Forget putting on lipstick-Panera's chicken noodle soup tastes even better when your own kitchen smells like heaven and your wallet isn't crying. Tender chicken, soft noodles, and a broth that hugs your bones in 25 minutes flat. One pot, zero shame, maximum comfort.
Table of Contents
- 🗝️ Why copycat Panera chicken noodle soup is better than the original
- 🧾 What are the ingredients for this easy chicken soup?
- 📖 Recipe
- 🔪 How to make chicken noodle soup from scratch
- 👩🍳 Questions people ask
- 📚 More soup recipes you'll love
- 🍽️ What to serve with copycat Panera chicken noodle soup
- Cozy final thoughts
- 💬 Comments
🗝️ Why copycat Panera chicken noodle soup is better than the original
This copycat Panera chicken noodle soup is everything you crave on a gray, bone-chilled day-simple, budget-friendly ingredients turning into a pot of pure comfort.
Tender chicken, fresh veggies, and curly egg noodles swim in a golden broth that heals sniffles faster than grandma's quilt. The secret? Sauté those vegetables first so the brown bits at the bottom of the pot transform into liquid gold. Whether you simmer it low and slow in the crockpot or whip it up on the stovetop, this steaming bowl of homestyle soup is the definition of classic comfort food.
🧾 What are the ingredients for this easy chicken soup?
You don't need a long grocery list to make magic happen-just everyday pantry staples, a few fresh veggies and herbs, and some chicken. Simple ingredients, big flavor, Panera vibes.
- Chicken breasts (or thighs, if you're feeling fancy and want that richer flavor)
- A good, rich chicken stock-the kind that makes your kitchen smell like love
- Onion, because every soup worth slurping starts here
- Sweet carrots to balance the savory
- Celery for that classic crunch and depth
- Garlic, because flavor without it is a crime
- A bay leaf-tiny but mighty in the broth department
- Thyme, fresh or dried, whichever's closest when you open the cabinet
- A little parsley to pretty things up
- Butter, if you want extra richness (Panera who?)
- Salt & pepper, the backbone of flavor
Want more tips, hints, FAQs, and variations? Be sure to download the free, printable copycat Panera chicken noodle soup kitchen cheat sheet.
📖 Recipe
Copycat Panera Chicken Noodle Soup
Print Pin Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 3 cups egg noodles, about 6 ounces, or more to taste
- 4 carrots, peeled and sliced into rounds
- ½ cup celery, sliced
- 1 cup onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic
- Olive oil for sauteeing.
- 1-½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breast, or thighs
- 1 teaspoon thyme, or a few sprigs of fresh
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 2 tablespoons butter, optional
- fresh parsley, garnish
Instructions
Stovetop
- Cook egg noodles until barely tender, drain, and set aside. You can put a little butter on them to keep them from sticking together.
- Heat the a little oil in a large, heavy stock pot over medium heat.
- Add the carrots, onion, garlic, and celery.
- Sauté until the vegetables are soft, about 5-10 minutes.
- Add the chicken and the chicken stock.
- Stir in the thyme, bay leaf, salt and pepper.
- Bring to a boil.
- Cover and reduce the heat to medium-low.
- Simmer about 15 minutes or until the chicken is cooked and the internal temperature is 165 degrees F.
- Remove chicken and shred with 2 forks.
- Return to soup the chicken back to the stock pot.
- Add in the egg noodles.
- Simmer for 5 more minutes and serve.
- Add 2 tablespoons of butter if desired. I feel like this amps up the flavor but it's totally optional.
- Garnish with chopped parsley.
Crockpot
- Put everything except the noodles in the crockpot.
- Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
- Remove chicken and shred with 2 forks.
- Put the shredded chicken back into the crock pot.
- Add the egg noodles and cover.
- Cook for 15 minutes more, or until egg noodles are tender.
Notes
- Feel free to cut the raw chicken breasts into bite-sized chunks before adding them to the broth so it cooks faster. You won't need to shred it.
- Your chicken is done cooking when the internal temperature is 165 degrees F and the juices run clear.
- This is an easy recipe to make dairy-free and gluten-free-just use olive oil or vegetable oil instead of butter and use gluten-free noodles!
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
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🔪 How to make chicken noodle soup from scratch
Follow these simple steps and you'll have a pot of chicken noodle soup that tastes like Panera, only cozier and cheaper. No secret menu required.
- Toss your veggies into a big pot (or Dutch oven, if you're feeling bougie) with some olive oil. Let 'em sizzle on medium-high until they smell like comfort itself.
- Add the stock then drop in the chicken, and let the bay leaf, thyme, salt, and pepper work their cozy soup magic. Turn the heat down low and let it all simmer like a lazy Sunday.
- Fish out the chicken, shred it like you're stress-relieving on a Tuesday, and toss it back in.
- Stir in those noodles until everything's cozy and the broth is practically begging for a spoon.
👩🍳 Questions people ask
Got questions? Of course you do-Panera doesn't hand over their secrets easily. Luckily, I've tested this soup enough times to have the answers ready before you even ask.
Yep, you can, but don't add the egg noodles until you're ready to reheat and serve the soup. The noodles will absorb too much liquid and get mushy if you refrigerate them in the broth.
Easy. Freeze the broth and chicken together, then cook fresh noodles when you reheat. That way your soup tastes like soup, not casserole.
Absolutely! My copycat Panera chicken noodle soup recipe includes full directions for how to make it in a slow cooker. Scroll to the bottom of the recipe card for that.
Yes, be sure to use gluten free noodles and make sure that the stock you use is gluten free as well.
📚 More soup recipes you'll love
If chicken noodle soup has you in a comfort food mood, you'll want to check out my other cozy favorites. Crock Pot French Onion Soup is another restaurant-worthy classic, bubbling away with caramelized onions and gooey cheese, but simple enough for a weeknight. If creamy is more your speed, my Subway-style Broccoli Cheddar Soup can be ready in 30 minutes on the stove or left to do its thing in the slow cooker.
And for the Panera fans who can't stop at one copycat, my Black Bean Soup delivers all the hearty veggies, warm spices, and thick, savory broth you'd expect. Got leftover turkey? My Tuscan turkey soup turns it into something fresh and filling-though chicken works just as well if the holiday bird has already flown. Either way, you'll have another soul-warming bowl to ladle out with pride.
🍽️ What to serve with copycat Panera chicken noodle soup
There's no better side for a comforting bowl of soup than a piece of crusty bread! This Homemade Baguette recipe makes chewy loaves with a classic crunchy crust-and it takes less than an hour.
Or, if you've got more of a hankering for cornbread, try my Cracker Barrel Corn Muffins. They're slightly sweet and very buttery. It's another one of my favorite copycat recipes. You can even go full Panera with these easy, homemade bread bowls.
Here are over 40 more ideas for what to serve with chicken noodle soup!
Cozy final thoughts
Imagine a rainy November day when you're chilled to the bone and just want a hot shower, some comfy sweats, and a good book.
But you're starving and so is the family.
Throw this easy recipe together and let it simmer while you get your shower and slide into those oh-so-soft sweats. It will be ready when you're done and the cleanup is easy, too.
If you love this recipe please comment below and give it 5 stars!
Theresa M says
Excellent! Best chicken soup I’ve had in years. Easy recipe as well. Thanks