Prep or Busy Weeknights: Prepare ingredients ahead, then let the crock pot take over.
Highly Customizable to Your Preferences: Adjust vegetables, herbs, and spices easily to suit your taste.

Ingredients

Gather these simple ingredients for your delicious crock pot chicken soup recipe. Each component adds to the rich, comforting flavor.

For the Soup Base:
- 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 3 large carrots, peeled and sliced into coins
- 2 ribs celery, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced (more to taste)
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 bay leaf (optional)
- 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon (I use Better Than Bouillon brand, optional)
- 8 to 9 cups reduced sodium chicken broth
For Finishing:
- 8 ounces egg noodles (wide or extra wide)
- Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Notes & Substitutions

You can easily adapt this slow cooker chicken soup to what you have on hand. Don’t hesitate to make it your own!

Chicken Thighs: Boneless, skinless chicken thighs make a flavorful and moist alternative to breasts.
Herbs: Dried oregano works wonderfully if you don’t have thyme or rosemary. Feel free to use fresh herbs too; just double the amount.
Noodles: While egg noodles are classic, you can use other pasta shapes like ditalini, small shells, or elbow macaroni. Cook them separately, no matter the type.

Chicken bouillon can significantly enhance the savory depth of your broth, as highlighted by various culinary resources that describe how chicken bouillon adds rich flavor to dishes.

Bouillon: Chicken bouillon or concentrated chicken base adds an extra layer of savory depth to the broth. If you skip it, your soup will still taste great.

Equipment

You don’t need many special tools for this easy crock pot chicken soup.

6-quart or larger slow cooker
Cutting board and sharp knife
Large mixing bowl for shredding chicken
Pot for cooking noodles

Instructions

Follow these simple steps to create a wonderfully comforting crock pot chicken soup recipe. Preparing this meal is mostly hands-off, letting your slow cooker do the heavy lifting.

Prep Vegetables & Chicken

First, get your ingredients ready for the slow cooker.
Dice the yellow onion, slice the carrots into coins, and slice the celery ribs. Peel and mince your garlic cloves.
Trim any excess fat from your boneless, skinless chicken breasts.

Assemble in Slow Cooker

Place the trimmed chicken breasts directly into the bottom of your 6-quart or larger slow cooker.
Add all the diced onion, sliced carrots, sliced celery, and minced garlic on top of the chicken.
Sprinkle in the dried thyme, dried rosemary, kosher salt, black pepper, and add the bay leaf if you are using it.
If using chicken bouillon, dollop it over the top of the ingredients.
Pour in 8 to 9 cups of reduced sodium chicken broth, ensuring all ingredients are mostly submerged. Gently stir everything together.

Slow Cook

Cover your slow cooker with its lid.
Cook the soup on the LOW setting for 6-8 hours. This slow cook time tenderizes the chicken beautifully and allows the flavors to meld.
Alternatively, if you’re short on time, cook on the HIGH setting for 3-4 hours.

Shred Chicken

Once the cooking time is complete, carefully remove the cooked chicken breasts from the slow cooker using tongs. Transfer them to a large mixing bowl.
Using two forks, shred the chicken thoroughly until it’s in bite-sized pieces. It should be very tender and shred easily.

To ensure your chicken is safely cooked, the USDA recommends a minimum internal temperature of 165°F (73.9°C) for all poultry.

If you used a bay leaf, be sure to find and discard it now.
Return the shredded chicken back into the slow cooker with the soup.

Cook Noodles

While the chicken is shredding, cook the egg noodles separately in a pot on your stovetop.
Follow the package directions precisely, cooking them only until they are al dente. This means they should be slightly firm to the bite, not mushy.
Drain the cooked noodles well.

Combine & Serve

Add the drained, cooked egg noodles directly into the slow cooker with the chicken and vegetables.
Stir everything gently to combine the noodles with the soup base.
Cook the soup on the LOW setting for an additional 5 minutes. This allows the noodles to warm through and absorb some of the delicious flavors.
Serve your hot crock pot chicken soup recipe immediately. Garnish each bowl generously with chopped fresh parsley and a sprinkle of black pepper for extra freshness.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Overcooking the chicken: Cooking on high for too long can dry it out. Stick to the recommended times.
Adding noodles too early: This will make them absorb too much liquid and become mushy. Add them right before serving.
Not shredding chicken thoroughly: Ensure all pieces are bite-sized for easy eating.

Pro Tips & Troubleshooting

Elevate your slow cooker chicken noodle soup with these expert tips or fix common issues.

Flavor Boost: For an even deeper flavor, briefly sauté your diced onion, carrots, and celery in a pan before adding them to the slow cooker. This caramelizes the vegetables.
Creamier Soup: Stir in a splash of heavy cream or a dollop of sour cream at the very end. This adds a lovely richness to the broth.
Thicker Broth: If you prefer a thicker soup, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water to create a slurry. Stir it into the hot soup during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
Too Salty: If your slow cooker chicken soup tastes too salty, add a few slices of raw potato to the soup for the last 30-60 minutes of cooking. The potato will absorb some of the excess salt. Remember to remove them before serving.

Serving, Storage & Variations

This versatile crock pot chicken soup recipe is easy to customize and enjoy whenever you like.

Serving Suggestions: Serve this hearty soup with a side of warm, crusty bread for dipping. A simple green salad also makes a fresh accompaniment.
Storage: Let any leftover soup cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. It will keep well in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Freezing: For best results, freeze the soup without the noodles. The noodles can become mushy when thawed. Store the noodle-free soup in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat and cook fresh noodles when ready to serve.
Vegetable Variations: Feel free to add other vegetables during the last hour of cooking. Frozen corn, peas, or fresh spinach are great additions.
Herb Variations: Fresh dill or chopped chives stirred in at the end add a bright, fresh finish.
Spice Variations: For a touch of heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes with the other seasonings.

Nutrition Information

Please note that nutritional values are estimates and can vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods. This information is provided as a general guideline.

Nutrient	Per Serving (estimated)
Calories	350 kcal
Protein	35g
Fat	10g
Carbs	30g
Fiber	4g
Sodium	650mg

FAQ

Got questions about making your perfect crock pot chicken soup recipe? Here are some quick answers.

Can I use frozen chicken? Yes, you can use frozen boneless, skinless chicken breasts directly in the slow cooker. Just add an extra hour or two to the cooking time to ensure they cook through completely.
How do I prevent mushy noodles? Always cook the noodles separately on the stovetop to al dente, then add them to the soup right before serving. This prevents them from absorbing too much liquid and becoming overcooked.
Is this recipe freezer-friendly? Absolutely, but it’s best to freeze the soup without the noodles. Cook fresh noodles when you reheat the thawed soup for the best texture.
Can I make this dairy-free? This recipe is naturally dairy-free as written. If you opt for the “creamier soup” variation, use a dairy-free cream alternative.

Conclusion

This crock pot chicken soup recipe is truly the definition of comfort food made simple. With minimal hands-on time, you can create a wholesome, flavorful meal that satisfies everyone at your table. Embrace the ease of your slow cooker and enjoy coming home to this aromatic, delicious dinner. We hope you love this ultimate comforting meal. Let us know in the comments if you try it or have your own variations!