Chicken Noodle Soup with Lemon and Fresh Herbs

This creamy chicken noodle soup with lemon and herbs is genuinely the best we’ve ever made. It’s a one-pot, weeknight-friendly chicken noodle soup inspired by the version our mom made when we were growing up, just with a few upgrades we love now: fresh herbs, a splash of cream, and a squeeze of lemon to keep things bright.

We may live in Southern California, but the second it gets even a little chilly (hello, coastal fog), we’re craving soup. This one is cozy and comforting like the classic, but a little more special. It’s creamy without being heavy, nostalgic without feeling boring, and exactly the kind of soup you’ll want on repeat.

Why This Is The Best Chicken Noodle Soup

• Easy one pot meal. Most of the cooking is fairly hands off, so this is a great meal to make when you don’t want to spend hours over a stove. Everything gets cooked together in one pot, including the chicken. There’s no need to pull out a frying pan for the chicken because we just add it to the soup and let it poach in the liquid. This makes it super simple AND gives the soup a richer chicken flavor. 
• Fresh, simple ingredients. We’ve kept it simple with this recipe, choosing to use fresh produce like carrots, onions, and celery, fresh herbs, and lean chicken breast. The addition of lemon and cream provide depth and balance and an overall subtle richness that complements the herbs. 
• Nothing beats a classic. We used classic chicken noodle soup ingredients in this recipe, like chicken breast, carrots and celery, and those nostalgic, squiggly egg noodles. But the lemon, fresh herbs, cream, and heat from the red pepper flakes really takes what is actually a simple dish and makes it into something fantastic.
• Tastes like home. This chicken noodle soup with lemon and herbs is incredibly comforting and very well-balanced. It also tastes like childhood and simpler times, which we love. It’s like a big hug.

Ingredients in Chicken Noodle Soup with Lemon and Herbs

• Boneless, skinless chicken breasts – you cook them right in the soup, so it couldn’t be easier! Plus, this amps up the chicken flavor in the broth. 
• Fresh veggies – we love to add fresh vegetables for nutrients and flavor. Fresh celery adds crunch and earthiness, carrots add sweetness and balance, and onions (we prefer sweet or yellow here) add depth.
• Herbs  – this recipe calls for fresh thyme and rosemary. Fresh herbs are always better than dried if you can get them, because they have a ton more flavor. However, if you can’t get fresh herbs, you can use dried as an alternative. Just use 1 teaspoon dried for every tablespoon of fresh.
• Red pepper flakes – we love a little heat in most of our recipes. If you hate heat, you can leave it out.
• Chicken broth – use whatever broth or stock you like. We like Better Than Bullion.
• Heavy cream – a touch of heavy cream will make the soup a little creamy without being thick. If you don’t want to use heavy cream, half and half works well too. It’ll just be a little less creamy.
• Egg noodles – classic chicken noodle soup needs a classic, squiggly egg noodle!
• Lemon juice – a little fresh lemon juice brings brightness and balance to the soup.

How to Make This Soup

Cook the veggies. Melt butter in a large Dutch oven or soup pot and add the celery, carrots, onions, herbs, red pepper flakes, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook on medium heat for 10 to 15 minutes, or until vegetables soften.

Add the broth. Add the chicken broth to the pot and bring it to a low boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer, which is just below a boil (you’ll usually want to adjust your temperature to medium-low heat for this). 

Cook the chicken. Add the chicken breasts to the pot, making sure they are fully submerged in the liquid. Cover the pot and cook for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked through (internal temperature should be 165°F). Remove the chicken from the pot and chop it up or shred it, then add it back to the pot. 

Cook the noodles. Add the raw egg noodles to the soup and cook for 7 to 8 minutes or until they are al dente. 

Finish the soup with cream and lemon: Slowly pour in the heavy cream until it is combined with the rest of the liquid. Stir in the lemon juice and taste for seasoning. If you want more acidity, feel free to add another ½ tablespoon of lemon.

Serving and Storage Suggestions

This soup is delicious served with fresh, toasted French bread or our Easy Parmesan Cheese Bread. It’s also great next to a simple side salad. 

To store leftover chicken soup, place it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 to 5 days. Reheat leftovers in a pot on the stove or in the microwave.

Final Thoughts

It seems to be universally understood that chicken noodle soup helps with many ailments. It makes us feel better when we’re sick or when the weather is too cold, and it provides comfort when we’re going through something tough or challenging, or when we just want to feel that sense of nostalgia again. This creamy chicken noodle soup with a hint of lemon always brightens our moods. The fact that it’s easy to make and super delicious makes it even more craveable. If you love chicken soup too, we definitely think you should try our version and let us know how it turns out! We’d love to hear from you.

If You Love This Soup, We Think You’ll Love These Too: 

• If you can’t get enough savory lemon things, try our Roasted Broccoli with Lemon side dish! It’s super easy to make and incredibly healthy too. 
• Our Easy Miso Soup with Veggies and Tofu is a great meatless option, if you’re craving something lighter and full of vegetables and nutrients. Plus, it’s super cozy too!
• If you can’t get enough chicken but don’t feel like soup, our Moroccan Inspired Spiced Chicken is actually amazing! It’s full of bold flavor and will put a stop to anyone saying that “chicken is boring.”
• Looking for another comfort dish? We stand by our super cozy One-Pan Rosemary Chicken in Shallot and Herb Cream Sauce recipe. It’s a great dinner option that feels luxurious but uses simple, whole  ingredients and has easy-to-follow steps.